‘Unite for Lake, Save Bengaluru’ is a lake study report and citizen’s guide released by United Way Bengaluru. The study was conducted to create awareness and rejuvenate the lakes in the capital city of Karnataka.
Bangalore has been witnessing the depletion of its lakes at a fast pace. In order to combat this severe issue United Way Bengaluru has come forward to revive and preserve the water bodies.
About United Way Bengaluru
United Way Bengaluru is a local unit of United Way Worldwide. It is a non-profit organisation powered by volunteers. Bringing corporates, government, NGOs, community members, and institutions on a single platform, the organisation focuses on resolving pressing issues that hinder community growth.
United Way Bengaluru engages with local communities and works to improve the lives of the people in and around the city. The organisation primarily identifies and addresses issues connected to education, livelihood, environment and health. Members of the organisation collaborate with subject matter experts to find highly effective and long lasting solutions for the issues.
Release of the lake study report
The lake study report for Bangalore was released by Mr. Manjunath Reddy, Honourable Mayor of Bengaluru, and Mr. Satish B. V., Chief Engineer of Lake Department, BBMP along with Mr. Prashanth Prakash and Sabu Thomas, Chair Person and Board Member of United Way Bengaluru respectively. The report was unveiled in the form of a handbook. United Way Bengaluru released it on the occasion of their annual meet for the year 2016.
After releasing the handbook the city mayor applauded the efforts of United Way Bengaluru and their corporate partners for their relentless effort to rejuvenate 14 water bodies in the city so far.
Categorization of lakes
United Way Bengaluru along with Takshashila Institution and Bengaluru Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) conducted the study on the health and status of the 200 water bodies existing in the city. Based on the findings of the examinations, the ‘Unite for Lake, Save Bengaluru’ report was prepared.
The study categorized the city’s lakes into six types:
- Best lakes in the city- 33
- Lakes that are short of one or two aspects – 42
- Average lakes that have communities to care for them- 16
- Average lakes that do not have communities to care for them- 25
- Lakes that have little hope of existence- 29
- Lakes that are staring at death- 55
Major findings of the lake study
The lake study report offers a comprehensive image of the 200 lakes examined by the organisations. Some of the major findings of the lake study report is as follows:
- 43% of the 200 lakes in Bengaluru have fenced boundaries
- 29% of the lakes are fully fenced, have catchment bunds and revetments, and de-silting was completed recently in them
- 24% of the lakes have water quality within acceptable limits
- 57% of the lakes support and sustain a rich ecosystem of flora and fauna
- 27% of the lakes have islands or floral plantations
- In 35% of the lakes (70 lakes) active fishing is carried out
- In 8% of the lakes (15 lakes) sewage treatment plant is installed
- In 32% of the lakes (63 lakes) sewage is being redirected
- 26% of the lakes (52 lakes) have active communities maintaining them
- 20% of the lakes (40 lakes) have partially active communities caring for them
Steps to revive the dying lakes of Bengaluru
Reviving the dying lakes of the city is not an impossible job. If the government, private sector and the citizens come together, they can save the lakes of the city.
Some easy steps to rejuvenate the lakes staring at death in the city are:
- Put up fences to demarcate lake boundaries
- Create robust lake bunds and plant trees along the lake edge
- Have separate stepped tank for celebration of eco-friendly festivals
- Build zero-energy sewage treatment plant
- Redirect sewage to the treatment plant
- Facilitate treated water to flow into the lake
- Monitor the quality of lake water regularly
- Enable storm water feeding into the lake
- Connect lake to watershed through canals and drains
- Facilitate groundwater recharge
- Carry out de-silting and dredging on a regular basis
- Enable rich ecosystems to flourish on the lake
Appeal to save the lakes of Bangalore
The Chair Person of United Way Bengaluru, Mr. Prashanth Prakash has appealed to the citizens, the government and the corporates to join hands for rejuvenation of the lakes of Bangalore. He stated that his organisation has developed a successful model for all stakeholders to come together to save the city’s lakes. He is hopeful that if all stakeholders act collectively, the lakes of Bengaluru will be revived within a few years.
How to get a copy of the lake study report
General public and anybody interested in reviving the city’s lakes can get a copy of United Way Bengaluru’ lake study report. To get a soft copy of the report they have to send an email requesting the same to info@uwbengaluru.org.
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