HAL joins hands with IAHV to rejuvenate Kumudavathi river

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited today said it has joined hands with International Association for Human Values (IAHV), a sister organisation of the Art of Living, to rejuvenate Kumudavathi river.
Kumudavathi, a tributary of river Arkavathi originates from Shivagange Hills in Neelamangala Taluk of Bengaluru rural District.
HAL in a release said revival of dried up natural water resources is the key objective of this entire initiative to help the villagers and spruce-up the natural habitat in the region.
It said there are 18 mini water sheds planned over the whole river basin declared as "over-exploited" and no "borewell zone".
HAL project covering around 26 km radius has ensured construction of boulder checks (34), recharging of well (34) and borewells (7), building of water pools (10) of 20 x 20 meters with five meter depth and planting of 5000 saplings. These plants help in long term soil restoration and enhance water absorbing, it added.

The river basin is spread over 460 sq. Km and has 278 villages in the catchment area, HAL said adding, the Kumudavathi River was providing water to Tippagondanahalli reservoir which in turn was supplying water to 30 per cent of Bengaluru city.
At present reservoir is almost dry with scanty inflow from the river.
Natural streams can be revived by reducing the soil erosion, increasing soil moisture, artificially accelerating the process of ground water recharge and by increasing the natural vegetation, the company said.