In Bengaluru, India, fisherman Sunil Kumar participates in a lake cleanup initiative to restore heavily polluted Lake Doddhajara, part of a broader effort to save the city’s diminishing lakes, which have decreased from over 250 in the 1970s to around 180 today. Kumar and volunteers use boats to remove invasive weeds and debris, which threaten fish populations by depleting oxygen levels.
City officials and civic groups have been working to rejuvenate these lakes, which are crucial for supporting local ecosystems, reducing flooding, and supplying groundwater. However, urban growth and poor sewage management have led to significant contamination, with 85% of water bodies in Bengaluru reported polluted in a 2017 survey.
Community initiatives, supported by government actions, are essential for long-term lake conservation, particularly after a severe drinking water shortage in 2024 highlighted the issue’s urgency. Kumar hopes the efforts will restore the lake enough for him to fish there again, enhancing both local enjoyment and ecosystem health.
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