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LET'S
PROTECT
OUR 
LAKES

“A lake is a landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature.

It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” ― Henry David Thoreau

121

Species of Birds spotted

800+

Corporate and Resident Volunteers

500+

Environment Awareness Events

500+

Trees planted

• Located in JP Nagar, South Bangalore between two residential apartment enclaves - Brigade Millennium and South City • At times confused with the significantly bigger Jarganahalli/Sarakki and the Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake in North Bangalore. Hence, earnest efforts are on to establish it’s identity as Puttenahalli ‘Puttakere’ (‘small lake’ in Kannada) • Comes under BBMP lakes division Rejuvenated in 2009 – 2010 • With a recorded area of 13 acres 25 guntas and walking track perimeter of 920 m • Filled with rainwater and with treated water from the South City Apartment STP • The first lake given to a citizens group for partnering with BBMP to maintain it • An inclusive ‘People’s lake’ maintained by PNLIT with active volunteer support and voluntary donations from the neighbourhood • Rich in flora and fauna • A cherished community hub

Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) arose out of a concern among a few people on the plight of the dying Puttenahalli Lake (aka Puttenahalli Puttakere) in J.P. Nagar, South Bengaluru. We successfully got the BBMP to revive the lake and offered to assist with the subsequent maintenance of the lake. PNLIT was registered as a non-profit charitable trust under the Indian Trust Act 1882 – Rgn No. BNG(U)-JPN-129-2010-11 dated 11th June 2010. In May 2011, we signed an MoU with BBMP to officially maintain the lake, the first instance of its kind in the city.

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PNLIT Milestones

Bringing the lake to life


The PNLIT team has implemented various steps and innovations towards making Puttenahalli Lake a secure avian habitat and a rich ecological haven in the neighbourhood. Some of these are:
1. Created a lush green cover around its periphery.
2. Fed the lake with treated waste water from the STP of an apartment complex, a first in Bengaluru and a pilot project of KSPCB.
3. Installed an aerator fountain; planted bird perches in the lake basin.
4. Introduced floating biofiltration platforms to purify the water further. This has been replicated in other lakes.
5. Obtained exemption from commercial fishing from the Fisheries Department.

Our Mission

Make Puttenahalli Lake, a People’s Lake, replicable model of a citizen led conservation project.

Our Focus

To protect and enrich the lake ecosystem with active community support in partnership with the Govt. in Bengaluru and elsewhere.

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Zafar Futehally

“Usha Rajagopalan and her team have worked a miracle in saving Puttenahalli in the middle of the city"

Tara Gandhi

Remarkable transformation of the Puttenahalli lake has been achieved by the dedicated commitment of Usha Rajagopalan and the PNLIT team. It is a joy to see the lake as a living ecosystem rich with birds, plants and other life forms. This service for nature, which in turn benefits people is truly commendable. 
 

Ashwin Mahesh

For me, the most important thing about the revival of the lake is the example it set for others. PNLIT showed that local communities can be stewards of public spaces, and that they can work with public officials to continuously improve the lake as a beautiful natural site for public enjoyment. In the years since this was first done at PNLIT, similar efforts have been taken up in dozens of lakes in the city, and even in other cities. 

Ravish Kumar

Yeh jheel jo hai, aapko iss shehar main hone ka ek maksad deti hai...ki aap Bengaluru aayein hain toh in talabon ke kinare jayein

.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxfrTqB_nuTZ097wSIMua15YJntKoS3Mf

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