Citizens' effort: Bengaluru's B Channasandra Lake rejuvenated after 30 years of neglect
The revival journey, led by locals, began unexpectedly last year when members of Kasturinagar Residents' Welfare Association (KRWA), while seeking a spot for Vanamahotsava, realised there was no usable public land.
A barren, garbage-laden patch, once a 19-acre lake and reduced to 6.5 acres due to encroachments, in the vicinity of the locality, caught attention of the residents.
Recognising the ecological potential of the space, residents initially pooled in money and later, reached out to Hands on CSR, a non-profit that onboarded tech firm CGI to fund the lake restoration.
Even though the land belongs to forest department, the lake has been under BBMP's custody since 2006. N Ravindra Kumar, DCF, Bengaluru Urban, said: "We gave permission last year when residents approached us. It makes me proud to see how they came together to revive a forgotten lake without govt funds and purely through their own contributions and CSR support. This is a powerful example of how people can protect nature when they choose to act.
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Supporting citizens' initiative, Hands on CSR chipped in with the technical part — desilting, removing waste, constructing bunds and setting up water inlets and outlets. "We focused on ecological functionality rather than focussing on beautification of the waterbody," said Gurunandan Rao, founder of Hands on CSR.
Future plans include developing a mini-forest with endangered native species like ebony and elephant apple trees to boost biodiversity.
The effort wasn't just technical — it was deeply personal and collective. Residents pooled in Rs 1,000 each month to fund the 800-foot boundary wall, spending over Rs 8 lakh.
Somsekhar P, KRWA secretary, recalled, "The place was once a carcass dump. We started with a Vanamahotsava and ended up reclaiming a lost lake. Had we not acted, even the remaining 6.5 acres would have disappeared soon."
For longtime residents like Archana Shekar, the transformation has been emotional. "I've lived here 25 years and didn't even know this was a lake. Now, I can enjoy the lake in my neighbourhood the way I relish the one in my native village."
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