PNLIT receives infrastructural support from BBMP but not funding from the government.

Donations from the neighbourhood residents; CSR grants for various projects.

PNLIT (Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust), is a Bangalore-based trust, registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882 - Rgn No. BNG(U)-JPN-129-2010-11 dated 11th June 2010. It has received the status of Charitable Trust under section 12AA of the Indian Income Tax Act. The Trust was set up with the specific purpose of assisting the government department to protect and nurture the lake. PNLIT has a Board of Trustees that manages the day-to-day operations of the lake and act as watchdogs by keep an eye on illegal dumping, sewage, encroachments and other illicit activities. They are constantly working towards making the lake a secure avian habitat. PNLIT facilitates research programmes and is also involved in knowledge and experience sharing exercises with residents, other lake groups and citizens from different parts of the country. The Trust members attend seminars and workshops , give presentations at schools, colleges and corporates to spread awareness about the importance of lake conservation.

You can help us in the following ways: Donate - to help PNLIT pursue its plans Corporate support: Include Puttenahalli Lake as one of your Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, get corporate volunteers to help us with the lake jobs. Spread Awareness and help with fund raising Help in conducting events, workshops. Gardening and supervision of staff. Track the birds, other fauna and record the data. Take pictures of flora and fauna and upload it. PNLIT merchandise: design unique items for sale. Lake monitoring General administration. For more details. Contact us : +91- 7259722996 (9am-6pm, Mon-Sat) puttenahalli.lake@gmail.com

No.

We collect the garden waste and do mulching and composting in Leaf litter bins and Windrow piles. We add cowdung to it and convert it into good quality manure that is used for the garden. We don't burn anything.

We would love to hear from you! Contact us: +91- 7259722996 (9am-6pm, Mon-Sat) puttenahalli.lake@gmail.com

NO. We don't entertain feeding of fishes as it might have harmful effect on them thereby affecting the lake life.

We are working on it. Please read Protecting the lake from encroachment

The lake is open on one side to the encroachers living on the bund. To prevent vandalism and theft, we will install lights after the encroachers have been rehabilitated and the lake is made secure with fencing.

NO

Please avoid bringing pets to the lake. A few stray dogs live in the premises and they might cause trouble to your pets. These strays were born here and It is illegal to relocate stray animals under Section 11(1) (i) and Section 11(1) (j), PCA Act, 1960.

Nature/ bird photographers are most welcome. No fee is charged for the camera. We invite you to share your photographs with us.

No. These will pollute the water gradually killing the fish and other living organisms. Flowers are typically cultivated with pesticides and fertilizers. The residue of these in the flowers and leaves mix in the water making it toxic. Further, when the flowers and leaves rot and decompose, they use up vital nutrients from the water. The plastic, cloth, even the string of garland can trap a bird and cause it to die. Puttenahalli Lake is not a designated lake for idol immersion. However, we do provide a bin filled with water for this purpose. The idol needs to be necessarily small, made of clay and NOT painted/ PoP idols.

No

Lake Timings are: Morning: 6 AM to 10 AM Evening: 4 PM to 7 PM We are constrained to follow BBMP’s direction in this regard..

a) Prompt stoppage of sewage entry, b) installing solid waste screen on the silt traps to collect trash which enters with rain water, c) preventing immersion of idols and puja material, d) removing the occasional floating plastic bag and other litter from the water, e) controlling the growth of aquatic weeds, f) installing an aerator fountain, g) floating platforms bearing local biofilter plant species, and h) checking the quality of the water periodically in an accredited lab.

Many will join enthusiastically at the beginning only to drop off along the way. It doesn’t matter because decision making will be easier and faster if the core group is small.

The Lakes division of the municipality, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)

They come on their own. We have: a) Planted bird and butterfly attracting plants around our lake. b) Planted tree stumps and trunks in the water and at the edge for birds to perch. c) Vegetation patches and floating islands provide safe nesting places and food for birds. d) Introduced different types of fishes. All these efforts are to get more and different species of birds to our lake.

Don’t worry about getting everyone on board. The number of people who engage or are interested in civic matters is woefully small and growing smaller. Nevertheless, go to the community, inform them of your intent to save the lake, send them updates to stimulate and foster their interest, involve them in activities at the lake – tree plantation and story-telling sessions are invariably big draws. Keep sharing your passion loudly and clearly. More people will support the cause even if, at first, they don’t come forward to join you.

We maintain a close watch on the inlets and inform the ward office of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) immediately if we spot sewage trickling in. Typically, they use a Jetting Machine to remove the blockage in the underground drain (UGD). If the problem persists or aggravates, we escalate the issue to the head office and don’t stop till the authorities stop sewage influx.

Lakes and ponds are stagnant waterbodies. If left alone, the oxygen level will drop and cause fish to die. A thick biofilm will form over the surface of the water causing it to deteriorate even more and make it a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and algal bloom. An aerator will prevent stagnation by circulating the water and increasing dissolved oxygen level.

When the aquatic plants covered the entire lake, we hired fishermen to remove them. As the quality of the water improved, their growth rate reduced. We try to maintain a balance between the aquatic vegetation (useful for birds) and the surface exposed to the sun (to improve the water quality).

When repeatedly stonewalled and issues remain unresolved for long, we escalate the problem, inform the neighbourhood and publicise the state of affairs through the press.

Wanting to save the lake is the winning half the battle. Hold on to this while you instil the same concern in your community. It requires considerable perseverance and dedication but the outcome, the marvellous sight of the thriving lake will be worth it all. “Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.” ― E.O. Wilson When public interest in reviving Bengaluru lakes increased, PNLIT Trustee Arathi Manay wrote this article: How to revive your neighbourhood lake which remains relevant for any city.

Citizen-led lake conservation is growing steadily in Bengaluru. The many groups have come together to share experiences, suggest solutions and encourage each other. List of Active Citizen Groups (As of July 2023):

If our staff cannot capture the distressed bird or animal, we call Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Centre. https://www.wildarrc.org/. To find the cause of death, we send the carcass to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. https://wrrcindia.org/

With extreme perseverance and tenacity. Please read Protecting the lake from encroachment above.