Wednesday, 13 July 2022

O Mittur Lakes Monitoring


On June 30 and July 1, 2022, a visit to O Mittur Panchayat in the Kolar district was made. The four lakes we visited as group four were Chikkakere, Hosakere, Shakti Kunte, and Doddakere. The goal of this project was to monitor lakes using standardized protocols. These protocols included requirements for measuring the size of lakes, their elevations, the crops that were cultivated in the command area, the quality of the water, and the socioeconomic state of the community. Shubha Ma'am, Suma Ma'am, and Asha, the founder of the non-profit organization Grameena Abhivrudhi Sangha, who served as our translator, guide, and mentor, were present during the survey, along with the locals who live close to the lakes.

Chikkakere Lake:The 25-acre Chikkakere Lake (Tank No.365) is situated in the Kolar district's O Mittur (Urukunte Mittur) settlement. 


Hosakere Lake:Hosakere lake (Tank No.124) , spread across 30 acres is located in Kottur village.




Shakti Kunte Lake : Shakti Kunte lake (Tank No. 46) which is 300 years old  is located in the Bandahalli village of Kolar district. 

Doddakere Lake : Doddakere lake ( Tank No.62)  in the Avala Marakalagatta village is approximately 10-12 feet deep.

 


Observations made about the lake's characteristics included:


The common theme that was seen while keeping an eye on the four lakes is that the water inside the lake is used for livestock management and irrigation rather than for drinking. The majority of farmers in all the communities depend on agriculture for their primary source of income, but they also engage in allied agricultural activities, particularly in the summer when water stress is most noticeable.Currently most of the villages have borewells for drinking water purposes.Two significant issues that continue to plague Hosakere and Doddakere Lake are desilting and bund leaking.In Chikkakere Lake, the Kaluves (feeding channel) is inoperative. Since the Raja Kaluve (feeder canal) is clogged with silt, a suction pump is used to push water straight from the lake.Kalyani or stepped temple tanks are present adjacent to Chikkakere Lake.A sacred idol that can be seen nearby under a peepal tree close to the Chikkakere lake serves to further underscore the location's religious significance.The cost of the Hosakere Lake bund leak is estimated to be between 10 and 12 lakhs. Desilting should be carried out under the panchayat's supervision, but this has never happened.


Societal issues

Regarding pay inequalities, certain societal problems were also noted. Many of the people we spoke to held the view that men get more money because they put in more work than women do, including Shivananda, a farmer in Kottur. Concern should be expressed about the speed of immigration, which makes it impossible for immigrants to live comfortably in cities and forces them to live in subpar housing.

As it is uncommon for women in the village to own cars and drive, there are mobility issues for women as well. Asha from Arohana expresses her enthusiasm to learn to ride a scooter. Women's empowerment is hampered by this restriction on their freedom of movement.


Biodiversity significance:

Numerous biodiversity species have been found over the entire region. Lantana Camara, Pongamia Pinnata, Eucalyptus, Morning Glory, Peepal, Tamarind, Neem, and water lettuce are a few of the plant species that have been spotted in and around the Chikakere lake. While certain types of plants are good for the environment, others are not. As an illustration, Eucalyptus trees are charged with a number of offenses, such as ruining watersheds, causing erosion, igniting fires, and blocking indigenous vegetation



     

                                    Morning Glory                                     Pongamia Pinnata 


The lantana plant is a species of High Concern for India and one of the top ten most destructive invasive plants in the world. It interferes with the nitrogen cycle in the soil and challenges native plants for space and resources. Pongamia has several benefits to both people and animals. The production of this honey may be used by rural communities to boost their incomes and carry out apiculture. The leaves have a number of medicinal applications as well. The oil from the seeds can be used as a natural treatment for skin and rheumatic ailments. 

     

                                              Eucalyptus                                  Lanta Camara 


Detailed Report Link:

O Mittur Lake Monitoring Report

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