Mysuru: Running through water on a hot summer day is a childhood rite of passage no person should miss. But swimming or splashing water at interactive fountains spouting up at community pools and parks may warrant more caution as the fountains are usually connected to power supply that induces them to dance. Also, people, especially children, may be vulnerable to water-borne diseases like diarrhoea if the water in the unregulated open area is ingested.

We are here speaking about the water fountains at Brindavan Gardens that have turned into swimming pools where tourists are indulging in unrestricted recreational activities.

The fountains are meant for the spectacular and regular show that attracts thousands of tourists every evening. But here they are used for purposes than the musical fountain.

This is Dasara season and thousands of tourists are continuing to pour into Mysuru and the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam and the Brindavan Gardens are must in their itinerary as the Garden has a lot of fountains and colourful lightings.

The peaceful atmosphere and the aesthetic view of the Dam attract tourists and on an average, over 10,000 people visit this Dam every day.

However, the fountains and the water cascades have turned into a play area of late. Star of Mysore reader Vidyuth Shashidhar sent us this report where tourists were spotted splashing in water a couple of days back. “It is very embarrassing to see some people getting into the ponds and playing in the fountains of Brindavan Gardens. This must stop. Shockingly, the Police and the Dam maintenance Department are mute spectators to this activity,” he said.  Apart from getting into the fountains, tourists dangerously walk on the slippery surface of cascades and also get into the flowing water.

 “As far as we know, Brindavan Gardens only has fountains and not the swimming pools. The beauty of these fountains has to be experienced by viewing it and not by getting into the pond and swimming in it,” Vidyuth says. 

He has urged the authorities to see that the decorum of the place is maintained so that the cleanliness of water as well as the spectacular view is not spoiled.