CHAPTER-3

TOPOGRAPHY OF THE STUDY AREA

3. Status of Lakes

According to survey carried out by several workers and researchers on

selected stretches of some of the important fresh water both lotic and lentic aquatic
ecosystem, we already known the ecological stress and states of them. It has been
observed that they are seriously affected by human activities.

What about lentic ecosystem. These are very less in their existence. Some are
still persist and some are extinct like endangered animals. 'Natural precious water
bowl' such as pool, pond, lake, and reservoirs are not receiving water for long time so
they were converted in to agricultural land or they disappear in the name of
urbanization and cilivilization several big and famous lakes like Manasa sarovara in
Himalaya region, Vanivilasa sagara in Chitradurga district, Santhisagara near Shimoga
district etc. are the few lentic nature, natural pools or 'precious bowl' still exists and
tells their historical importance.

Control and protection of small water shed area is desirable for municipal
water supply reservoirs. Even though the entire watershed cannot be purchased or
otherwise provided protection from contamination, an effort should be made to
provide to control through the agreements of purchase of shore line lands.

Feasibility studies of dams and reservoirs should always consider possible

objections from a public health and nuisance stand point, and a proper effort should be
made to mitigate the damage involved. Excess of sediment acumination in lake beds
due to soil erosion that was reduced water reservoir capacity. Due to the deposits of
sediment, dry, odor from decaying vegetation of windblown dust causes the
hazardless to health of animals and human beings. In some cases sewage detention
may augment the hazard. Impounded fresh wood held at a constant level makes ideal
breeding place mosquitoes, thereby creating a nuisance and the possibility of
transmitting malaria, encephalitis and skin irritation.

18
Historical baclcground of Kunigal Lake.

Within few persist; Kunigal Lake still exists in Tumkur (Dist) Kamataka state
and tells its historical importance. Even though, there were no proper maintenance
and guidance. So our study concentrates and gives much prominence to lakes.
Kunigal Doddakere Lake is situated in 1321 hectare place. This water body has being
utilized enormously for irrigation purpose through canals and also domestic and
municipal purpose. But presently due to lack of proper management, check dams the
lake not receiving abundant water, so now it is feeding with Hemavathi River from
Hassan district, once again increasing its original aesthetic value of the lake.

Historically, it is the union of 3 rivers. They are Nagini, Shmsha and Cauvery.
It is also known as " Thriveni sangam " It is constructed before 1000 years ago by
Kothagere Kothappa, he was a one of the solider , Before Kunigal was called as
'Narthanapuri' It is believed that lord Shiva and Parvathi getting danced on the bank
of the lake even stones also inspired and get danced so kuniyuva kallu (thundered
stones) re named as "Kunigal" in kannada literature.

The lake water are used for recreational purpose such as bathing, swimming,
boating, fishing and lake water serves as source of water supply for many villages
and towns. Several pilgrim temples have existed on its bank, thousands of people
come to holy dip in lake during 'Magha Masa' so it has being polluted. Fortunately
lake is conserved and maintained by Public Work Deportment of Kamataka state.

There is a need to create awareness among the public for the conservation,
management, increase scientific and aesthetic value of the lake and to study with the
occurrence and distribution of plankton community, eutrophication status coupled
with Physico-chemical characteristics and also biological properties of water body
Kunigal Lake has selected for research purpose.

19
TOPOGRAPHY.
In the present work was carried out in Kunigal Doddakere belong to
Kunigal Taluk, Tumkur district Kamataka state. The geological condition of the study
area as given, latitude 13-01'-30" and lotitude77-0r-30"

Sources of water
Name of basin: Cauvery.
Name of sub - basin: Shimsha.
Name of source: Nagini and Hemavathi River.

Features of dam
Type: Homogeneous Earthen Bund.
Height: 11.00 m
Length: 2000 m
Top width: 3.00 to 4.50
Bottom width: 43.00
Cill level: 92.36
Submersion area (he): 416.2
Area (potential) (he): 1321

Important controlling levels in meter

Top of the Dam: 102.70 M
Maximum water level: 100.90 M
Full Reservoir level: 100.00 M
Minimum drawn down level: 93.28 M
Lowest River bed level: 91.70 M
Dead storage capacity: 1.37 M
Catchments area in km 168 M
Gross capacity: 15.07 M
Sill level of irrigation sluices R.B.C.92.38 M, L.B.C.94.04 M

20
Water utilization (MCUM)
Withdrawal by canal: 17.20
Reservoir losses: 1.50
Gross utilization: 18.70

Downstream drainage details.

There are no water logging slushy condition or growth or aquatic weeds on
down streams of the dam, and there is no any standing pool of water. The downstream
area is sufficiently clean and freely draining. Wells do not exist in the vicinity of lake;
hence depth of ground water table cannot be assessed.

Surface drainage of downstream slope.

The condition of downstream slope drainage arrangements maintained
satisfactorily. It is free from vegetation growth and debris. Small rain cuts are formed
in certain location of the slope.

Seepage measurements, of lake has not been done. Seepage Measurement

Devices are not provided so abnormal rise or fall in relation to a certain reservoir level
elevation is not knovra. There were no measuring points properly located, constructed
and maintained so as to give accurate and reliable measurements of seepage.

The climatic condition of the district constitute, the rainy season starts from
June to October with September and October receiving the highest rainfall. It receives
rain fall both from south-west and North-East monsoon winds. The winter season
starts in December and extends up to the end of February. Summer season begins
from March and up to the end of May.

21
 Table.2. Average annual rain fall.

Year Rain fall Year Rain Year Rain

in mm fall in fall in
mm mm
1994 640.90 2000 867.00 2006 995.10
1995 635.00 2001 730.20 2007 675.20
1996 1212.90 2002 534.20 2008 550.00
1997 893.00 2003 269.26 2009 105.9
1998 761.10 2004 595.20 2010 96.16
1999 994.20 2005 775.00

The main occupation in rural area is agriculture. It is impossible for

agriculture purpose due to irregular rainfall. Therefore it is inhabitable for them to
utilize irrigation system. Development of irrigation in India started during the regime
of British period. Utilization of water resources drawn attention of water resources
only after gaining independence of India therefore importance is given in our five
years plan for irrigation. And funds also reserved for irrigation. The irrigation system
is old as its civilization. Here development of water resources is being done through
arranging the water to flow in irrigation canals. Conservation of water available in
small ditch and ditches are preserved and stocked in small lakes and ponds. In India
due to geographical natural causes development of water resources has gained
importance.

The impotent occupation of the district is agriculture and forming. The

important crop is ragi, Areca nut, coconut, vegetables and a variety of pulses. For all
these formers depend on bore well water resources and the land premises' of water
bodies irrigated. But fortunately most of the big water bodies are artificially filled by
the Hemavathi canal so they can sustain throughout the year and serves the demand.
Among such Kunigal Doddakere is one. With this topographical background the
presented investigation has been undertaken.

22
 >^ J Ouftarga
' Bllapur

ICofalagefe*

G^jfabi Tunkufcr-
INDIA KARNATAKAfjp,^

TUMKUR

Fig.l. Location of Study area (Kunigal Lake)

23
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY SITE
Tumkur is one of the districts of Kamataka. It has 11 Taluk head quarters.
Such as, Bellavi, Chikkanayakanahally, Gaubbi, Koratagere, MadhugiriPavagada,
Sira, Tiptur, Turuvekere and Tumkur. Kunigal Lake is belongs to Kunigal taluk, which
located in the premises of Kunigal town. The water of the lake has being utilized for
irrigation and municipal purposes though canal, but nowadays due to lack of proper
management check dams, due to bad land use management of lake not receiving
abundant water, and by pollution, the water body can be rendered potable and usable
for domestic and irrigation purpose. It should be meet state and district public health
standards have to bacteriological purity, standards with regard to taste, color, odor,
and hardness. The degree in which objectionable characteristics can be corrected will
depend on their nature and concentration in the raw supply on the cost of necessary
remedial measures.

The year of construction and completion of the lake is unknown. But believed
that it was constructed before 400 B.C. Total area of Kunigal Lake is 1321 hectares.
The main water sources from rain water, catchment area and Nagini, Shimsha,
Cauvery and Hemavathi River. The lake irrigates 541hecters of lands through canals.
Its water is used for semidry crops of kuski crops many component of the dam has
earthen bund. The serial number of the lake in the national register of large Dam is
420. The lake is maintained by the assistant executive engineer No. 14 Hemavathi
canal sub- division Kunigal, under the department of irrigation. Kunigal Doddakere
Lake has been taken for the course of study. It may be small or large, simple or
complex, serving one purpose or several. But it should provide the facilities to
accomplish the optimum development of related physical resources and biological
parameters. The geological features of the study area as, latitude 13-0r-30" and
latitude 77-01'-30"

Based on Topography of the lake sited above, feature of the dam, sources of
water, impotents controlling levels, downstream drainage details, surface drainage of
downstream slope, seepage measurement armual rain fall and catchment area and
considering the accessibility, three sampling station were chosen for the present
investigation to get the overall holistic ecological characteristic of the lake.

24
The selected sampling stations were decided in the light of objectives of
environmental monitoring programme and simple characterization of water a few
random samples taken from surface during morning time and bathymetric map of the
study area such as, point of inflow, out flow, pollution, human activity were taken in
to consideration.
Station 1:- Organically polluted by sewage water nearby village towards
Northern side.
Station 2:- Downstream drainage of the lake, which is sufficiently clean
and free draining
Station 3:- Surface drainage of downstream, which is free from vegetation
growth and debris certain rain cuts are formed in certain
location of the slope.
The lake has rich in vegetation in its surrounding area such in vicinity of
protected bunds, which helps to prevent soil erosion, wind flow and direct
interference of animals as well as anthropogenic activities. The following common
angiospermic plants are documented such as Acatia arabica, Achyranthnes aspera,
Barlaria crystata, Casta sophera.Calotropis procera, Canthium indicum, Cassia tora,
Duranta plumeria, Ecephorbia splendense, Bambusa anindicumjpomea, Justicia
simplex ,Leucas aspera, Lantana camera, Mimosa pudica, Sida acuta, Plumbago,
Tridox procumbance,
Fig.l.Sampling station-1

Anthrapogenic activities at sampling station-1

25
Fig.3.Sampling station-2

26
Fig.4.Sampling Station-3

27