Gujjarakere– the ‘Killer Lake’ Breeding Mosquitoes & Spreading Dengue Pose Danger to Residents
Mangaluru: Many ministers, MP’s, MLA’s and MCC Mayors during the last so many years had promised to turn Gujjarakere into something good, but all in vain. The last person to develop and give assurances of developing Gujjarakere was MLA J R Lobo– was before his defeat in the last election. Later it was the turn of the newly elected MLA Vedavyas Kamath to take up the project which has been left unfinished by other politicians. Speaking after inspecting Gujjarakere and holding talks with the officials and engineers from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), MLA Kamath has promised that Gujjarakere will be developed as a tourist spot by 2018 year-end. But the residents in the vicinity of Gujjarakere then were skeptical saying that they will only believe when the project materializes? And the residents were right, instead of Gujjarakere turning into a “TOURIST SPOT” has turned into a “MOSQUITO BREEDING SPOT”?
On 29 July 2018, MLA Kamath had said “We want to develop Gujjarakere as a tourist spot. Sewage from underground drainage (UGD) is leaking into the lake water. I have asked MCC officials to plug the seepage of sewage into the lake. A walking track will be developed around the lake. Efforts will be made to check rainwater from entering the lake. After taking opinion from NITK experts, the officials will take measures to check the growth of weeds in the lake.” Seems like it was just talking and false assurance from the MLA, because the present residents say that until now, they have not seen any officials coming and doing any inspection or any start-up work.
One resident speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “To find a solution to the problems of seepage of sewage into wells, the MCC should ensure that only rainwater flows in the stormwater drains. The UGD system should be upgraded. Also that years ago, the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) promised to renovate Gujjarakere Lake, complete with a jogging track with inter-locking tiles, steps, seating arrangements on all sides, and diversion of sewage joining it. However, instead of jogging-track, the lake is now full of water hyacinth, with neighbours complaining that all the money spent on it has gone down the drain. Seating arrangements and jogging track were nowhere in sight. The lake has turned out to be a dump yard, multiple drainage connections lead to it and a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Every year we hear that crores or lakhs of rupees have been sanctioned for the Gujjarakere development, but we have not seen any development. So where has the sanctioned money gone? The bet went into politicians, MLA’s and area corporators pockets! Years ago, about Rs. 2 crores was sanctioned for the modernization and protection of this rectangular lake, but today, to approach the tank one has to cross bushes, weeds and heaps of dumped mud. So much so that some people unhesitatingly find it a fit place to ease themselves. Narayan, yet another resident said, “Every time they make plans, later construction is not well planned. The amount of money spent on this lake has gone waste. This was once a Holy place; today drainage water from nearby buildings ends here. Even the steps leading to the lake have cracks, and part of it had collapsed.
Gujjarakere is spread across 3.43 acre and was a source of drinking water in the past and associated with the religious ceremonies of the nearby Mangaladevi Temple and Marigudi temples. But now, its a HISTORY? Only when you see it you will believe it, under what condition the lake is? Presently Gujjarakere, with a history of over 1800 years is at the centre of the dengue and malaria outbreak in the City. On the brighter side, if it happens, this scare may see the revival of the lake with residents nearby demanding that the lake be desilted– will kit happen or not, God only will know?
The lake is linked to two distinguished saints, Macchendranatha and Gorakshanatha, who lived in the surrounding areas of Mangalore. The two of them were celebrated deities of the famous Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple. This lake is also connected to nearby famous temples like Mahatobara Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Halekote Sri MariyammaMahishamardini Temple, Bolar and Sri Gorakshanatha Temple, Gorakshadhand. But the negligence towards this lake by the district administration and MCC has resulted in the present condition of Gujjarakere.
Secretary of Gujjarakere Thirtha Samrakshana P Nemu Kottari speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “For decades we have been fighting with the concerned officials for the revival of this lake, but no action was taken by anyone. We even had told the authorities that with stranded and stagnant water in the lake it is prone to dengue and malaria, and no one took it seriously. And look what happened now, this lake has given scope for mosquito breeding, thereby spread dengue and malaria. Even if the district administration trying to wash their hands and feels that Gujjarakere may not be responsible for dengue outbreak, but if those residents living nearby to it get affected with dengue or malaria, then there has to be a connection, isn’t it- and there would be no doubt about it. If you stand near the lake even for a minute, you are bitten by a large number of mosquitoes. And what are these officials talking about?”
“Even before the start of monsoon, we had submitted a memorandum to DC to take care of the situation of the lake and to come up with suitable measures. Even the drainage system in the area is pathetic. In spite of all these issues, no concerned authorities took any serious action, and now they are doing all kinds of prevention measures against Dengue and Malaria. After six deaths and nearly 500 dengue cases” added Kottari. Also speaking to media few days ago, Nandan Shetty, a resident of Bolar, who was being treated at a private hospital for dengue had said, “Had the district officials taken up measures on time, the outbreak could have been surely controlled. Dengue was first reported from a colony in Mahakalipadpu, near to Gujjarakere and spread to other areas. Are the officials ready to take the blame for their negligence towards this outbreak, I guess not?”
Sources reveal that a few days ago, in a colony near Jeppu at least 19 people from 10 houses were hospitalized with fever. Yet another resident had said that sanitizing of the areas was taken up too late. Even water samples from Gujjarakere were found to be unfit for drinking. In the meantime, the dept of aquatic animal health management-college of fisheries has confirmed the presence of abnormal fecal coliform (a bacteria) count. So until MLA V Kamath’s dream of developing Gujjarakere into a tourist spot, we all have to keep our fingers crossed, and be happy when the place ACTUALLY becomes a tourist spot. But if the money sanctioned for the project is swallowed by our corrupt politicians and MCC officials even before the project starts or finishes, then the project will be left to the next elected MLA? Bah humbug!
