Bengaluru: A musical concert, but with a difference; one where funds collected will go into helping revive a water body in a city that is losing lakes.
The Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT), which comprises citizen caretakers of Puttenahalli Lake in J.P. Nagar 7th Phase, has come up with the novel idea of organising a Carnatic music concert to get the neighbourhood contribute funds for maintenance of the lake.
The concert will feature Sudha Raghunathan. It will be held on February 25 close to Puttenahalli Lake.
“We wanted to focus on lake maintenance, get people to reflect on our natural resources and contribute towards a social cause,” said Usha Rajagopalan, chairperson of PNLIT, who pitched in to turn around the dry lake over the last 10 years.
PNLIT has been conducting several programmes, including nature walks at the lake, while several people have volunteered to be part of the revival endeavour. “If people of Bengaluru are responsive with funds for maintenance of the lake, it would be the greatest show of solidarity towards a cause,” said Ms. Rajagopalan.
Ms. Raghunathan is all set for the performance. “It’s exciting to be part of such a healthy cause where all of us need to pitch in. My contribution will be an elaborate Amruthavarshini raga, a time-honoured scale known for improving the water sources that the swara vibrations create,” said the vocalist, who is the founder of Samudhaaya Foundation which supports a wide range of causes.
For volunteers who worked hard to nurture the dry lake back to life over a decade, garnering ₹7 lakh for annual maintenance seems a daunting task.
“Maintenance is an ongoing effort. We have been feeding the lake with excess water from the STP as monsoons have not helped. We have planted 300 trees, countless shrubs and creepers to attract birds and butterflies,” Ms. Rajagopalan said.
The concert will be held at 6.30 p.m. at the MLR Convention Centre in J.P. Nagar 7th Phase. Entrance tickets will be available at the venue.
