Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Aug 29: Two mammoth trees lying by the side of historical Kolya pond, near Sampya of Aryapu village, got uprooted and fell across the pond, damaging it and also covering the pond completely.

The road portion by the side of the lake is on the verge of collapsing which may hamper traffic movement. Kolya pond has the history of time of various kings who ruled this state.

This pond is also used to immerse the idols that are venerated during Ganesha and Sharada festivals. Zilla panchayat had developed this pond at a cost of Rs 16 lac 10 years ago.

Kolya pond which is 10 feet deep, does not dry even during hot summer. Locals put larvae in this pond for rearing. Even now lots of fish are there in the pond. Now two huge trees of tamarind and banyan that were by the side of the pond got uprooted and fallen across the pond. The retainer wall of the pond is also collapsed due to the impact of trees falling.

Locals say that the leaves of the trees that have fallen on the pond will decay in due course and cause contagious diseases.

In addition to the damage of pond, the trees have also damaged one part of the road. Mud under the concrete road has caved in.

If it rains further, the road portion may collapse further causing obstruction of traffic. Heavy traffic movement is already prohibited by the gram panchayat.

Kolya pond has the history of people, who used to travel on horses from Mangaluru to Mysuru or vice versa during British era, used to feed water to their horses in this pond. Public is urging local administration to quick action and save both pond and the nearby road.