Revive Lakes

About This Project

‘Revive Lakes’ programme focuses on cleaning and greening existing water bodies that have vanished or are under the threat of vanishing, keeping cities at a greater risk of water shortage.

Why

Lakes which are scattered and placed in all vantage areas in most cities, have an important role in recharging groundwater. The capability of these lakes to trap and store rainwater is enormous. The rainwater that could be harvested through these lakes would meet any city’s water requirements partially. Lakes also form a unique irreplaceable system, and are often home to diverse living beings including fish, birds, and a variety of flora and fauna.

How

‘Revive Lakes’ is phased over seven categories. Every weekend, volunteers of Bhumi assemble with one common goal – clean the lake and build a self-sustainable city. The Vibhutipura lake clean-up project is planned for completion by mid-2018. As a part of Phase-I of this project, the volunteers cleaned up the lake area in December 2016. More than 7000 kg of garbage was collected, with the support of 250 volunteers in just 27 days. Also, the team conducted several doorstep awareness campaigns in houses around the lake.

The second phase is now in progress; volunteers are continuously campaigning to create awareness on keeping the lake area clean, covering more than 150 houses. Many tree-plantation drives are organized in areas around the lake. Further phases will be construction of outer-fence for lake preservation, installing two bio-toilets in the nearby slum area, removing weeds from water, and construction of Root-Zone Water Treatment (RZWT) for safe sewage treatment and preventing contamination of lake water.

‘Revive Lakes’ programme is aligned with the ‘Global Goals’ – clean water and sanitation, and sustainable cities and communities.

Where

The programme is currently ongoing in Vibhutipura Lake in Bengaluru; over 30 volunteers actively volunteer every week to clean up, sensitise, and engage as many stakeholders as possible.