Fwd: PNLIT’s Role in the Stewardship of Puttenahalli Lake – A Community Perspective

[Gayathri]

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From: Gayathri <gayathri....@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jul 13, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Subject: PNLIT’s Role in the Stewardship of Puttenahalli Lake – A Community Perspective
To: Commissioner BBMP,PAID, HEAD OFFICE <co...@bbmp.gov.in>, scfec...@gmail.com <scfec...@gmail.com>, chief engineer Lakes <cebbm...@gmail.com>, Member Secretary KSPCB <m...@kspcb.gov.in>, <kscb...@rediffmail.com>, <pcc...@gmail.com>, APCCF RU BLORE <apc...@gmail.com>, <ktcd...@gmail.com>, <dfkar...@gmail.com>, <dcu...@nic.in>, <chai...@bwssb.gov.in>, <m...@bescom.co.in>

To: The Officers, Lakes Division, BBMP
Subject: PNLIT’s Role in the Stewardship of Puttenahalli Lake – A Community Perspective

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to you as a concerned and deeply grateful resident of the Puttenahalli neighbourhood, in light of the recent communication regarding the withdrawal of PNLIT (Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust) from active stewardship of the Puttenahalli Lake.

For our community, PNLIT has never been just another citizen group—it has been the soul of our lake and a powerful catalyst for civic responsibility. Their tireless efforts over the past 15+ years have transformed a dying, neglected water body into a thriving, biodiverse urban ecosystem. What we see today—a lake alive with birds, trees, aquatic life, and a sense of community pride—is entirely due to the vision, resilience, and sustained on-ground work by PNLIT.

As residents, we have personally witnessed their transparent operations, scientific maintenance efforts, community engagement programs, and collaboration with various government departments. The trust's commitment has gone beyond physical upkeep. They nurtured environmental awareness in children, created safe green public spaces, and gave people a stake in local governance. Their presence bridged the gap between the government and citizens in a way that is rare and commendable.

The sudden instruction for them to withdraw is a matter of deep concern to all of us. We understand the importance of administrative compliance, but it is equally important to acknowledge what was achieved here—a working model of successful participatory governance. The fact that PNLIT operated without financial support from BBMP, yet managed to raise and reinvest community resources responsibly and visibly, is something that deserves recognition, not removal.

We humbly urge the BBMP and the Lakes Division to consider the positive precedent set by PNLIT and find a way to accommodate citizen stewardship within the legal framework. Bengaluru’s lakes cannot be protected without collective responsibility. Let Puttenahalli Lake continue to be an example of what’s possible when the government and citizens work together

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Warm regards,
Gayathri

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Warm regards,
Gayathri