INTRODUCTORY TALK |
S.V.Subramanyam,
Dean, Faculty of Science,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560 012.
Email: svs@physics.iisc.ernet.in
Lakebeds and riverbeds have been the preferred sites of human settlement for a long time. This has been true in the Indian peninsula also. The Indus civilization, Gangetic settlement, settlements on the Cauvery, Krishna basins are examples of the same. The historical background of Bangalore also has a similar connection. The Mysore Archeological Report of 1914-15 makes a reference to a stone tablet found in Nageswara temple, near Begur tank 10 km south of Bangalore. On this tablet is a reference to Bangalore Kale. The further history of Bangalore is closely associated with Kempegowda of 16th century who built the Kempambudhi tank as a mark of worship of his family deity, Kempamma. He also built the Dharmambudhi tank to pursue 'Dharma' and the Sampangi tank to provide drinking water. This tankbed is the present Sampangiramanagar where the Ulsoor gate is located. The Siddikatte tank too was constructed which is the present city market area and the Karanjikere to provide drinking water.
Around 1867, Bowring, the British Commissioner built the Miller tank in the cantonment area, the Shoolay tank where the present football stadium exists, and the ulsoor tank. The Chief Engineer of Bangalore Sankey was responsible for the Sankey tank. In 1892, Seshadri Iyer, the Dewan of Mysore realised the acute water requirements of the growing Bangalore population and built a dam for the Arkavathi River to house the Hesarghatta Lake. In 1930's Sir M.Visweswaraya Committee of the Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Krishna Devaraja Wodeyar executed a plan to construct the Thippagondanahalli tank.
A large number of tanks existed in and around Bangalore. The names of the many extensions have been a testimony to the lakes of the earlier era. The Channammanakere Achkattu, Leggere, Abbigere, Konanakunte, Mathikere, Kargunte, Sarakki kere, Tavarekere, Agasanakere, Mavalli tank area are examples of these. (kere, kunte in Kannada language means tank).
The N.Lakshmana Rao Committee in its report of 1985 lists about 127 lakes that existed in and around Bangalore. 14 lakes more were added to this list. But we can count on our fingertips the lakes that exist today.
The lakes today are an endangered species due to many reasons. (i) encroachment of the lake area for habitation, agriculture, reclamation, litigation, (ii) injection of sewrage like- domestic, industrial and dumping of wastes. (iii) mud lifting and brick making industries, (iv) grazing and (v) stoppage of water inflow.
It is needless to point out the importance of lakes. The lakes are beneficial to human habitation in many ways. (i) hydrological factors - conservation of water (ii) drinking water supply to the population, (iii) temperature comforts; If we consider one sq. km of land area exposed to a day of sunlight, the temperature will raise by about 8 C. A similar
area of concrete surface will see an increase of temperature of 12C. But a water surface of the same area will see an increase of only 3 C. These changes are due to the differences in the heat absorption of land, concrete and water. The formation of hot zones in many of urban environments is due to this factor. (iv) The supply of clean air is easier on a water bed. (v) the biotic environment such as fish, birds, fertilization need a larger water surface. All this discussion, points out to the positive impact of lakes on human settlements. It is therefore necessary for us to nurture and preserve the lakes in urban environments not only for our pleasure but also for our survival.