The Hesaraghatta Story

Conserving a Landscape in the Deccan
Dec 22, 2022
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The 5000 acre catchment including the 1500 acre lake bed is an important ‘lung space’ and a watershed region of the city. Grassland, Scrub forest and wetlands meet here. This area is important for the water security and ground water recharge. It is a large carbon sink. It is a refuge for endangered wildlife. It also is a grazing area for local cattle. Bio security is an important issue for the department of Animal Husbandry. Yet the government isn’t acting to protect the area using the existing law. The proposal to declare this area as a Conservation Reserve under section 36A of the Wildlife Protecton Act (1972) and it was placed before the State Board for Wildlife in January 2021. However it was bull dozed by vested interests and rejected in the meeting. Can we protect this area? Do we need to?

Hesaraghatta is also a water heritage for the city . It was in response to a drought and famine which killed around a 100,000 people that the first piped water supply scheme using steam engines was run from Hesaraghatta. Now many of the systems lie in ruins, forgotten. The revival and preservation of this memory is essential to the present and future of the city.

Adjunct Professor, Azim Premji University Vishwanath S in conversation with photographer, educator and conservationist Mahesh Bhat.