Yet again this year, Puttenahalli Puttakere taught us the importance of perseverance and the need to stay hopeful. When it seemed as if our 'trial by sewage' which had begun in 2017 would never end, BWSSB came through in April 2021 and plugged the leaks in the underground drain they had laid last year. The lake, as of now, is free of sewage. We pray that it stays this way!
Monsoon 2021. It seemed as if the southwest monsoon merged with the northeast and the rain would simply not cease. On the one hand, we wanted dry days that would allow BBMP to complete the lake cleaning, strengthening the bund, relaying the track, etc. On the other, we were delighted that the the sewage residue was getting diluted. However, the surface runoff had also brought in new invasive weeds. We'd battled with Salvinia molesta and realized that the pesky alligator weed had its uses. We now had to get rid of submerged weeds (Chara sp and Ottelia alismoides), emergent ones (water lily) as also the pervasive water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and others. Since birds need vegetation patches to shelter, nest and forage, we needed to leave enough for them.
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| A little decoration |
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| Gathering weeds with a trash boom |
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| BBMP removing weeds, 9-Jul-2021 |
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| Persicarea pulchra |
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| Polygonum, Alternanthera |
In July and August, BBMP's workers along with our four gardeners were engaged in this but they had few sunny days and the weeds grew quickly. Nevertheless, the lake had rippling water but by November became a bed of green. Since the last one week, we have resumed clearing the water again. The almost immediate sighting of the Common Kingfisher is encouraging since it is found only where the water is clear. We will control the weed growth even though the monsoon may bring in more next year.
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| Common Kingfisher, 21-Dec-2021 (Pic: Satishchandra Karanth) |
This confidence doesn't extend to knowing if the BBMP will renew our MoU in the new year or if the authorities will take action to protect the lake premises from the encroachers at least in 2022. Both matters are sub-judice.
Following BBMP's guidelines, the lake was closed for several months in 2020 due to the pandemic. This year it remained out of bounds for longer due to the repair work that seemed to go on and on. We are happy to tell you that from Wed, 22nd Dec., the lake has become accessible to the public once again. Timings are 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors, especially bird watchers, naturalists and photographers, have a treat in store.
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| A royal Grey Heron on the perch (Pic: SK Srinivas) |
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| Seesaw for birds (Pic: Ramu) |
With footfall reducing, the lake has turned into a nursery. Chicks swimming with their parents is a common sight but we were taken aback to see five little black blobs on the walking track on 22nd Oct. Sunning themselves in the open were the chicks of the White-breasted Waterhen. And to think that the adult birds scuttle away at the sight of humans!
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| White-breasted Waterhen chicks, 22-Oct-2021 (Pic: Ramu) |
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| Little Grebes "piggy backing" (Pic: Satishchandra Karanth) |
We welcome you to visit and enjoy the natural treasures in Puttakere. Let's nurture the lake together as a rich ecosystem in the days, months and years to come.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a great new year.
Best regards
PNLIT team
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