Oranju Poika (Kudappnakunnu) and Adjacent Forest Coverage

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One of the ancient water source at the top of the hill named Kudappnakunnu. The water source originally covered approximately 10 acres of land and was surrounded by small hills which locked the water at the top of the hill. It was thick forest area all around the lake which kept this area in accessible. Even now thick forest remains on one side. The depth of the water source was approximately 50 feet in 1961 when the film Bhaktha Kuchaela was shot there. The perennial water source kept the wells and ponds up to 5 kilometers around this hill full for most part of the year. The lake faced a planned destruction since 1970s. A small hill on one side was slowly removed in first phase which brought down the water storage level gradually to about 15 or feet. Later during constructions that occurred around the lake the hill was further removed for earth up to its base which drained the water. . Now fast planed and scientific destruction of the lake is occurring and the bed was divided between two or three agencies agencies. A waste processing unit is proposed to be established at one of its sides. Another portion will be used for processing coir for coir research. The pollution will affect the health of people living in a five kilometer radius of the hill. All the wells, ponds etc will be contaminated through the underwater flow as well as drain through the surface. This can be sited as one of the best examples of destruction of life sustaining environment under the nose of government agencies meant to protect that. It happens at the center of the State Capital. The lack of awareness and indifference of the people living around the destruction site another factor to be noted.