A shepherd and his gift to Kundinibetta

While Bollywood biopic Manjhi-The Mountain Man starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui has immortalised the story of Dashrath Manjhi, a poor labourer in Bihar who carved out a road through a rocky hill, an equally inspirational story in Karnataka needs to be celebrated.

This time it is Kamegowda, a shepherd who has spent a lifetime creating a chain of waterbodies around a hill, amidst rocky terrain. When you travel from Bengaluru to Shivanasamudra on National Highway 948, you cannot miss a massive hill on the right after crossing Malavalli, a small town some 100 km from the Silicon City. The hillock — Kunduru Betta, also called Kundinibetta — now boasts of eight ponds and six check-dams — in all 14 structures.

The uniqueness of these waterbodies is that they were created single-handedly by Kamegowda over the past several decades with the purpose of making water available to the animals and birds that have made the hill their habitat. “There were no waterbodies when I started bringing sheep to graze many decades ago,” recalls octogenarian Kamegowda, who resides in the nearby Dasanadoddi village. “Seeing the plight of the animals and birds, I decided to create these ponds, some of which store water all through the year.”

The Kundinibetta Hill is part of the Kaveri basin, but does not fall in the command area. Livestock rearing is a key occupation in this relatively dry part of Mandya district.

“Initially, I started digging the earth with the stick that I used to control my flock and then I moved on to use the chisel, shovel and other tools to cut through the rocky layers of the hill. I would check the quality of the soil before deciding on the location of these ponds, to see if it is non-porous. Of late, I have been hiring an earthmover on a rental basis to create the bunds for the small check-dams,” he explains.

Ingenious engineering

Around these waterbodies, Kamegowda has planted peepal and jamun trees, among others, and has messages painted on the boulders conveying the importance of environmental conservation. Though he has never been to school, the waterbodies that he has created have some interesting features which only an environmentalist could have thought of.

The waterbodies, on one side of the Kundinibetta Hill, retain the flowing water from the hill, which falls during the rainy season, right through the year. Some of the ponds are linked to each other. When one gets filled, the water flows to the next one created at a distance.

These waterbodies, which are named after him and his grandchildren, have a maximum depth of about five feet. “The idea is, even if a person or animal falls into these ponds accidentally, they should be able to get out without harming themselves," Kamegowda notes.

On another side of the hill, Kamegowda has created a string of check-dams. A perennial source from the hill, through which water trickles throughout the year, is the main source for these check-dams. Like the ponds, the check-dams are also interlinked and the excess water flows to the next structure. For each dam, Kamegowda has constructed two bunds using boulders and stones, as these structures are at a higher level. The main bund across the check dam is called Rama and the supporting bund is called Lakshmana, he explains.

Kamegowda says he has spent close to ₹15 lakh on his effort. The funds have come mainly from his earnings, savings and the prize money he has received from various agencies for his work. “Even if the Government spends ₹1 crore, it won’t be able to replicate what I have done,” he claims. “I challenge any educated engineer to create standing water structures along the slope of a hill, that too with water through the year,” he says, referring to his series of check-dams.

An inspiration to others

Fellow shepherds are full of praise for Kamegowda’s efforts. “One doesn’t need to go too far in search of water — there’s plenty available around the year,” says Mahadeviah. Adds farmer leader K Boriah of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, “Kamegowda’s eco-consciousness and the manner in which he has built the ponds is highly commendable. At a time when farmers are moving away from planting trees, Gowda’s initiative is worth emulating.”

A wiry man with a sharp tongue, Kamegowda’s zest for conversation and capacity to walk up and down the hillside for hours even at this age point to his extraordinary drive — and impatience with those who cannot match his step.

COMMENT NOW