SKDRDP rejuvenates 160 tanks and lakes across Karnataka during 2024-25

SKDRDP rejuvenates 160 tanks and lakes across Karnataka during 2024-25

By the time World Water Day is celebrated on March 22, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) would have rejuvenated as many as 160 tanks across Karnataka, including 11 in wildlife areas, during 2024-25.

Since the SKDRDP initiated the tank rejuvenation project in 2016, as conceptualised by its president and Rajya Sabha Member D. Veerendra Heggade with the theme ‘Nammooru Namma Kere’, the team has rejuvenated 889 tanks by removing 2.4 crore cubic metres of silt, thereby enhancing the water holding capacity of tanks by 530 crore gallons.

The rejuvenation through which 366 acres of encroachment was removed, irrigates 2.58 lakh acres of farm land, thereby benefiting 4.06 lakh families. The project incurred a cost of ₹69.05 crore from SKDRDP funds, besides beneficiary farmers spending on silt transportation, said Project Executive Director S. S. Anil Kumar.

Within a couple of months, the number of tanks rejuvenated would reach 1,000, he added.

Following heavy rains in 2024, the rejuvenation work was taken up a bit late. Yet, 160 tanks have been rejuvenated across Karnataka up to March 2025. As many Kere Samitis (tank committees) comprising 1,760 farmers and women members were formed to take care of the rejuvenated tanks with a nodal officer looking after each tank under the guidance of seven experienced engineers.

Upon the onset of monsoon, Kere Samiti members and villagers would plant saplings of local and fruit-bearing varieties on tank bunds, thereby greening the water bodies.

The rejuvenation saw deployment of 242 earth movers to remove silt, and 4,304 tractors and tippers to transport silt while farmers in the respective tank command areas transported 12.5 lakh silt to their farm land.