A ceremonial Bagina Arpane (ritual offering to the water body) was performed with great fervor at the rejuvenated lake in Bannihalli village, marking the successful completion of a significant restoration project. The lake, now brimming and overflowing, stands as a testament to community-driven development under the esteemed Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development project.
The event witnessed the gracious presence of key dignitaries and active community members. The proceedings were led by Shri Shashidhar, President of the Bannihalli Lake Committee, and Shri Uday K., Project Officer. Official representation included Shri Pramod Kumar, Taluk Agriculture Officer; Shri Vinod, Range Supervisor; and Smt. Preeti, Service Representative. The village community was well-represented by former Dairy Chairman Shri Parameshayya, Lake Committee Vice President Shri Umesh, and prominent village leaders Shri Kiran B S and Shri Jagadish. The ceremony was notably attended by the women of Bannihalli village and members of various local associations, highlighting widespread community involvement.
Addressing the gathering, Lake Committee President Shri Shashidhar provided a retrospective, detailing how the lake’s restoration was made possible six years ago through a generous grant of Rs.10 lakhs from the Dharmasthala project. “Since its rejuvenation, this lake has consistently filled each year, becoming the cornerstone of agricultural prosperity for our region,” he stated. He extended profound and everlasting gratitude to His Holiness Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade for his visionary benevolence. Shri Shashidhar also commended the pivotal role of the village women, acknowledging them as the unwavering strength behind all social initiatives in Bannihalli.
Project Officer Shri Uday K. elaborated on the broader mission of the Dharmasthala. He emphasized the relentless dedication of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade towards reviving traditional water bodies, which are the lifelines of rural Karnataka. Shri Uday K. also shared significant milestones achieved by the project, announcing that a total of 1,032 lakes have been rejuvenated across the state, including 65 in Tumakuru district, with Tiptur taluk alone benefiting from 15 such restored water bodies. He highlighted that the direct beneficiaries of these initiatives are farmers, livestock, local biodiversity, and notably, women who bear a significant share of water-related responsibilities.
The ceremony concluded on a note of collective optimism, with the community pledging to preserve this vital resource for sustainable agricultural growth and ecological balance.