The Year That Was - PNLIT Highlights of 2017

Our warm greetings to you and your family for the New Year. The PNLIT family will remember 2017 for a long, long time. Here's what made it memorable.

January

We install a cattle barrier near the garbage corner at the south west entrance to the lake. Also a welded mesh at the base of the inner grill to prevent dogs from entering the water and disturbing the birds.

February

Padma Bhushan Sudha Ragunathan visits the lake on the 25th. 

Sudha Ragunathan at Puttenahalli Lake, Feb 2017

At the fund raiser concert in the evening, she sings a special song on lakes which we will remember for all time to come! Heartfelt thanks to Gautham and Jenesys for facilitating and sponsoring the concert and to Brigade Hospitality. 

Sudha Ragunathan in concert, Feb 2017

The concert is a good opportunity to release our newsletter and to felicitate our well wishers and CSR partners. Mr. B.V. Satish, Chief Engineer, Lakes, BBMP receives the first copy of our newsletter "Ripples" from the singer. PNLIT partners felicitated are Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd., VMWare, Deloitte Shared Services India Pvt. Ltd., Cisco, BMS College of Engineering and the Community around the lake whose donations enable us to nurture the lake. 

March 

The Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute, Bengaluru (EMPRI) organises a Jatre from their office to Puttenahalli Lake to promote awareness about the hazards of using plastic. 

We begin revamping the wetland.

May

Our MoU with the BBMP is renewed for another term of three years.

Yellappa harvests fish in plenty. Species in the lake are Indian Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Chinese Carp (Common, Silver and Grass) and Snakehead (Varal)

Silver Carp, May 2017

June

PNLIT partners with Earthwatch Institute India to promote scientific application by students and local residents in the conservation and restoration of environment and ecosystems. The events will be conducted at the lake premises.

Lake overflows into the waste weir for the second consecutive year.

July

Ms. Seema Garg, the new CEO of Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, visits the lake. She is already well aware of us and our work.

Story telling by Vikram Sridhar is a great success.

August

PNLIT trustees with gardener Jayanna visit Madivala Lake and teach KLCDA staff to make the floating wetland platforms. They are introduced in Agara Lake as well.

The 2^nd edition of "Ripples" is released.

September 

Storytelling and Drum Jam session at lake by Snehadhara, Drum Circle, Pratham Books and PNLIT, to celebrate International Literacy Day. Over 70 children accompanied by adults attend.

Drummers at the lake, Sep 2017

BBMP offer to clean some of the weeds. Slum residents get the entire stretch along their hutments removed destroying bird habitat and nesting site.

November

PNLIT, Nrityadarpan (a classical dance institute) and IPAAC celebrate Karnataka Rajyotsava with a dance and music programme. Ms. Malavika Avinash, renowned Kannada actress lauds the rejuvenated lake and more so, the involvement of the community.

Nrityotsav, Nov 2017

The migratory Western Marsh Harrier spotted at the lake after years.

PNLIT is awarded the "Key to My Liveable City" by My Liveable City, an international journal, at Mumbai. 

My Liveable City award, Nov 2017

PNLIT participates in a public event called "Celebrating the Urban Commons" organised by the Azim Premji University.

Deccan Herald in a front page report mentions that "Puttenahalli Lake is in a bad shape." PNLIT immediately write to the Editor in protest. Our volunteers and well wishers overwhelm us with their vociferous support. Deccan Herald withdraws the write up and photograph from the online edition. We are deeply touched and grateful to all our friends.

Floating island chains in wetland, Nov 2017

December 

PNLIT participates in the VMWare Community Day held at their office premises.

Work begins on erecting a Pergola over a 100 meter stretch of the walking track along the wetland. Grants from Misys Financial Software Solutions and VMWare enabled this installation which is in finishing stage. The pergola design is CSR contribution from Mayapraxis architects.

PNLIT Calendar 2018 features butterflies and dragonflies photographed at the lake.

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All in all, an exciting year which makes us look forward to 2018.  With your continued support, we will be able to nurture our lovely lake and make it even better.

With new year greetings,

The PNLIT team

Photo credits: PNLIT Shutterbugs

As the year comes to a close

Greetings to you and your loved ones in this new year from all of us at PNLIT. The year 2016 comes to an end but several highlights made each month this year a memorable one. To recap them briefly:  

Jan. Eco Art for children conducted by Vicky Smith, U.K.

Feb. Qigong for senior citizens with Silver Talkies, 

Mime and theatre workshop for children with ASMI Instt. of Art, Culture and Theatre. 

Visitors from Indore Municipal Council, TARU and a lake group. 

March - Spot-billed Pelican spotted at the lake for the first time. The species is listed "Near threatened" 

April - A team of fishermen remove the thick overgrowth of aquatic weed exposing the expanse of water to the amazement of all. Lake Cleaning Project made possible with fund support from Deloitte Shared Services India Pvt. Ltd. 

May - The first showers increase the water level.

Storm water drain on south west boundary of the lake covered with concrete slabs thanks to Bosch CSR. 

June - Prototype of Artificial Floating Island to purify the water introduced; 

MoU signed with BMS College of Engineering to conduct a monthly test of the water quality.

Irrigation system pumping water from lake is installed with fund support from VMWare 

July - The lake overflows for the first time. Even passersby stop to see this wonder of a dry lake now brimming and spilling into the waste weir. 

Aug. - Radio City felicitate PNLIT at the lake with a plaque instituted by popular Kannada actor Ramesh Arvind. 

Sept. - International Literacy Day celebrated with the highest number of young participants. Conducted together with Snehadhara Foundation

PNLIT awarded a Certificate of Merit for "Contribution to Social Cause & Empowerment" by the National CSR and Leadership Awards.

Oct. Origami workshop for children conducted by Ravi Acharya.

Black drongo and Cotton Pygmy Goose spotted at the lake. 

PNLIT Trustee O P Ramaswamy steps down from the post of Treasurer. Long time volunteer Sangita Agrawal, from South City takes over from him. Divya Shetty from Brigade Palm Springs is inducted as Trustee bringing our strength to six members. 

Nov. Children's Story telling by Lavanya Prasad, founder of TALEscope. 

Dec. Our Artificial Floating Islands are a great success. 

Extensive press coverage in The Hindu; Magicbricks Now; News Minute; News9 (1); News9 (2)

Several lake groups visit to see the AFI. 

PNLIT helps Biome make an AFI model for a forthcoming Kere Habba at K K Halli. 

Bird watching at Lake led by Madhurima Das

Successful trial of Trash Boom and Weed Cutter procured from Agastya Buoyant Pvt. Ltd. Howrah, West Bengal. Both are used for demonstration at various other lakes in the city. 

You can see pictures and read detailed accounts in http://plog.puttenahallilake.in/.

With but a few hours left for the midnight to usher in a new year, it is time to wrap up this one. The lake is full of surprises and nurturing it, an opportunity of a lifetime. We would not have been able to accomplish anything without help from very many quarters. Our heartfelt thanks to each one. We look forward to your continued support in the new year as well. 

A special announcement for music lovers - PNLIT is proud to announce a Carnatic vocal recital by Padma Bhushan Smt. Sudha Ragunathan at MLR Convention Hall on Sat. 25th February 2017. Save the date and watch this space for more details. 

Best regards
PNLIT team

New Year Greetings

Together, we can make it so!
Wishing our PNLIT friends and well-wishers, a good year ahead.

Order your PNLIT Calendar 2016!

Our Puttenahalli lake is a little world in itself, of the best kind because it includes birds, butterflies, trees, flowers and more. Showcasing these is our calendar for the new year, "Life at Puttenahalli Lake."  Take a sneak peek at the gorgeous photos taken by experienced photographers who are also from our neighbourhood.

Each of these photos shows the miracle that is Nature. We are printing a limited number of copies. If you would like to have a copy or two, or more, please place your order in advance. 

Calendar details

Format - Desk top 

Size - 5.7" x 8.5" (roughly A5)

No. of sheets - 8 (16 pages)

Paper - 300 gsm art paper

Binding - Spiral 

Cost - Rs. 220 only

Place your order with: Ms. Nupur Jain <nupur21@gmail.com> (nupur21 at gmail dot com); mob. +91 9886629769

Let Life at Puttenahalli Lake adorn your desk and remind you how precious, how beautiful life is. 

Happy New Year

Wear your cause through the year.
PNLIT Wristbands - available in two sizes, Rs 30 each.