Kukkarahalli Lake

Kukkarahalli Lake

NAVEENA L. K
Kukkarahalli Lake is spread over 58
hectares with a shoreline of roughly five kilometers in
Manasagangothri, the sprawling campus of the University
of Mysore. Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was responsible
for getting the lake created, in the year 1864, to provide
water for irrigation to about 10,000 acres of land outside the
city. Reckoned to be a jewel in the crown of Mysore, the
picturesque lake, which inspired poet laureate Kuvempu to
pen many of his works, provides the much-needed lung-space
to the city.

Water Quality : A detailed study of the physico - chemical
and bio-chemical parameters of the lake waters carried out in
the period 1981- 2001 confirmed the deteriorating status of
the lake necessitating action for restoration. There was a high
percentage of chemicals but low percentage of total plankton
(43%). The activity of chemicals leads to the liberation of
extra quantity of cellular products which increased to 53.19%.
Lake indicated high productivity of bio-chemical products;


with death and decay of algal blooms adding to the
biochemical concentration. The lake waters showed high
electrolytes, low dissolved oxygen, high phosphate and
nitrogen content with abundance of plankton blooms, all of
which have contributed to a high degree of eutrophication.
The non potability of the water body is indicated by the
high degree of faecal contamination with organisms that
produce H2S that may include forms of Salmonella, Proteus,
Citrobacter and some strains of Klebsiella.The distribution
pattern of plank tonic forms, for the decade ending 2001,
as per laboratory tests of lake’s water samples provides the
values of parameters such as the Chlorococcales, Desmids,
Diatoms, Blue-greens and Euglenoids, as the biological
indicators of water body, as given in table below which testify
to the lake’s eutrophication status. The numbers indicate the
microorganisms present in the sample per litre.

Lake restoration : During the year 2003-2004, with grants
of about US $ 0.2 million (Rs 91 lakhs) provided by the
Asian Development Bank, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure
Development Corporation (KUIDFC) in association with
the University of Mysore under whose jurisdiction the Lake
falls and citizens groups, carried out the restoration works of
the lake. In order to effectively reduce the external loading


of pollutants and the intervention of wastes into the lake
ecosystem the measures implemented have covered the
following with funds provided by the Asian Development
Bank. Bougainvillea flowers.


Kukkarahalli
Lake Entrance
06.00 am - 06.00 pm
Timings
Entry Charges Free
Distance From Located adjoining the Manasgangotri
Mysore
(University of Mysore).