Faculty Development Programme points at restoring Purnaiah canal
2 min read
Mysuru: The Mysore School of Architecture (MSA) recently conducted a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) with a walk on Purnaiah Canal, led by noted environmentalist U N Ravikumar, who has over 30 years of experience in lake restoration and conservation.
The programme aimed to deepen faculty understanding of the historical and ecological significance of the canal while exploring possibilities for its repurposing. The initiative sought to equip faculty with insights on integrating local biodiversity into architectural and urban design education.
The walk began at Kukkarahalli Lake and concluded at Madagalli Kere, tracing the canal’s 25 km course through key locations. Stops included Kukkarahalli Lake, Kudremala, gangothri layout, Janata Nagar (near the church), a defunct canal and valley near the Railway Colony, Marati Kyathanahalli and finally, Madagalli Kere.
At each point, participants engaged in discussions on the canal’s historical role, its present condition and opportunities for revitalisation.
The Purnaiah Canal, originally designed to channel water from Madagalli Kere in the Yelwala watershed to Kukkarahalli Lake through a manually operated sluice gate, played a critical role in Mysore’s water management system. However, urbanisation and infrastructure expansion over the years have significantly altered the city’s water dynamics.
Today, the final 5 km stretch of the Purnaiah canal remains crucial for maintaining Kukkarahalli Lake’s water level.
The walk highlighted several challenges, including garbage and debris dumping, sewage discharge and tree cutting to accommodate vehicular traffic. These issues threaten the canal’s ecological balance and the surrounding green spaces. Participants explored the potential for revitalising underutilised stretches of the canal by fostering ecological biodiversity and developing green community spaces that could strengthen climate resilience and enhance public well-being.
The programme underscored the need to protect Mysore’s traditional water systems and foster greater public awareness about their conservation.
Discussions emphasised the importance of strategic urban planning to integrate sustainable water management into the city’s future development.
Dr Champa, Director and Dean of MSA, urged the faculty to guide students toward incorporating ecological landscapes and sustainable water practices into their urban and architectural projects.
Faculty was also briefed on the extensive work carried out by MSA students and faculty, which involved analysing the current state of Mysuru’s six drainage districts (lakes and streams) through field surveys.
The outcome of the study included guidelines and proposed interventions aimed at enhancing Mysuru’s natural landscape ecologically and improving the city’s climate resilience.
The event concluded with a collective call to action to preserve and repurpose the Purnaiah Canal, ensuring it remains a valuable part of Mysuru’s environmental and cultural heritage.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
