We're into the fourth week of Prasad Nagar lake revival. Today, we started with creating awareness about various issues of the lake and how those can be tackled. Great thing is that a lot of locals understand these issues and have come together to help revive the park and the lake. They themselves talked about the importance of protecting the park as they realise how everyone gets benefited from the park and that it is everyone's duty to give back to the park. While they talked about it, a lot more locals gathered to listen. Soon after this, a team of locals put on gloves and started cleaning the periphery of the lake of all kinds of plastics, glass bottles and religious offerings. Another team of volunteers started cleaning the park area collecting plastics and food left by people near trees in different bags. The main highlight of today was the restoration of an old peepal tree. Everyday people, in the name of misplaced faith, put eatables such a...

We met top DDA civil and horticulture officials today to pester them for initiating the lake cleaning process. The contracting of the cleaning is still under process so that is expected to be completed in the coming week. Brijesh Gupta ji, civil, has directed his department officials to pursue the matter aggressively and has also directed them to begin the cleaning of the lake latest by 5-7 June. Once the desilting process starts it can be completed within two weeks. Brijesh Gupta ji is well aware of the monsoon staring at us. So, even he is trying to get this process completed before rains hit Delhi. Gupta ji is also open to look at other options where the lake could be cleaned without even removing water out of it. He has requested a detailed proposal from us with all such options available along with the costing. If any of such methods are economically feasible, they shall also be explored and most possibly implemented. Harswaroop Singh ji, horticulture, has also of...

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE! In order to make people feel attached to Prasad Nagar Lake, we involved them in plantation in the lake park today. The gesture was well received and much appreciated by the locals. They pledged to take care of the saplings by watering them. Additionally, the locals also felt more enthusiastic about cleaning of the lake and agreed to cooperate by spreading awareness among the visitors on littering or dropping wheat flour balls in the lake. As for the actual cleaning process, we had a meeting with DDA officials yesterday, along with their contractor. While the contractor is fixated on the idea of removal of silt only when the lake dries up, we believe it's not possible this season. Thus, the DDA officials have sought our proposal on the same - how to clean the lake while it is still full of water. Our experts are drafting a proposal on the same and we are looking to submit the same during this week. However, till th...

A very special day as the whole world celebrates Mother's Day today. Our team attempted to make people give a thought to another mother - the mother of all mothers - MOTHER NATURE! We asked people to display their love and commitment towards mother nature by hugging a tree! Also, as a part of our efforts to revive the lake we politely requested visitors not to put atta for ants around the trees as infestation by insects makes the area hollow and porous leading to a weak support for tree roots. At the worst trees can fall! Mother nature has equipped ants with enough sense to locate their food! We also requested not to keep bajra for pigeons as pigeons' population has disproportionately increased over the past years. And this has created an imbalance in the population of birds in our city. It has also affected sparrows, which are rare now! Mother nature has also equipped pigeons to locate their own food... they don't need us. We also requested not to put...

The morning of 6-May-18 was very special. With a very strong support from our own volunteers, the concerned government officials and also encouraging support from the locals, we kicked off the revival of Prasad Nagar Lake. We also have the company of some relevant experts in the areas of biodiversity and water bodies revival - both by natural means and the utilisation of technology in a way it doesn't disturb the natural vibes of the place. Our experts team is currently chalking out the entire strategy to outline a proper methodical approach on the cleaning of this lake. Meanwhile, our other set of volunteers shall be creating awareness among the visitors of this lake. Please join us! We need a lot of support for this!