Karkala : It has been several years since the government constituted the Anti-Naxal Force headquartered in Karkala to launch a crackdown on the Naxal who were active in the Western Ghat areas and adjoining villages. But, the failure of the government to provide basic amenities to the ANF personnel has now led to a grave problem-the contamination of Ramasamudra which is the source of drinking water for Karkala town during summer.
The wastes released from the residential quarters of the ANF personnel is landing directly in the Ramasamudra making matters worse. The ANF personnel are staying in a building belonging to the Karnataka Tourism Department on a one acre land nearby. Over 200 ANF personnel are camping here. Moreover, around 75 ANF and KSRP personnel who were camping in the rented building on court road too have shifted to the residential building of ANF cops at Ramasamudra.
But with the authorities miserably failing to provide adequate infrastructural facilities, and in the absence of proper arrangements for the ANF cops, the wastes released from the place is landing directly in the Ramasamudra.
History of Ramasamudra : Ramasamudra in Karkala has an interesting history. Veerabhairarasa who ruled the region from 1390 Ad to 1420 AD was an influential rule who had Keravara (present Kervase) as his capital. The ruler had two children Veera Pandya and Ramanatha. Ramanatha who was a pious man had died during the lifetime of his father. It was in his memory that the huge lake Ramasamudra was constructed in a scenic area.
Source of drinking water : Prior to the construction of the Mundli dam for supplying water to Karkala town, water from Ramasamudra used to be supplied to the town. As this lake never dries up even during summer, Karkala never faced water scarcity (However, it is an irony that artificial water scarcity arises in the recent times owing to the lackadaisical approach of officials and elected representatives).
Ever since a dam was constructed at Mundli across Swarna river in 1994, the water was channelized from the dam to the water treatment plant at Ramasamudra and then supplied to the town. During summer whenever Swarna river dried up, Karkala receives water from Ramasamudra. This being the case, the contamination of Ramasamudra waters is a matter of grave concern which needs immediate attention of the authorities.
