Bengaluru Lake Gets a New Life Thanks to the Dedicated Efforts of This Lake Activist

Revathi Kamath, a lake activist has played a major role in alleviating the woes of villagers of  Neguli panchayat on Kanakapura Road in Bengaluru. The villagers were distressed by a foul odor coming from the polluted Naganayakanahalli Lake. The overwhelming odor was all around as the lake comprising two acres hadn't been desilted in the previous three decades. Kamath organized men, supplies, and resources to clean it up. With the help of resources and labor, she was able to clear the two acres of silt from the lake. Although the filthy silt was dumped at one corner, she assured the villagers that it will be removed within a few days, and full-scale revitalization work would start. She stated there were two problems to be addressed. First, Kanakapura's neighboring villagers have been polluting the water body by dumping untreated sewage. Secondly, she claimed that though the villagers have been very cooperative, officials are taking their time processing paperwork pertaining to shifting the 11KV cables that ran through the middle of the lake. Kamath, 63 has been into lake development for the past six years. As urbanization accelerated, sewage and industrial runoff contaminated lakes. Rapid urbanization, an inflow of people, and the ensuing demand for land led to the decline of lakes. Thanks to the persistent efforts of star citizens like Kamath, many such lakes have been revived.