Officials are reportedly draining a 36-acre lake in Moraba village in Dharwad after villagers refused to use the lake water, following the discovery of the body of a woman, who was Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive, in the lake, on November 29. Reportedly, the lake is the only source of water supply for the village people and cattle drinking needs.
CNN News18 reported that the HIV-positive woman had committed suicide by jumping into the lake. The villagers discovered the body, which was decomposed and was eaten by fish. When villagers found about the dead woman being HIV-positive, panic spread causing them to approach authorities to request for the lake to be drained.
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The Moraba Lake, which is equivalent to about 25 football fields in size, is the biggest in the Navalgund taluka. Without the lake water to sustain them, the Times of India reported that villagers have resorted to travelling two-three kilometres to the Malaprabha Right Bank Canal for their water needs. According to CNN News18, the Malaprabha Canal sustains 40 other villages in the Navalgund taluka.
Speaking to CNN News18, BC Satheesh, the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said, “In some places, the water from the lake is used without treating even for consumption. The body was completely decomposed by the time it was taken out. There is already a social stigma about the HIV and the condition of the body is just adding to that.”
According to the New Indian Express, Dr Spoorthi Havaldar, the village doctor, in an attempt to dispel villagers’ concerns, said that the lake water could be used following chlorination treatment. The villagers, however, remained unconvinced, leading to the lake water being drained.