Nonprofit quits lake maintenance after BBMP notice

Bengaluru: The Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT), a nonprofit, announced earlier this month that it would cease all upkeep activities at the Puttenahalli Puttakere Lake in southern Bengaluru.

The decision followed a notice from the BBMP’s lake division, citing the expiry of the trust’s agreement and a high court order.

The civic body also directed the trust to remove its signboards and stop all operations within the lake premises. It further objected to planting saplings in the area.

In its notice, the BBMP said it had carried out lakebed improvement works — including ring bund construction, walkways and chain-link fencing — in March 2020.

In response, the trust expressed shock, stating its volunteers had maintained the lake for 15 years.

Disappointed by the decision, it formally withdrew from all lake-related activities.

PNLIT was formed in June 2010 following a citizen-led campaign to save the lake.

The trust later signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the BBMP in May 2011, marking the city’s first citizen-led lake management partnership.

However, in March 2020, the civic body decided not to renew the MoU after a high court directive barred the government from entering such agreements with "corporate entities".