Sir,

This refers to the recent report “Expert Committee constituted for Kukkarahalli Lake.”  The Committee members as I know are irrigation experts. The Deputy Commissioner should have included one sanitary expert in the Committee. However, before giving their report to the Karnataka Lake Development Authority, I want them to consider the following details:

1) The walking distance of the Kukkarahalli Lake is 3.60 km in length. So the area of the Tank is 1.40 sq km or 290 acres.

2) As seen from the website the Tank capacity is 89 mcft. To verify the same the present capacity of the Tank is to be measured by the block levels of the Tank or by any new methods. The present volume of water is also to be assessed to enable to arrive at the extent of silt deposited.

3) It appears that sewage water has entered into Kukkarahalli Tank since  30-40 years and no fresh rain water has entered. All  feeder channels are blocked by building constructions activity. The present water is of sewage only. So it is necessary to test for b.o.d of the present water  at different places.

4) The chemical analysis of the dry silt and the wet silt of the  Lake is necessary to know the extent of sewage deposited in the silt. Depletion of dissolved oxygen depends upon the extent of sewage content  in the Lake.

5) In order to fill the Tank by 89 mcft of fresh water, the catchment area of 16 sq miles should necessarily be available and with 30 inches annual rainfall, it is possible to harness 89 mcft of fresh water. It is important that the runoff should necessarily be  channelised to the Kukkarahalli Tank only.

6) Annual inflow details of backwash water  from Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW) are to be recorded. Necessary V notch may be erected at the entry of water into Tank.

7) Measuring gauges at different places are to be erected in the Tank, to asses the volume of water in the Tank at different periods.

8) Since the capacity of e-harmonisers are not known it is better to erect two cascade aerators  on the north bank on either side.

9) Suitable measuring devices are to be erected at the entry of fresh water from catchment area to the Kukkarahalli Tank.

10) Any report without factual details do not have any sanctity.

– P.S. Chandranna, Superintending Engineer (Retd.) Mysuru , 18.3.2017