How do you bring a beautiful lake to life? Ah, for that you have to recognise its existence, feel passionately about its revival, gather a strong can-do-will-do group around you, fight official and unofficial interests for whom unoccupied land is a jolly expanse for property development, and, not least, find courage and cash to carry your mission through. On the morning of Saturday, 28 June, I stood on the bund above Arasangazhani lake looking at the success of such a mission. The lake, which has Perumbakkam hill as its backdrop, will one day soon shimmer with fresh monsoon waters.
Dilleeswara Babu of the adjacent gated Bollineni Hillside community told me the story. “A couple of years ago, standing on top of the hill, a group of us spotted this dip close to our compound wall. And we thought, ‘Hey, it could be a lake!’ We rushed down, explored the basin (in bad shape), and talked to people in the villages. Yes, they said, it is indeed the Arasangazhani-Vedanthangal ‘eri’. We were determined to get it back.” (Incidentally, it figures in the Central Government MNREGA list of places selected for “improvement” in the financial year 2011-2012.)
Surprised by the support from fellow-residents, the group began to imagine the sounds of heavy-duty excavators and garbage-clearing trucks. A group member Usha Mahalingam called Environment Foundation of India (EFI), and its founder Arun Krishnamurthy was soon down with a project report. “We'll do it!” they chorused. But a ground reality was waiting to blind-side them. Soon after word of restoration got out, the land sharks got in. Repeated attempts to occupy the lake began in earnest.
They were unfazed. “On Arun's guidance, we collected nearly four lakhs, some residents picking up the tab for the day's expenses — hiring labourers, earth-movers. Last July, the project went into gear, work happening on Sundays.” They were now accused of removing mud illegally from the lake-bed. The work was stopped. EFI volunteers knocked at doors, and sat across hierarchical desks to get the PWD to help them out. “We convinced the locals of our intentions, and used the excavated mud to create G-shaped islands. But the marauders were back, carting away two truck-loads of fine earth at night. We lodged complaints everywhere.”
They carried on. In a month, clean-up was done; G-islands and plants were in place. In November, the lake stored rainwater, though it all dried up by February. But the group is wiser now. They have combed every inch of the area, and have identified three chutes/culverts connecting the hill to the lake. “These are meant to drain rainwater into the lake. We'll clear them of sand. We are also vigilant about preventing sewage water from flowing into the water body.”
Sure, the lake will recharge the water table below, but that's not how they see the lake, the residents say. Their first thought on discovering the lake was not that it would enhance the beauty of the Chemmanchery neighbourhood. It was bio-diversity. “We want the lake to fill, native trees to grow, birds to find a home on the island.” So far they have resisted the suggestion to lay walkways and install seats. “We want to fence the lake so the feathered visitors won't feel threatened. This lake is for water, trees, herbs, reeds and birds. It will happen. Then from the top of the hill we will get a stunning view. That will be our reward.”
Student volunteers Aashana and Aravindh of EFI, who have accompanied me to the lake, are pleased to hear my “Oohs” and “Aahs”. We chat about EFI — its presence on social net-working sites, the Rolex and Google Social Impact Awards it bagged for conservation efforts, its work in Mudichur, Madambakkam, Perumbakkam, Keezhkatalai and Narayanapuram lakes in Chennai, Kapra, Alwal and Hafeezpet lakes in Hyderabad, Selvachintamani Kulam in Coimbatore, and its orientation programmes in schools.
Their street plays and band help spread the word, they say; their documentaries have gone viral on the Internet. Their campaign ‘Know Your Lake’ tells people about water bodies in their areas. “Our well-organised group is ready for action at all times.”
At the Arasangazhani lake they used a foghorn to gather villagers, while residents brought their kids. “We get the permissions, and plan the restoration, but success rests entirely on the whole-hearted participation of local people.” On those six Sundays, they had to hand-pick non-biodegradable garbage, and get dredging and de-silting done with heavy machines. A major part of the work was creating the scientific islands and wind-breakers in the middle of the lake.
“When the lake fills, it will fill our hearts,” say the volunteers. As if on cue, clouds gather and there is a heavy downpour. Want to see another miracle happen? Log on to >www.indiaenvironment.org , >www.efivolunteer.com
