Mandya, Sept 14: It was one of those wonders of modern technology and a creative genius, who used the technology aptly, that transformed the once barren land of Mandya into the bread basket of the State. An arid region, frequently hit by drought, came under the spotlight owing to its lush green fields, producing a lion’s share of the State’s paddy and cane and bringing prosperity to the lives of thousands of farmers.

That’s the story behind Mandya district, which has a come a long way from being a dry patch before 1930 to one of the State’s most prized territories. This transformation has largely been made possible because of the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir, the lifeline of Mandya.