After decades of neglect, B Channasandra Lake in Kasturinagar has been brought back to life — not by government intervention, but through residents’ collective action and CSR support. Once reduced from a pristine 19-acre waterbody to a garbage-choked, 6.5-acre dump, the lake has now been rejuvenated thanks to Kasturinagar Residents’ Welfare Association (KRWA) and the non-profit Hands on CSR, with support from tech firm CGI.
The revival effort started when locals, searching for a place to celebrate Vanamahotsava, stumbled upon the barren patch. Moved by the potential and desperate to restore public space, residents first pooled funds themselves, and later partnered with Hands on CSR, which oversaw the technical restoration — including desilting, waste removal, bund construction, and water channel design.
Despite being under the BBMP’s custody since 2006, the land officially belongs to the Forest Department, which granted permission for revival in 2023. Forest officer N Ravindra Kumar praised the initiative, calling it a “powerful example” of citizen-driven environmental action.
Over ₹8 lakh was spent on building an 800-foot boundary wall, funded through monthly contributions of ₹1,000 per household. Future plans include planting endangered native species like ebony and elephant apple to create a thriving mini-forest.
What began with a tree-planting festival ended in the resurrection of a dying lake — a testament to what ordinary citizens can achieve when they take ownership of their environment.
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