Hope and Cheer at the lake in the times of COVID

The dark days of COVID 19 continue for us, humans, but the lockdown, it appears, has opened the doors of the animal kingdom. Our lake, unfortunately, continues to be plagued by sewage with the BWSSB replacing the underground drain at a snail's pace. We recognize and accept that they are hampered by the curfew, non-availability of workers and the occasional rain. Yet, we can't but hope fervently that they will pick up speed in the next few days and complete the drain replacement. Our lake has suffered enough, please, with pollutants and encroachers! 

In this bleak phase, what lifts our spirits is the surprising return of birds to our Puttenahalli Lake. 

Following the first shower a few weeks ago, we spotted from a distance, Egrets, Purple Swamphens, Eurasian Coots and Little Grebes. Our gardeners, who had been coming on alternate days to water the plants reported the presence of a large number of butterflies. Their photographs, grainy and shaky confirmed it but how do we see these for ourselves? Fortunately, last week we received an order from the BBMP to open the lake with restricted timings. That was enough for our photographers to make a beeline to the lake. 

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Pic: Gopinath Subbarao)

Plain Tiger (Pic: Aditi Mahesh)

Other than several Coots, Grebes, Waterhens and Purple Swamphens, Madhurima reported three pairs of Common Moorhens (they were foraging together and chasing away intruders) and a pair of Bronze-winged Jacanas. She saw a Terrapin and a Pheasant-tailed Jacana and, of course, swarms of butterflies. 

Bronze-winged Jacanas (Pic: Madhurima Das)

Common Moorhens (Pic: Madhurima Das)

Terrapin basking in the sun (Pic: Madhurima)

Ah the butterflies ... ! We had first feasted our eyes on Nupur's video and shared it with a few friends. Like a growing ripple, it reached more people. 

On Sunday, The Hindu carried an article on the butterflies swarming not just in our lake but in green spaces in the city. Since then, their number at the lake has increased considerably. Our gardener Ramu's video shows a veritable cloud of Dark Blue Tigers!

Apparently, this is the pre-monsoon migration of butterflies to escape the incessant rain in the southern part of the western ghats (Sahyadri). To know more, please see: http://biodiversitylab.ncbs.res.in/butterfly-migrations

BBMP ordered the lake to be locked from today as a precautionary measure. If you are not able to see the stragglers leave, you can do so when they return between mid-Oct and early Dec. 

We shall prevail over these tough times and take delight in these beauties of nature. Go Green and keep the planet safe for all its denizens.  Be safe, stay indoors. 

PNLIT Update

The last update sent a month ago had expressed hope that the BWSSB and BBMP would soon complete their work to protect the lake from sewage. Covid-19 scotched this. Eight migrant workers continue to stay at the site premises but are unable to work because the rest of their team are confined in their homes. Will they be able to finish before the monsoon? 

Following the BBMP Commissioner's order, the lake has been made inaccessible to the public. 

Six weeks into our donation drive, we raised a decent amount of Rs. 6.23 lakhs. It is way below our target of Rs. 10 lakhs.  A couple of weeks ago, a well wisher had generously offered to match donations to an amount of Rs. One lakh. However, with everybody's concern centering around the virus and the lock down, we didn't think it was right to inform residents about this kind offer and ask them to donate to the upkeep of the lake. 

When the all clear is announced and life returns to normal, we will have to grapple with the shortfall. Our biggest expense is staff salaries. They are so dedicated, that they have been coming early in the morning to water the plants. For their safety, we have asked them to come to work once in two or three days. Moreover, we need to be careful about how much we spend on water because, with the lake long gone dry, we are forced to get tankers and they are so expensive! 

Earlier this week, we got to know that some families living on the lake bund were in desperate need for provisions. With PNLIT volunteer Sapana Rawat taking the lead and roping in Deepubai, our former student (http://plog.puttenahallilake.in/2015/05/our-triumphant-trio.html), we gave coupons to 40 families to redeem at Srilakshmi Stores in Arekere bus stand and collect 10 kgs of rice, 2 kgs of tuvar dal and one liter of cooking oil each. We extended the benefit to our gardeners, sweeper and the eight labourers of BBMP and BWSSB stranded at the lake. We spent Rs. 24,200 on this and are happy we were able to help 173 people in these harsh times! 

Be Safe. Stay Indoors. Above all, Respect Mother Earth!