4 min readBengaluruSep 24, 2023 07:48 AM IST
First published on: Sep 23, 2023 at 06:42 PM IST
A neighbourhood located in North Eastern Bengaluru, Krishnarajapuram, also called as K R Puram, houses several lakes, some of which are as old as a century. However, due to rapid urbanisation in the last two decades, several of the lakes are on the brink of sinking into oblivion.
Born in 1974, Balaji Raghotham grew up in K R Puram and learnt swimming in some of these lakes. In 1992, he started plantation activities around the lakes.
During later 2007, when the lakes were getting encroached either by the government bodies for infrastructural projects or real estate giants, Raghotham started visiting the civic bodies demanding not only to protect the lakes but also to restore them.
While he works with a private construction company, his weekends are spent in volunteer work at the lakes of K R Puram.
YMC, Seegehalli, Battarahalli, Hoodi, K R Puram, Gangashetty, Varanasi lakes among others, he has been relentlessly coordinating with the nearby residents of all these lakes to take a plunge into eco-activities.
Raghotham has also started getting school students to lakes and engaging them in plantation activities.
Speaking with indianexpress.com, 48-year-old Raghotham said, “There is an emotional connection with these lakes. Most of the Bengalurians of my age grew up around lakes and learnt swimming. While we were growing up, playing and swimming around the lakes was our only leisure. We are pained to see the deterioration of the water bodies in the city and it is our duty to protect these lakes.”
“I have held cycle rallies and coordinated with the government bodies and political representatives to protect the lakes in the K R Puram area. It is important for the students to take care of the lakes and maintain them for future generations. We are fighting for the protection of water bodies so that they can reap the benefits. During the peak of summers, I cajole the residents and students to bring water from home and plant saplings around the lakes,” he said.
Most of the lakes have turned out to be garbage dumping spots. The YMC lake is one of the oldest in Bengaluru. However, not only is it encroached but also untreated sewage flows through the lake. The lake is known for holding water sports.
Recently, Raghotham met former MLA of Mahadevapura zone Arvind Limbavali to apprise him of the violations taking place at the lake.
More than thousand saplings have been planted at different lakes. At Basavanapura lake, saplings were planted in the name of those who were admitted to the ICU during the Covid pandemic and have recovered from the disease.
“I have struggled a lot to save the lakes in the K R Puram area. I have knocked on the doors of government authorities to survey the lakes and fence them for protection,” he said.
At the Seegehalli and Battarahalli lakes, Raghotham has installed bird perches. “It is important for birds to rest. So, we have constructed bird perches. It gives me immense happiness to see the birds resting on these wooden perches,” he added.
Raghotham uses social media to alert the civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), to report on vandalism at the different lakes.
Raghotham uses social media to alert the civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to report on vandalism at different lakes. (Express Photo) 
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