Citizens in the city are coming up with different projects to maintain and conserve a clean and green environment.One such initiative was the ‘Safai Abiyaan Week’ which was undertaken by the Genpact global, in the city recently.Under this project, the volunteers cleaned the Puttenahalli Lake by removing the weeds and garbage dumped around the lake.The aim of the project was to provide green cover in the city by stabilizing, preserving and protecting water bodies, bird habitat, and to encourage and assist other citizens across the city to restore lakes in their areas.Appreciating the project undertaken by the citizens, Yellappa Reddy, environmentalist said, “Every citizen should realise his or her responsibility towards the environment.In other countries, stringent measures are taken to control pollution but here people are let free to encroach the lake and other water bodies.” He also said, “It is through these lakes that the quality of underground water greatly improves.Earlier, these water bodies were used for irrigation purposes, but today we see apartments, play grounds and other buildings encroaching on lake beds.” Puttenahalli lake was once a marshy garbage dump.This has led to shortage of public open spaces, depletion of ground water, change in city temperature and pollution levels and destruction of bird habitats.Speaking about the responsibility of the government, Yellappa Reddy added, “Government is taking serious action against the cases of encroachment, polluting the land and water bodies etc.But it is not possible for the government to have 24/7 vigilance on these issues.The citizens have to take up the responsibility of keeping the city clean.” He also opined that awareness about pollution control and the concern towards their environment should be built and spread across a wider section of the society.
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