Launching the campaign ‘Wake the Lake’ was aimed at restoration and rejuvenation of dying lakes which have been the victims of urbanisation. The campaign was organised jointly by United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), Bangalore chapter of United Way Worldwide, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), NGOs, corporate houses, educational institutions, resident welfare associations, community leaders and public.
The objective is to make lakes people-friendly, inculcate a sense of community ownership of lakes among the people residing nearby and prevent lakes from further degradation. Currently United Way is planning to support restoration of 11 lakes in the City as an average cost of maintaining a lake is about Rs 15 lakh to Rs 18 lakh per annum.
United Way will raise funds from the companies in Bangalore for the maintenance work, besides engaging employees on regular basis in cleaning lakes and planting trees.
BBMP has undertaken the first part of the lake rejuvenation which is removing encroachments, fencing the lakes, diverting sewage water, installing sewage treatment plants, planting trees and creating the walk path.
United Way Bengaluru along with the community will ensure that the work done by BBMP is sustained, and lakes are well maintained round the year. This would include
appointing security guards, maintaining the flora around the lakes and ensuring that no one dumps debris or diverts sewerage.