JOIN USThe rejuvenated Seetharampalya lake at Whitefield, which will be thrown open to the public on Thursday, stands testimony to a corporate’s contribution in improving the neighbourhood.
Brigade Group has improved the lake by spending about Rs one crore.
Till a few months ago, the lake was in a state of utter neglect. Numerous high-rises coming up next to the lake had almost sounded the death knell for the water body. Brigade Group, too, came up with a realty project. It tied up with Tropical Research Development Centre (TRDC), an NGO, to improve the lake, as part of its social responsibility.
The chief operating officer of Brigade Group, Manjunath Prasad, said, “What was once a flourishing lakebed spread over 23 acres and 37 guntas, with a bund dividing it into two pristine parts, soon fell into ruin in the name of development. The felling of trees resulted in the depletion of the water table. Birds flocking to the water body disappeared. This was the state of Seetharampalya lake till around a year ago. The Brigade Group, along with TRDC, took it upon itself to restore the lake to its original glory. The idea was to complete the job with minimal human intervention and investment from the government.”
The task required removal of several tonnes of debris in the lake and its surrounding areas, building bunds to impound water, construction of a walking track, planting of trees and construction of an artificial island within the lake. A children play area has also been created. The efforts paid off when the water-holding capacity of the lake increased from 9,200 litres to 13,700 litres, prompting the Fisheries department to introduce a variety of fish into it.
Prasad said Brigade Group had approached the Bangalore Development Authority and the Lake Development Authority to improve the lake and presented a detailed project report. Once approved, the builder started the work. “We have spent about Rs one crore and another Rs 50 lakh may be required to give the lake a total facelift,” said Prasad.
DH News Service