Lake turnaround in their backyard

Until three years ago, Kowdenahalli lake near KR Puram was not much of a hangout. It was a swamp into which sewage found its way, where shady elements gathered and the stink reached far and wide. Then, local residents decided to turn things around. Today, the lake is a sparkling reservoir, surrounded by a yoga platform, park and gazebos.
“We treat this lake as our child.It was abandoned earlier and people would be scared to come anywhere near. Despite living just 1km from the lake, we would never visit it,” said C Narayanappa, president of the KR Puram Lake and Environment Protection Trust.
Residents, led by Narayanappa, enrolled the help of United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), a nonprofit that empowers local communities to action. While the trust was awarded a grant of Rs 1.2 crore from the MLA fund, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) deputes security for the lake with six personnel stationed daily on a shift basis. The maintenance is taken care of by UWbe which hires cleaning staff, gardeners and other daily labourers.
The water body has seen steady rejuvenation since. Narayanappa has been spending hours together every day since 2015, tending to the lake.
“It was swampy because of sewage inflows and would be frequented by anti-social elements. There were no lights either. We formed a trust and started working to get funds allocated to rejuvenate the lake,” said the 51-year-old who is a regular at the lake from 6am to 8am.
The lake has become a rallying point for residents, giving rise to plastic cleaning drives, seed ball making camps, plantation campaigns and cultural festivals. The residents also celebrate other festivals like Environment Day, Yoga Day and observe national holidays like Independence Day at the lake.
Hundreds of people visit the lake daily now, exercising or catching up with friends on a bench or under a gazebo. The water body is now frequented by residents of entire CV Raman Nagar area.
The lake received the State Parisara Award from forest minister R Shankar on June 28 this year for becoming an ecological haven, boasting several species of fish, birds, snakes, medicinal trees and herbs. More than 65 bird species, including rare ones, flock to the lake, making it a bird-watcher’s paradise. Alongside, residents have taken to growing native species of plants to ensure that the most natural ecosystem is created to attract birds. Fig, Indian almond, hibiscus, Indian jasmine and mahogany have been planted along the bank.
Muralidhar Nair, who has been living in the neighbourhood for over 13 years, says the “retired brigade” pitched in with working professionals to help take care of the lake. “There are 10-15 of us who visit the lake in the morning. I am there by 5.30am every day to ensure that the maintenance happens properly. We keep in touch with the engineers and contractors to ensure that everything is according to plan,” said the 63-year-old. “We want to do something for the future generations to enjoy, as they may not have the time.”
While the trust takes care of the expenses, a few people have pooled in their resources to fund community programmes like cleaning drives. There are LED streetlights too, residents point out, to bring about a sense of safety and to encourage more people to visit the lake.
Area: 55 acres, near KR Puram, east Bengaluru
TEAM WORK: Muralidhar (in cap) and Narayanappa spend time daily at the lake ensuring its maintenance. Built around the lake is a children’s park and a yoga platform