HUBBALLI: There are several small and big lakes across the city, but most are crying for attention due to lack of maintenance. The Kempgeri Lake , for instance, is on the verge of extinction.Even though the state government had spent crores of rupees for its development, the lake is getting polluted following release of sewage water into it. The walking path too has been damaged. The minor irrigation department had spent over Rs 2 crore over four years ago for its development.Dhasharath Wali, area corporater of Ward No. 61, said, "This lake was developed by the previous BJP government when Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi was the MLA of this constituency. The department of minor irrigation had developed a waking path, put fencing in place and other works. But now, the lake is filled with thick silt and sewage water is flowing in for several years.""Moreover, development works implemented by the minor irrigation department has not been inaugurated yet," he added.Wali said that the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for its development. "We'll take up desilting and prevent discharge of sewage water into the lake from surrounding areas by constructing a water filter unit outside the lake. This work will be started shortly and residents of this area can use this lake as a picnic spot," the corporater said.R P Annigeri, junior engineer, minor irrigation department, said, "This lake is not under our departm ent's jurisdiction; it comes under the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) but the government had appointed our department as the nodal agency for the work."He added, "We have completed work worth Rs 2 crore. We have completed the work with available grants , but it is facing problems due to poor maintenance by HDMC.""The lake has a heavy deposit of silt, but the minor irrigation department didn't remove this silt. Moreoverthe , agency didn't take necessary action to prevent sewage water from flowing in," said Veeranna Koppad, resident of ward No. 61. He also demanded that the authorities should take up necessary measures.Assistant commissioner V M Tupaki said he took charge as assistant commissioner of Zone No. 10 recently and he doesn't have any idea about the condition of Kempgeri Lake. "I'll take necessary measures if the lake is in poor condition. I'll check whether it comes under HDMC or the minor irrigation department."

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