Latest news with #PNLIT
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
PNLIT steps away from Puttenahalli Lake maintenance after BBMP notice
After 15 years of maintaining Puttenahalli Lake, also known as Puttakere, in South Bengaluru, the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) has stepped back from nurturing the lake following a notice from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). PNLIT played a key role in rejuvenating the 13-acre and 25-gunta lake in 2010. In 2011, the trust signed an MoU with the BBMP to maintain the lake with support from local residents. From its neglected state in 2008, the lake flourished after restoration and began attracting numerous migratory and native birds. According to eBird data, 125 bird species, including the Oriental Darter and White-breasted Waterhen, have been recorded at the lake. Notably, 17 species, such as the spot-billed duck and Brahminy kite, have nested there. The lake is also home to 88 different tree species, totalling over 500 trees. As per BBMP records, the civic body took over the lake's maintenance from the Forest Department in 2008, which paved the way for its rejuvenation. Usha Rajagopalan, co-founder of PNLIT, told The Hindu that BBMP lacked a post-rejuvenation plan, prompting her and local residents to establish PNLIT. 'We signed an MoU with BBMP for lake maintenance from 2011 to 2014, and it was then renewed twice, in 2014 and 2017, lasting until 2020,' said Ms. Rajagopalan. However, in 2020, the BBMP did not renew the MoU after the Karnataka High Court ruled that the government could not enter into such agreements (related to lakes) with corporate entities. The order, however, did not prohibit the government from accepting corporate funds for lake rejuvenation. Ms. Rajagopalan mentioned that PNLIT filed an interlocutory application in response to the court's order, and the hearing is still ongoing. Even prior to this development, PNLIT had hired workers and had been maintaining the lake for over a decade. Ms. Rajagopalan emphasised that PNLIT is a registered charitable trust with 80G tax exemption for donors and is fully audited and tax-compliant. 'Since we had filed an interlocutory application, we continued nurturing the lake and carried out timely pruning and other maintenance activities,' she told The Hindu. However, in a notice dated June 10, the civic body directed PNLIT to remove all boards from the trees and to cease unauthorised work, in this case, pruning and other maintenance tasks. According to Ms. Rajagopalan, the PNLIT community was disheartened by the notice and decided to withdraw. 'We can't fight anymore; we have been fighting for more than a decade,' a devastated Ms. Rajagopalan told The Hindu. A BBMP official from the lake division described PNLIT's collection of funds for lake maintenance as 'illegal,' which led to the issuance of the notice. 'The High Court has barred us from such MoUs, and if this group is collecting money for lake maintenance, then isn't it illegal?' the official asked.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Butterfly migration this year takes flight over Garden City earlier than expected
For the last few days, Bengalureans have been awestruck by the swarm of butterflies they have noticed in their neighbourhoods, especially around lakes. Although the migration of butterflies from Western Ghats to Eastern Ghats is a regular phenomenon before the southwest monsoon, this year, due to temperature changes, the movement and sighting of insects have increased in the region, according to experts. Nature observers said that while butterflies usually migrate through the outskirts of the city, after a long time, they are migrating through the city this year. 'Migration starts from the Western Ghats and ends at the Eastern Ghats as the butterflies look to escape the fury of heavy rains. After many years, this time, the butterflies are passing through Bengaluru, and that is why so many people got to see them,' explained Rohit Girotra, who conducts Bengaluru Butterfly Walks (BBW) in the city. Experts have also observed that migration is happening earlier than usual this year due to the predicted early onset of the southwest monsoon. 'Migration is entirely dependent on the monsoon and temperature. When the heat is too much, they try to escape it. Last year, as the summer was very harsh, we did not see many swarms. This year, as the rain is setting in May, the sightings are more,' said a senior official from the Forest Department. The Common Crow, Double-Branded Crow, Blue Tiger, and Dark Blue Tiger are some of the commonly sighted butterfly species during this season along with Plain Tiger, Tawnyu Coster and Stripped Tiger insects. The members of Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) shared that the migrating butterflies passed through the Puttenahalli Puttakere, in JP Nagar 7th Phase, while urging people to visit the lake to witness it. Nagesh Ramamurthy, another member of BBW, noted that the migration groups include three to four generations of butterflies. 'The lifespan of a butterfly is usually between three weeks and 45 days. Along their journey, they mate near lakes during the evenings, lay their eggs and carry on with their journey,' he said. Some nature observers said that more sightings are being reported this year due to the increased awareness among people and social media. 'We cannot exactly determine if the number of butterflies migrating this year is more or less. This year, it is a case of more citizens observing them, aided by social media to spread the word,' said Chandu Bandi, who leads the Bangalore Butterfly Club, which conducts weekly walks and discusses the migration of butterflies. 'Fewer studies are determining the population of migrating butterflies, except for a few enthusiastic researchers trying to do a citizen science exercise using a group that captures the migration observation log. A more regular monitoring exercise requires planning, and a dedicated pool of volunteers who could help understand the trends over a long term,' he added.
