Raichur: Manchlapur Lake, spread over about 175 acres, located on the outskirts of Manchlapur village, was once the main source of drinking water for the residents of village. This apart, the lake was also used for irrigation of about 200 acres of agricultural land.
But now, it is a thing of past as the stink and mosquito menace around the lake have been haunting the residents. The expansion of Raichur and setting up of more industries has triggered migration to the outskirts and incrÂeased the amount of garbage. EklaÂspur village, located close to the city, is now being used as a dumpyard for its solid waste, while liquid waste is being dumped at the lake.
While trucks with solid waste are directed to Eklaspur, drains carrying untreated liquid waste including sewerage water and waste from factories are being diverted to Manchalpur Lake. Tayappa who works as coolie at Raichur APMC says: “We were drinking water from the lake about ten years ago.
After waste from Raichur began flowing in, the water is now contaminated and people have stopped using the water and those who use it risk various health hazards.” The situation of ManÂchÂlapur village is also no different.
The villagers said their efforts to prevent Raichur sewerage from flowing into their tank have also gone in vain. Though an appeal was made to the deputy commissioner in this regard, nothing has changed and polluted waste water still flows into the tank, they alleged.
