SAVING BELLARY
NALA(Stream)
Belgaum, Karnataka
Manjunath S Tyalagadi (Age 29 years)
Lecturer in Geography, Government Pre University College,
KK Koppa, Belgaum, Karnataka. India
Nationality: Indian
Email: manjunatkiran2000@[Link]
Cell # 09901379160
As a practising geographer, I carry with me a
strange anxiety
as I commute through the valley of the last
free-flowing river,
Bellary Nala of Belgaum City, Karnataka
Once, along River BELLARY NALA (BN), lived a village
Velugram (velu meaning ‘bamboo’ and gram meaning ‘village’ in local
dialect), now Belgaum, @NH 4/Golden Quadrilateral, a jewel in the crown
of the North Malnad of Karnataka. It is born in the hilly outliers of the
Western Ghats(WG), east of Yellur village, located south of Old
(erstwhile) Belgaum whose known antiquity can be traced to 2nd Century
BC (Madhavpur-Vadgaon). The river was flowing steadily, deep and
wide, which attracted the early settlers. It relentlessly moves on exploring,
pushing, and overflowing its banks to merge with the Markendeya near
Hudli-Ankalgi, northeast of Belgaum. While many forest streams like BN
struggle to retain their perennial nature, the relatively untouched stretch of
the Markendaya is marked by river rapids and fast flows.
For centuries, Bellary Nala was the dominating force shaping the
growth of Old Belgaum, Khasbag, Madhavpur-Vadgaon and Shahpur
which are important in the southwestern corner of the city today. These
areas were known for its flourishing saree trade and traditional banking
services even in the good olde times. This attracted waves of dynasties –
Satavahanas, Kadambas Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Rattas, Vijayanagara
emperors, Bahamanis, Adilshahis, Marathas (feudatories), and finally the
British encounter (General Munroe). With the British rule, for the first time
in its history, Belgaum became a seat of regional and military
administration, with a first-class cantonment status due to its salubrious
climate and logistics, which is an enchanting part of the city even today !
Bred as we were, among the hills, by the river, as a “bamboo village”,
today we fail to understand the divine intoxication of our early landscape
and heritage. In this artificial world of the New Millenium, Belgaumites
often forget the true nature of the origin of their beautiful city. For many
nostalgics, BN, the once ‘river of life’ of Belgaum City and a regular
geomorphic feature meandering its way around the hills is almost dry and
has stopped progressing. Even the waters are changing (in quality) turning
hostile to aquatic life. For all this, flood management measures, reckless
urbanization, the new Expressway or Golden Quadrilateral (since Belgaum
attained the Second Capital of Karnataka status), and ecological
degradation of the WG take the blame.
“Heritage” is a word that alerts pious words of tradition and culture
(paddy cultivation, weaving, handlooms etc) But in this case of BN, it
might engender “irritation” given the border complexion of Belgaum -
inherently political - and, therefore, a constantly “negotiable” idea.
Hundreds of kilometers away (in Bangalore), lies the power to decide on BN
future. One hopes that this free-flowing river will not be “re-appropriated”
nth time over and its waters will continue to flow. It has been neglected and
the “powers- that-be” have “dug” for themselves a “road” to seemingly take
the city on the “highway” to free market economy a la prosperity.
Ironically, The ROAD (NH 4) !!! (not The River) now
leads to PROSPERITY . .to the world of MEN & MACHINES.
*****
