Environmentalist Anand Rao collapses while demanding lake rejuvenation

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 23: Ananda Rao, an environmentalist, collapsed when he was speaking about the historic worth of Gujjara Kere and necessity of renovating it on Feb 22, Monday. 







Mr. Rao had a massive cardiac arrest when he was explaining the situation to District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar; Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj; and other officials, who had visited Gujjara Kere. Mr. Rao was immediately taken to the hospital, but it was not possible to save his life. Just before he collapsed, he told the officers: “You must make arrangements to clean the pond, which has great historic worth, and enable the future generation to use its water. I will not see it because I am old man.”

Mr Rao was among the leading activists who have been demanding the rejuvenation of this lake, which has been abandoned for a number of years. Rao and the other Gujjara Kere activists demanded that the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and the district administration take the required steps to clear the pond of silt, disconnect the drainage pipe passing through it, and transform it into the rich water source it once was. The activists claimed that this could solve the city’s water problems. 

The pond covers 3.80 acres of land, is associated with Mangaladevi Temple, and has great historic worth. The pond was abandoned when drainage water was let into it. The MCC claims that it had not shown any interest in the lake because of the drainage connection. However, the local activists allege that some people planned to encroach upon the lake land and level it by filling it with mud. The activists prevented this from happening by protesting vehemently against it in the form of letters to the MCC and the DC.

Noting that about 1 acre of lake land has been encroached upon, Palemar has instructed the officials concerned to reacquire this land. He said that the MCC will require Rs 99 lakh to rejuvenate the lake.