A citizen trust that helped maintain Puttenahalli Lake for years says the absence of a formal agreement with authorities has limited its work, leading to visible decline in upkeep and bird activity.
The Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust began working with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in 2010 after the lake’s rejuvenation. A memorandum of understanding signed in May 2011 allowed the group to carry out maintenance, organise activities and secure funding. The agreement ended in 2020.
Without the memorandum, trust members can now only conduct activities open to the public during visiting hours. Arathi Manay, managing trustee, noted that the earlier arrangement provided flexibility and credibility for funding. Usha Rajagopalan, co-founder, said interventions needing planning or resources are no longer possible.
Residents report dried leaves, withering plants and a non-functional drip irrigation system. Narayana G., a regular visitor for 13 years, said plant deaths and fewer migratory birds have become noticeable in the past six months. The trust has urged the Greater Bengaluru Authority to find ways to involve local communities in lake upkeep.
