Who We Are
For centuries the Puttenahalli Lake had been a pristine water body, playing a vital role in maintaining the fragile ecosystem of the Puttenahalli neighbourhood. Like many other lakes in Bangalore, it started shrinking and became a marshy garbage dump due to indiscriminate exploitation and neglect.
Troubled by the fact that a fairly large water body was disappearing in their backyard, starting in 2008, a few residents from L&T South City decided to form a Save Our Lake team and campaigned to save the lake. After much perseverance the lake was brought into BBMP's revival radar. The DPR for Puttenahalli Lake can be seen here.
Revival started in Jan 2010.
In June 2010, four residents from the lake area - Usha Rajagopalan (from South City), Arathi Manay, Prasanna K. Vynatheya and O.P. Ramaswamy (from Brigade Millennium), came together as the first trustees of the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT), registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
In May 2011, PNLIT signed an MOU with BBMP, taking over the maintenance of Puttenahalli Lake, for a period of 3 years. This has been subsequently renewed. BBMP gives no financial assistance and PNLIT meets the expenses through public donations.
Current Board of Trustees
Usha Rajagopalan - Chairperson
Arathi Manay - Managing Trustee
Nandhini Sriraaman - Treasurer
Nupur Jain - Trustee
Divya Shetty - Trustee
O.P. Ramaswamy - Trustee
Sangita Agrawal - Trustee
PNLIT Volunteers (PNLIT Mitra and PNLIT Young Rangers) provide invaluable help on various activities, as and when they are able to spare the time.
Former Trustees who are no longer able to serve on the Board are still available to help and advise.
Our logo
The Wild Date Palm stands on the island located in the Puttenahalli Lake. It is the lone tree that has survived in the lake all these years. We chose this as our symbol, representing resilience and perseverance.
Pic: Subho Banerjee (Aug 2011)
Logo credits
Conceptualisation and design - Arathi Manay
Pencil drawing - Kalpana Pradeep
Computer image - Nagesh Manay
Arathi Manay and OP Ramaswamy help city apartments save lakhs!