Brigade Group rejuvenates Sitharampalya Lake in EPIP Zone

Creates a Lush Green Oasis in Whitefield

Premier real estate developer Brigade Group has restored the Sitharampalya Lake in Whitefield to its pristine glory. Brigade Group joined hands with the NGO- Tropical Research Development Centre (TRDC) for rejuvenating the lake.

Commenting on the lake rejuvenation, Mr. M.R. Jaishankar, Chairman and Managing Director, Brigade Group, said “As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility Brigade Group took up the task of rejuvenating Sitharampalya lake next to our luxury project Brigade Lakefront. The lake was once a flourishing lake bed, with a bund dividing it into two pristine parts, but it soon fell to ruin in the name of development.

So we took it upon ourselves to restore the lake to its original glory. The mission has not been easy, but today we can stand back, look at the work and be satisfied that it is a job well done.â€

Paradise regained

Massive development work around the lake and the felling of trees resulted in receding water tables and the flight of birds to greener pastures. What was left of the Sitharampalya lake was a little pond, till about a year ago.

Brigade Group and TRDC followed a systematic path to restore the lake. According to Mr.

Manjunath Prasad, COO, Brigade Group, the lake restoration work was done in stages. The first step was removing several tons of debris in the lake and its surrounding areas, followed by pitching of bunds to help capture water and ensure it stays within the lake area and does not seep out. Next, was to put pipes or a crack dam in place to check if there is any seepage. The banks were then pitched with dry stone along the periphery to help arrest any seepage.

With the completion of this, work on clearing the two existing feeder channels and also the creation of a third channel began. “We also ensured that no seepage from the surrounding areas was directed into the lake. Civil work to remove this hazard was also undertaken.

With all these measures in place, the lake will need just three rain cycles to be seen in its full glory. For the people of the area, the lake will serve as a great leisure and bird watching spot,†said Mr Prasad.

What has been achieved

 With this effort, 23.37 acres of the lake area has been restored. The following too, have been achieved:

* The current capacity of the lake stands at 13,692 litres compared to 9,197 litres earlier.

* A paved walking and jogging track of approximately 400 metres around the lake bed.

* A children’s play area.

* Pre-cast cement benches at few places on the walking tracks for relaxation of elderly people

* Over 1,500 trees planted in the bund area to encourage flora and fauna to thrive.

* A separate area created within the lake premises to encourage visiting birds; several Herons and Indian Cormorants are already visiting the lake.

* Nu-algae introduced into the water to reduce nitrous activity and bring down the growth of weeds

* Approximately 5,000 of five different fish species – including Katla, Tilapia and the common carp – introduced in the water by the Department of Fisheries.

With proper maintenance involving local residents and Government, the lake has the potential to be a good recreational space within the IT hub and upcoming residential developments surrounding the lake.

For more information on Brigade Group visit www.BrigadeGroup.com

 About Brigade

Brigade Group is one of India’s leading property developers head-quartered in Bangalore having presence in all domain of real estate – Residential, Offices, Retail and Hospitality. In the last 28 years, since its inception in 1986, Brigade has developed many land mark buildings in Bangalore and Mysore and has also expanded its operations to Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Mangalore.

The group has completed over 150 buildings in residential, commercial and hospitality sectors amounting to 25 million sq. ft.

The Brigade stamp of innovation, quality and trust speak of a standard that has been established, and is consistently being upgraded by our continual efforts to provide a better quality of life.