Following the example of Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT), residents of Arekere have also started an initiative to restore the Arekere lake on Bannerghatta road, opposite AECS Magnolia school. The Arekere Neighbourhood Improvement trust (ANIT) has been started an initiative to revive and rejuvenate the lake. As part of their initiative, the trust will form a human chain around the lake on Saturday, February 16, to demand its restoration.
Speaking to City Express, Arbind Gupta, a core member said, "This lake comes under the jurisdiction of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). In fact, a budget has also been sanctioned for the development of the lake, but in order to start the development activities, the concerned authority has to conduct a survey pertaining to its boundaries. There has been a considerable delay in the survey and now through the involvement of citizens, we are trying to pressurise the authority."
The initiative was conceptualise four months back, however, the action plans will kickstart only from Satuday. The aim is to reach out to all the people in the neighbourhood to seek their participation in the campaign, meet people in all the nearby layouts/RWAs and get drive a signature campaign for survey and restoration of Arekere lake.
Arbind says, "We met Rajgopalan, a member of PNLIT and that is when we decided on repeating a similar initiative in our locality."
On February 16, people will assemble in front of Maruthi Magnolia school at 9 am and form a human chain along BG road and Saibaba temple. This will be followed by a walk to the nearby Government Public school.
The campaign has already created an impact among people in the neighbourhood and more than 500 people, including children from nearby schools are expected to participate in the human chain and a few thousands are expected to sign the petition. Participating schools are Sherwood, BGS NPS, Govt higher primary, Carmel, Holy Spirit, and Candor International.