Beware of offerings from strangers

Residents in the Puttenahalli Lake vicinity beware!  

Image courtesy: Philip Martin Clip Art

One of the residents of the neighbourhood had a horrifying experience, as explained in this email message, received from a credible source. 

"One of our residents, on her way back after dropping off her children's lunch boxes at the Brigade School at around 12 noon, was offered some puliyogare as "prasad" by a decently dressed woman. She immediately ate it and walked back towards her flat at Brigade Millennium. When she got close to the Woodrose Club, she started feeling woozy, as if she had no control over her limbs, etc. She happened to look back and noticed the woman watching her from the other side of the park's entrance. She somehow managed to drag herself to the apartment gate and into her home, where she hallucinated for the next 3-4 hours, at which point her family got home and a doctor was summoned. The doctor then advised inducing vomiting. Even after that, she still felt the effects of the drug - after about 9 hours since ingesting. 

She thinks that the intention was for the woman to have robbed her of her jewelry and phone when she started feeling the effects of the drug, under the guise of trying to help her, especially if she had collapsed near the park. Fortunately for her, she was able to push herself and reach her home without collapsing.   

Please spread the word and warn our children to not accept any food, even if it is called "prasad" from anybody on the street, however decent-looking they are!"

For the love of the outdoors!

“For beginners or experts, old or young, 

the Great Indian Outdoors has something for everyone.”

PNLIT is happy to announce its association with two online portals, both offering exclusive benefits to our supporters.

www.trailwala.com is "India’s premier listings directory for outdoor activities" – one where travellers get directly connected to trip organisers from all over India and Nepal, and where associates get special privileges.

Outdoor adventure travel (such trekking, river rafting, boat rides, road trips, etc.) is said to be growing rapidly in India as stressful lifestyles and chaotic urban cities push people to seek outdoor escapes. India has 32 mountain areas, 14,500 kilometres of waterways, more than 100 beaches, 200 wildlife parks and over a thousand yoga programs. There’s a growing community of people looking for fitness, relaxation, exploration and natural living.

Quite often it takes almost as much effort to find an active adventure trip as it does to actually embark upon one. Trailwala is solving this problem by creating a community where trip organizers and travellers can connect. Trip organizers list their upcoming trips and events, and travellers can search by activity or location, and instantly pull up multiple options for the same trip. Trailwala lists hundreds of outdoor events – everything from local one-day hikes to Himalayan expeditions to scuba diving adventures. PNLIT is registered with Trailwala as a “friends and family” member.

Benefits to PNLIT’s supporters: Many may not be aware that adventure activities go for steep discounts to fill in vacant spaces. Websites like Trailwala get deals like these all the time, and they are not always advertised. The next time you are looking for a trip that involves an outdoor activity in India or Nepal just drop a mail to <ask@trailwala.com> with cc to <pnlitonline@gmail.com>. Don’t forget to mention your association with PNLIT. Trailwala will scan its network to see what’s on discount in the area you’re planning to go.

www.decathlon.in is Decathlon’s online store in India. Apart from being one of the world’s largest retailers of sporting goods, Decathlon has 20 of its own brands. 

In India, Decathlon products can be bought by anyone from Decathlon stores or online through resellers. In addition, B2B customers can buy directly from Decathlon online. PNLIT is registered with Decathlon online as a member.

Benefits to PNLIT’s supporters: Members on Decathlon online have access to special online prices that are lower than the MRP. You can search online, pay for the item using your credit card/ net banking. Delivery may be free or chargeable, depending on the item and purchase value. In line with FDI regulations, the items will be shipped to the PNLIT office address from where you can pick them up. As a member of the PNLIT support group, if you would like to avail of Decathlon’s member rates, please get in touch at <pnlitonline@gmail.com>.

A thank you note received

We don't normally forward mails from visitors to the lake but this one we couldn't resist - not so much for the text but for the exquisite photos sent. The insipid Pond Heron on which we don't spare a second look appears like a painting. The Scaly-breasted Munia is sparrow sized but the photo clearly indicates how it got its name. 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chandra Rampuria
Date: Sat, Jul 11, 2015 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Thank you note !
To: puttenahalli.lake@gmail.com

I am a resident of Elita Promenade and recently happened to visit the Puttenhalli Lake.

Must say it was really a very pleasant surprise for me to see such a well maintained lake in the midst of a bustling neighbourhood. 

Full credit to the trustees for creating an environment where birds and insects can not only survive but also thrive.

It is indeed a creditworthy work by all of you and I would like to express my gratitude by sharing some of the pictures of the birds that I was able to click during my visits.

Best regards

Chandra Kumar Rampuria

Indian Pond Heron

Kingfisher

Scaly-breasted Munia

Sunbird

16th July 2015 - Save the date

We are delighted to tell you that PNLIT will be receiving the  शहर GREEN करो - It's Our Turn to Lead Award at a special function at the Puttenahalli Lake premises on 16th July 2015, 11:00 a.m. onwards. The Chief Guest is Mrs. Karuna Singh, Country Director of Earth Day Network India, the organizers of the contest. 

The contest was held in 45 Indian cities to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Earth Day and six winners were announced in May. The Jury found merit in our entry on the pre-monsoon cleaning of the lake bed by volunteers on 28th March 2015, most of whom live in the neighbourhood. Sincere thanks to each one of them for the great vigour and enthusiasm with which they had picked trash from the lake bed. Pictures of the event are below. 

More than in the previous years, this cleaning drive was important because it may have been for the last time that we were able to do this. Puttenahalli Lake no longer needs to rely on the monsoon to fill up. From 17th May 2015, treated waste water from the Sewage Treatment Plant at South City has been flowing into the lake. Within a year, we hope our dream of seeing it filled to the optimum will become a reality and even more birds will flock to the lake. 

After their inspection of the STP, the Upa Lokayukta Hon'ble Justice Sri Subhash B. Adi and Dr. Vaman Acharya, Chairman, KSPCB visited the lake and met our volunteers. Their presence boosted our morale no end and made the day a memorable one for us. 

Our sincere thanks to KSPCB for giving the necessary permission and for sponsoring the lake cleaning drive. With infrastructural support from BBMP and donations from our well wishers, PNLIT has been maintaining the lake from May 2011. It is still a work in progress and we have a long way to go but awards like the one we will be proud to receive on 16th July encourage our endeavour. 

We look forward to sharing this moment with you. Do please attend. A line to confirm your attendance will be most welcome. 

Best regards

Usha for the PNLIT Team

Science Fair by Merry Go Learn Students in association with PNLIT

Bring your children to Science Fair 2015 at Puttenahalli Lake on Sunday, 5th July 2015!
Don't let them miss the fun of science! Details below.

Merry Go Learn invites children and their families to shake hands with magic hands, build your own parachute, make your own litmus paper and experience the thrill of hands-on science in the Science Fair.

This Science Fair will feature more than 20 hands-on science activities and demonstrations conducted by children. 
Build your own Parachute !  
Shake hands with Magic Hands !
Bring the Universe alive !

Make your own Litmus Paper!

The fun, free event is open to all and will be held on Sunday, July 5th, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Puttenahalli Lake, near MLR Convention Hall, Brigade Millennium, JP Nagar 7^th Phase.

For any query, call the Merry Go Learn team +91-9900528293, +91-9945281083.

Bird babies day out at the lake

The excitement continues at the lake. Today Madhurima spotted several bird parents with their chicks. 

We had a babies' day out at the lake today. First the Coots brought one of their babies out. A Brahminy Kite spotted it and dived towards it, but unsuccessfully. So no casualties. Later the Coots brought out both their babies. Then the White-throated Kingfishers brought out two juveniles and the Wagtails also presented,  what looked like a juvenile.  And then, an Ashy Prinia brought out a tiny little Ashy Prinia! It was so tiny that we could not see it with our naked eyes. - Madhurima

Coots

Ashy Prinias

Wagtails

Little Cormorant

White-throated Kingfishers

Bird update at Puttenahalli Lake

Here's Madhurima's note and pix of the birds she spotted today morning at Puttenahalli Lake. Would you like to join her on a weekend? Reply to puttenahalli.lake@gmail.com. Depending on the number of people interested, we can arrange for a bird watch.   

Lots of good news. When I walked into the lake premises today, I saw a pair of what I think are Black-winged Stilts flying out. Then I saw 2 Purple Herons, followed by a flock of 12 Scaly-breasted Munia and then the Oriental White-eye showed up with the missus. And that was not all, after coming home and zooming into the photos of some Little Grebes that I had taken, I realized that they weren't Little Grebes at all. They were baby Coots. The Pheasant-tailed Jacanas are still here. Hopefully we will have some Jacana chicks soon.

​

Looking for a Manager

Are you interested in spending a few hours outdoors and getting paid for it? PNLIT is looking for a Manager for Puttenahalli Lake, near MLR Convention Hall, J.P. Nagar. 

This is an exciting, unique and deeply fulfilling assignment. As Manager, you become a partner with the trustees to not just maintain the lake and its premises but to complete its transformation into a rich thriving eco-system - an achievable dream.  

Requirements - an open mind and love for nature with some fluency in spoken Kannada. 

Role - assign work to our gardeners, supervise them, follow up with officials, help with organizing events, run small errands as needed, send regular updates to the trustees. 

PNLIT is a non-profit citizens' trust that meets lake related expenses from voluntary donations. Nevertheless, we will be happy to offer a reasonable honorarium to the right candidate. To know more about us and our work, visit our website 

http://www.puttenahallilake.in/.

Men, women, recently retired, housewives ... if you are interested in exploring this opportunity, drop us a mail at puttenahalli dot lake at gmail dot com

Usha

PNLIT

Birds captured after the rains

Thanks to the rain and the treated water, the level has gone up at the lake. Unfortunately though, the notoriously difficult to control alligator weed is also growing lushly. We hope when the level increases even more, the weeds will be submerged and rot. Well, we may be unhappy about the weed spreading but the birds are very happy about it. The number of birds frequently the lake has increased. 

For the past few months, Madhurima Das, a "resident birder" from the neighbourhood has been regularly doing a weekend census of the birds at the lake, and taking pictures as well. Today she was happy to have captured a few candid moments. Pictures below.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana in breeding plumage

Little Cormorant 

Great Cormorants that flew past for a recce perhaps!

White-throated Kingfisher with catch

Spot the two Purple Herons? 

Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in a mating dance perhaps .... 

Little Grebes - they had laid three eggs but lost two to predators. Way of the wild!

A first time visitor to our lake - Jacobin Cuckoo, considered to be a harbinger of the monsoon!  

Pics: Madhurima Das
Captions: Usha Rajagopalan

PNLIT turns five today

PNLIT turns five today. 

Thanks to our donors, volunteers, staff, vendors, media, government authorities and everyone else who extended support to us in various capacities, the journey has been very fulfilling.

Puttenahalli Lake continues to be PNLIT's primary focus and we are happy with the positive difference that 'five years' has made.      

The green of the trees, grass and other plants (weeds included) cannot be missed. Flowers, fruit and fish ensure that birds, butterflies and other life forms are able to sustain. More than 70 different species of birds have been spotted at the lake over the past five years. The breezy shade of the trees and refreshing air makes the lake area an ideal setting for literary, cultural and educational community events, several of which have been held, while also offering exercise space and peace and quiet from the hustle of city life. (Check our blog posts for more information.)   

Gazebo garden, developed and nurtured by PNLIT (Pic: Nupur)

Pathway lined with trees and flowers (Pic: Nupur) ​

PNLIT Trustee Nupur was at the lake this morning and was delighted to see the garlic vine in full bloom with gentle lavender flowers, and a migrant grey heron prominently perched on the poles she had planted in the lake bed some weeks ago. These little joys make every minute of the time spent in nurturing the lake totally worth it!

​Garlic vine flowers and a Grey heron (Pics: Nupur)​              

Water, which should be taken for granted in a lake, has been one of the challenges. With no proper catchment left for Puttenahalli Lake, PNLIT has been looking at ways to get more 'good' water into the lake. This past year, progress has been made. Apart from the rain water/ storm water from the roadside drains, starting a few weeks ago, water from the South City apartment complex's sewage treatment plant has been feeding the lake. This is a milestone in Bangalore's lake-saving movement and if successful, would be extended to other lakes. The South City owners association, SUGRUHA, upgraded the STP with its own funds so that it met the quality standards. With rigorous control on the water quality, it would take a while for the lake to fill. Next year, at this time, maybe we will have 'brimming' news to share.   

The PNLIT teacher volunteers have had a good year, with their students doing well in the public exams. 

PNLIT merchandise that is a minor source of income for PNLIT, continues to delight. We presently have cloth bags, T-shirts, coasters with birds/ butterflies, wristbands, photoframes, cartoon postcards, CapsToKeep bottle cap magnets and keychains. Reasonably priced, these make unique gifts. PNLIT also has a store on eBay Charity, that you can shop on here. While shopping on Amazon, Flipkart or Snapdeal, using the links on the PNLIT website would give PNLIT a percentage of your spends. These are small ways in which your shopping will not only contribute to PNLIT, but also spread awareness about Bangalore's lake-saving efforts.                    

The donations and contributions in kind (both material and service) received from our well-wishers have ensured that we have been able to pay our staff salaries, maintain/ execute small improvements in the lake area, conduct lakeside activities and participate in city-wise lake-related efforts. We spend according to the money we get. This is how we have managed. Some contributions to our corpus fund have helped to build it, but we still have a long way to go. The interest on a corpus of Rs 50 lakhs will take care of routine expenses. We have applied for FCRA registration which is in process. We are looking for corporate support. If we get more money, we can do more.   

PNLIT is recognised as a charity and donations are exempt u/s 80G of the IT Act. With almost no administrative expenses, you can be sure that your money is well spent. If you would like to support a charity, do consider PNLIT. For details on how you can donate and help please click here. 

We look forward to your continued support in the transformation of Puttenahalli Lake to a secure ecosystem and a place of serenity for all of us. 

Best wishes,

Arathi for The PNLIT Team