Karkala: Anekere lake shrinking due to apathy and neglect

R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)

Karkala, Oct 25: The historic Anekere lake has started shrinking in area over the recent years. While the indifference of the government is a prime reason for it, the land grabbers are also to be blamed.

Though the area of the lake in government records is 24 acres, it has shrunk to 14 acres now. The age-old Anekere is divided to form Sigadikere. A road passes between the lake and a large portion of the lake has been illegally acquired and converted into agricultural land by people.

As King Pandya the sixth had built a Basadi in between the lake, called “Kerebasadi”. As elephants used to play in the lake during the rule of Bairavarasa, it was named “Anekere”.

The present Anekere and Sigadikere are the sources of water for local people. As the lake does not dry up even during scorching heat of summer, the wells in the vicinity also have water in them. Though there is no scarcity of water here, the ineffective drainage system has made the well water dirty and created artificial scarcity of water. Several types of water creatures, birds and flower plants can be found here. Besides that, rare red lotus can also be found.
 

Dangerous weeds

The weeds have spread over the lake and adversely affected the growth of red lotus. Though several groups are coming forward to rid the lake of weeds since 1990, they keep growing back and rising like the phoenix.
 

Ban on fishing

Kantavara Beedu’s K B Jinnaraj, advocate and leader of Karnataka unification committee had written to the then British government that it is against the teachings of Jainism to catch fish in the lake. The British who supported his argument banned fishing in the lake. The ban is still in force and nobody comes for fishing here. Those who do are arrested by the police and released after warnings.
 

Need for development

A main road passes through the side of the lake which is likely to be made two way. There are appeals to construct seating arrangements like in stadiums when the wall is built at the edge of the road. The arrangement is bound to enhance the beauty of the lake besides being useful for the citizens.

Social organizations and citizens need to come forward to maintain the park. It is necessary to remove weeds and stop the release of drainage water to the lake.
 

Shivaram Karanth's role in saving the lake

When the land was found scarce for a bus stand, a proposal was made to fill a portion of the lake and build the bus stand there. As it would impact the environment, there was a protest against it. Shivarama Karanth also had joined the protest. The lake ultimately remained intact.
 
Rehmat, president of Karkala municipal council has said that Anekere is getting neglected by the irrigation department. As Anekere is in the heart of Karkala its neglect is a blemish in the beauty of the town. Hence the government will be requested for special grant for its renovation and maintenance, he said.