The Jakkur lake now has a rich population of fish and 197 species of birds
Rashmi Gopal Rao, Bengaluru
Published: May. 7, 2026 | Updated: May. 25, 2026
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In recent years some of Bengaluru’s silently suffering lakes, full of filth and pollution, have transformed into thriving ecosystems. While government agencies have done their bit, the champions of the city’s lakes are local citizens who keep an eye on each restored lake, ensuring its waters are pristine and its banks green.
The task of rejuvenating languishing lakes might not have been achieved without people pitching in.
“When I shifted to Bangalore in 2006, I could not bear to see the sight of the Puttenahalli lake, filled with construction debris and sewage,” says Usha Rajagopalan, founding trustee and chairperson, Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT). “In 2008, I took the help of my neighbour and approached BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) to include the lake on their rejuvenation list. It was done by them by 2010.”
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