Bengaluru has become a bit notorious globally as videos of Bellandur lake catching fire and its froth blocking roads over the past couple of years have gone viral. But Bengaluru’s lakes are also famous for another reason: the enormous citizen activism that has led to the protection, rejuvenation and beautification of many of its lakes, and the continued citizen efforts to save and revive the remaining ones.

While Hebbal highlights citizen resistance to lake privatisation, lakes such as Kaikondrahalli, Puttenahalli and Jakkur have become success stories of partnerships between the municipal government and local citizen groups, where the former
contributes resources and the latter contribute location-specific ideas, awareness building and monitoring.