HDK says ‘Pond Man’ Kamegowda's health condition critical; urges govt to give best possible treatment

Bengaluru: Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday, July 25 said that health condition of Kamegowda, the ‘Pond Man’ who is in the eye of a storm for claiming he dug 16 ponds in Kundanadoddi in Dasanadoddi village, Mandya, is critical and requested the state government to give best possible treatment to him.

Taking to Twitter Kumaraswamy wrote, “Pond man Kamegowda’s health condition is critical. It is our responsibility to save his life. I humbly request the state government to give him the best possible treatment.”

“Prime Minister Modi had praised Kamegowda for digging 16 ponds single-handedly over the years, but that alone is not enough they should take care of such people by providing them best treatment,” said Kumaraswamy in another tweet.

Kamegowda, 83-year-old farmer from Dasanadoddi village, who engaged himself in grazing sheep and goats, has dug 16 ponds single-handedly over the years in his farmland and in a nearby hill. He had tested positive for the virus on July 22.

In his monthly radio program “Mann Ki Baat” on June 28, Prime Minister Modi had said that with the onset of southwest monsoon in many parts of the country, people should practice rain-water harvesting to protect the environment, just like Kamegowda was doing in Karnataka even though he was over 80 years old.

“Kamegowda has dug 16 ponds through his hard work. He is a simple farmer, but his personality is extraordinary. The work done by him sets him apart from the others. At his age, Kamegowda takes cattle for grazing and has dug ponds in his village. When asked about his feat, he said as there was water shortage in his area, he was digging more ponds to conserve water for the people,” Modi had said.