Public vigilance helped conserve Mysuru’s lakes, says activist at Mysuru Literature Festival-2026

Citizens’ participation and sustained public commitment are crucial to safeguarding the environment, activists said on Sunday (July 5), citing several successful people’s movements that helped protect Mysuru’s lakes and other eco-sensitive zones.

Speaking at a session on ‘The Responsibility of Citizens in Safeguarding Mysuru’s Environment and Lakes’ during the Mysuru Literature Festival-2026, they said public support had played a decisive role in conserving the city’s ecosystem, from protecting lakes to preserving trees.

Recalling the campaign to save Lingambudhi Lake, environmental activist U.N. Ravikumar said a people’s movement successfully prevented the Outer Ring Road from passing through the lake, an ecologically sensitive area.

Mr. Ravikumar also spoke about the efforts of environmental groups to protect the Purnaiah Canal, which carries rainwater to Kukkarahalli Lake, one of Mysuru’s prominent water bodies and an important habitat for migratory birds as well as a vital green lung for the city.

“Birds and animals are the first to warn us when something is going wrong with nature. We understood that message, and many environmentally conscious citizens came together to protect Kukkarahalli lake,” he said.

He noted that the transfer of Lingambudhi Lake to the Forest Department nearly three decades ago proved crucial for its conservation. Had it not being protected, the lake — now located in the heart of the expanding city — would have faced serious threats from urbanisation, he observed.

Mr. Ravikumar said a public hearing that favoured conservation efforts ultimately ensured that the alignment of the Outer Ring Road did not encroach upon the lake precincts.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) S.G. Vombatkere spoke on the roles and responsibilities of citizens as well as public servants in protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development.

Parashurame Gowda of Parisarakkagi Naavu highlighted the growing impact of climate change and warned against the environmental costs of unchecked development. He expressed concern over the contamination of rivers, indiscriminate felling of trees in the name of development, and the deteriorating health of agricultural soils due to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

H.S. Champa also shared her views on the topic at the session.