Palanahalli lake

Palanahlli lake is located in Palanahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru North(13.11634, 77.61541). The lake is around 9 hectares of area. The lake was rejuvenated by BBMP by providing walkway, guards, sitting benches, plantation etc. The lake is receiving storm water and untreated wastewater from the neighborhood which does not have sewer lines.

Map of Palanahalli lake

The lake has only one inlet. BBMP has created a small check dam like structure using boulders in the inlet which acts as a settling tank which separates the solids from the liquids. There are wetland plants like alligator weed, canna etc grown inside the structure. The water near the inlet stinks, thick and dark in appearance. As the water moves out of the settling tank, it becomes a bit clearer and the smell also reduces. The lake is mostly covered by wetland and as the water passes through these wetland, water becomes further purified. The wetland plants also include lotus which is seen in bulk in one corner of the lake. The other end of the lake has water where fishes are harvested. In a day ___kgs of fishes are harvested. Fishes like Raghu, Katla, Tilapia, Marva etc are found. Alligator weed is taken by the grass cutters which is used as fodder for cattle. In the words of BBMP guard Miss Nalina, in a day 30 bags of alligator weed is harvested and the fishes from the lake are too tasty.

Lotus grown inside the lake

Palanahalli lake which is mostly covered with wetland plant

Miss Nalina was not aware about wetlands and their function. She was thrilled to know wetland plants absorb the nutrients in the wastewater and thus purify. She says, they earlier had a plan for removing all the wetland plants in order to clean the lake and now they would keep the wetland plants which are helpful. 

Conclusion: Though Miss Nalina is not aware of wetlands and their significance, she has noticed the significant improvement in water quality towards the other end of the lake. Communicating to her about the wetlands and their significance helped her in relating the improvement in water quality to the wetlands.

- Rakshitha M L