MCC takes up Gujjana Kere rejuvenation project

MCC takes up Gujjana Kere rejuvenation project

Mangalore Toay News Network

Mangalore, Feb 16: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has undertaken the task of reviving Gujjara Kere, a dying lake in Jeppu, Mangaore. The civic body has finally undertaken this project of rejuvenating the lake thanks to the repeated efforts of the Gujjara Kere Teertha Samrakshana Vedike, an organization formed by the people of Jeppu to save the lake. The committee has been fighting for this cause since the last 6 years. 

P Nemu Kottari, the secretary of this committee, said that the Mangalore Taluk office conducted a recent survey, which has revealed that around 10.43 cents of the 3.43 acre lake has been encroached upon. A petty shop and an anganwadi building have been illegally constructed on the lake. Moreover, one part of the lake has also been used to construct a road, said Mr. Kottari. 

Mr. Kottari said that, if Gujjana Kere is mainatained properly, it could satisfy the drinking water requirements of all Jeppu. When there was water in Gujjana Kere, none of the wells in the locality had gone dry because the water of the lake used to recharge the wells, he claimed.

Commission of the Corporation K N Vijayaprakash said that the estimated cost of rejuvenating the lake is Rs 2 crore. The first stage of the project, which commenced on Monday, has an estimated cost of Rs 99.5 lakh. The second stage is bound to cost Rs 1 crore. A proposal has already been submitted to the state government; and now the MCC is awaiting a positive response. 

Executive Engineer of MCC M K Bhaskar said that the first stage of the project includes removal of silt and reconstructing the bund of the lake. Steps will be constructed on the inner side of the lake, and seating arrangements will be made on its bund. Mr. Bhaskar said that the first stage will be completed in two months. 

The Department of Minor Irrigation had last removed the silt in the lake in March 2002. Right now, nobody is using Gujjara Kere.