Mangaluru: ‘Oxidation pond’ to purify Gujjarakere’s water

Mangaluru: The City Corporation here is planning to adopt an ‘oxidation pond’ system in order to preserve and prevent polluting the Gujaratakere, which is presently undergoing renovations.

This will be the first time in Mangaluru that this method is being implemented for the prevention of water pollution in a lake.

Works began on Gujjarakere a few months ago under the SmartCity project. However, two months ago SmartCity projects were temporarily shut down.

The water level in the Gujjarakere is full. Monsoon is set to begin in the next few months making it difficult for the purification of the water.

For this reason, it was decided to adopt an oxidation pond system to purify Gujjarakere’s water. In this system, water will be purified through a separate unit and sent back to the lake.

The redevelopment works of Gujjarakere will include a Pushkarni, an enclosure wall, steel railings, footpath, jogging track, cycling track, roads, rainwater drains, table, seats, electric lamps and a toilet block.

The Gujjarakere Teertha Sanrakshane Vedike’s Principal Secretary Nemu Kothari said, “The protection of Gujjarakere is absolutely essential to prevent the city from facing a water problem in the future. In this regard, the purity of the lake water must be maintained. The local government must ensure that no sewage is discharged into the lake. In the next few months, the rainy season begins, it must be ensured that the rainwater does not flow into the lake. The development of Gujjarakere has cost about Rs 6 crore to date. The work has begun with the assistance of local legislators. The work is expected to be completed in the near future. The Vedike has been involved in activism for the conservation of the lake for the past 18 years.”