Bird watching at Puttenahalli Lake

Date: Sat, Sep 10, 2011

Today's bird watching at Puttenahalli Lake was a huge success. At least 30 people had come on this inaugural bird watching. One family came from Jayanagar 4th Block because their little daughter is fascinated with birds and someone had told them about our outing! The very first people to come though were TV9 cameramen and reporter! We asked how they got to know about the bird watching and they said simply that "they have their sources." From 7 a.m. to about 8.30 a.m., they filmed the lake, the birds, the bird watchers and wanted to know how PNLIT ever thought of organizing a bird watch in an urban area! Well, we want to share with everyone the excitement of our lake thriving and attracting so many birds and butterflies.

The TV9 report will be telecast tonight between 10 to 10.30 in both Kannada and English channels.

Our inhouse bird expert, Prasanna Vynatheya and two of his friends, Vishnu and Khusro (the one with the huge lens and camera in the photo) pointed out the various species of birds to an engrossed crowd.

Children were busy taking down notes and adults were scanning the sky and the water, eager to spot a bird before the others! Some of the new birds that the experts sighted were Little Blue Kingfisher, Little Grebe (also called Dabchick), Great Cormorant and of course, our more or less permanent residents the Coots, the Swamp Hens, the Bronze-Winged Jacanas, the Spotted-Bill Ducks and the shy Purple Herons.

All in all, a very satisfactory beginning to the weekend.

PNLIT walking the anti-corruption talk

September 7, 2011

Simple steps to walk the anti-corruption talk. Here is a recently published article.

At PNLIT, we are happy to say that we have really walked the anti-corruption talk.

• Trust registration at the sub-registrar's office.
• Income tax 12AA exemption.
• Income tax 80G exemption for donors.
• MOU with BBMP.

We are happy to say that we got past each one of these without giving a single naya paisa for 'chai - kaapi'. How did we do it? We took the time to do the ground work, got all documents that were required, avoided using the submission services of a CA or any other middlemen... but we did it!

If we can, everybody can!

Beautiful birds of Puttenahalli Lake

September 3, 2011

According to Dr S. Subramanya, an authority on lakes, nearly 110 species of birds fully or partially dependent on water have been recorded utilizing the lakes/ tanks in Bangalore. This diversity of birds belongs to 6 avian orders and 25 bird families.

At Puttenahalli Lake, JP Nagar, we have positively identified about 15 species on this list. To see a full list of the birds of Bangalore Lakes and the birds that have been identified at Puttenahalli, check here.

There are a few spotted, some photographed, but yet to be identified.

We are yet to spot any of the migratory birds (expected in Blr end Sept-April). We really hope we are lucky enough to see them at our lake.

We are very happy to share the photos of beautiful birds taken by a well-wisher and photography enthusiast Mr Sujesh S. in August. Here is his picasa web album.

Happy viewing!

Citizens get new traffic signal approved

The Puttenahalli Main Road at the Brigade Millennium arch is chaotic during the peak morning and evening hours. Now a traffic signal at Brigade Millennium arch on Puttenahalli Main Road has been approved!

The chaotic junction at night. Pic: O P Ramaswamy.

PNLIT representatives had discussed the feasibility of getting a signal, with our Puttenahalli Corporator L Ramesh, but we were not sure if the junction would satisfy the requirements of the Traffic Police, that justify the investment. What better way to find out than by putting the Traffic Police on the job!

Our message to the Traffic Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, in mid-June read:

"The Puttenahalli Main Road in JP Nagar 7th Phase, at the junction of Brigade Millennium arch is in urgent need of some traffic control. The intersection of the two roads leads to Kanakapura Road on one end and Bannerghatta Road on the other and vehicular traffic is virtually uncontrollable. Sometimes, the junction is manned by a policeman. For pedestrians, the road is practically not crossable during the peak hours. Request the Traffic Police to please have a traffic signal put at this junction so that traffic gets under control.”

Within two weeks of sending the request, Inspector Nagaraj (of Jayanagar) and Inspector Dharnesh (who was in-charge of the junction at the time – he has now moved to a different police station), visited the junction to assess the need for a signal and invited me to join them. They observed the traffic for a while and spoke to nearby shopkeepers and pedestrians to get their views. They concluded that, presently, the need for a signal is during the peak morning and evening hours.

However, given that Arekere Mico Layout is now directly connected to Puttenahalli Main Road, through L&T South City Road and Nataraja Layout Road, and as Elita Promenade will get fully occupied in the near future, traffic is likely to get heavier.

A signal is worth the investment, they concluded, but informed me that further inspections would be made by the final deciding authorities. They also observed the need for other steps, such as relocation of the bus stops, to ease congestion.

Subsequently, in early July, Inspector M D Hari who took over from Inspector Dharnesh, took the matter forward by carrying out his own inspection. He observed that a four road converging junction, three with medians and one without, with the kind of volume it handles during peak hours, definitely needed a signal. He promptly took up the issue with his higher officers. Barely a month from making the request, Inspector Hari informed us that the signal has been approved and that work will commence soon.

Kudos to the Traffic Police for their swift action.

Puttenahalli Post

Follow us on Citizen Matters, Puttenahalli Post

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/blogs/24-puttenahalli-post

De-weeding by volunteers

A few volunteers from South City and Brigade Millennium were at the lake this morning... to work!

Here are a couple of photographs:

See the youngest two volunteers (they did have a lot of fun!) Don't miss the little piles of weeds that were removed in a span of less than an hour.

The pumpkin climber growing on the fence and one pumpkin fruit - not something you get to see often in your neighbourhood! It is a fairly good size and likely to be plucked soon.

80G Exemption for PNLIT

We are delighted to tell you that PNLIT has been given Income Tax exemption under section 80G with a recognition certificate number of DIT(E)BLR/ 80G/ 63/ AABTP7792D/ ITO(E)-2/ Vol 2011 - 2012 dated 21/06/2011

As you are aware, the BBMP has handed over the maintenance of Puttenahalli Lake to us; the first ever citizens' group in Bangalore to be given such a responsibility. Our annual maintenance amount is estimated to be between Rs 5 lakhs to Rs. 6 lakhs. So far we have been able to manage with donations from individual well wishers but it has been a touch and go situation. We need to pay salaries to the gardener, the sweeper and the newly appointed security guard. In addition to individual donations, we are looking for corporate sponsors who have a budget for CSR. Please pass on any leads you may have so that we can pursue them. As per the MOU we have signed with BBMP, we are allowed to display the names of donors prominently at the lake.

With the demolition of the back wall of South City, unfortunate though it is, Puttenahalli lake is only a few steps away from South City. Many of you are hopefully going for a walk at the lake now and you can see for yourself how much work we and the BBMP have done to revive the lake. A lot more needs to be done. We need your help for this. Please donate generously and get tax exemption on your donation.

Many thanks.

Usha

Chairperson, PNLIT

Puttenahalli Government School Prize Distribution June 2011

11th Jun is PNLIT Founder's Day and what better way to celebrate it in 2011, than at the local Puttenahalli Government School, JP Nagar 7th Phase. The school, with Mr Chenna Basappa as Head Master, has 850-odd students in Std 1 to Std 10. The first batch of about 90 students is due to appear for the SSLC exam in April 2012. In addition, there is an Anganwadi that the younger children attend.

PNLIT, along with the staff of Puttenahalli Government School, organised a function to honour the children for academic achievement during 2010-11. Three children from each standard (Std 1 to Std 9 of 2010-11), received a 'goody bag' and a certificate from PNLIT, with the class toppers getting school bags, among other things. Other prizes included notebooks of different kinds, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pencil boxes, exam boards, lunch boxes, water bottles, games, books and other items. The best all-round performer received a wrist watch.

All the prizes (worth approximately Rs 35,000/-) were donated and sorted by residents of L&T South City and Brigade Millennium. Our appeal for contributions was so immense that we had enough to give each of the 850-odd children something noteworthy - at least a notebook, pencil and eraser. Some of the contributions are being given to the school for classroom interaction/ infrastructure and library use.

On behalf of Puttenahalli Government School and PNLIT, sincere thanks to all the donors for their generous contributions.

The smiles on the faces of the children said it all... THANK YOU for making it a memorable day!

See the pictures here.

Purple Heron at Puttenahalli Lake

Bird lovers will be interested to note that a large Purple Heron has been spotted at our lake. It most often can be seen sitting on the island.

Pic: Arathi Manay

An update, an appeal

Jan 2009

May 2011

We are happy to tell you that our Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) has signed an MOU with the BBMP to maintain Puttenahalli Lake (Ref. MOU No: CC/EC/(Lakes)/MOU/01/2011-12 Dt. 17.05.2011). This gives official status to what PNLIT has been doing ever since the BBMP began rejuvenating the lake from Feb. 2010.

In order to build on BBMP's work, we had done a donation drive last year. Donations from well wishers like you helped us plant 300 trees, shrubs, hire a gardener and a sweeper. We greatly appreciate your support to a citizens' movement which began in a very small way to save the lake over three years ago (see photographs) to now reach this point of formal recognition of our effort. You may also be interested to know that ours is the first lake in Bangalore to be officially managed by a residents' group. Ours being a people's initiative, the challenge is even more formidable but not impossible.

With the greater responsibility our need for funds is greater and we are starting another donation drive this year. Your contribution will go towards cleaning the lake and its surroundings, planting more saplings, maintaining the garden, securing the lake, feeding inlets to drain water into the lake, upkeep of the toilets or providing drinking water, etc. For your information, we have received the status of Charitable Trust from the IT Dept and expect to get 80G exemption very soon.

Donations may be made in cash, cheque or by direct remittance.

• Cash may be given to our representatives at L&T South City or Brigade Millennium
• Cheques in favour of Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust may be sent to our registered office: B3, 502, South City, Arekere Mico Layout, Off Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560 076
• For Direct remittance, please see here.

Please become a Puttenahalli Lake champion!

With best wishes,

Usha
Chairperson, PNLIT