India: Engineer Gurunandan Rao's science-led effort to revive Bengaluru's Lalbagh Lake

A video shared by The Better India highlights the work of Gurunandan Rao, a mechanical engineer and Founder of HandsOn Foundation, who played a key role in restoring "Lalbagh Lake" using science-led, nature-first methods. The restoration project demonstrates how citizen-led initiatives combined with technical expertise can revive urban water bodies that have been degraded by encroachment, pollution, and neglect.

Lalbagh Lake, located within the historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru, had suffered from declining water quality, invasive weed growth, and reduced ecological function. Rao's intervention focused on systematic desilting, removal of invasive species, and the reintroduction of native aquatic plants to restore natural filtration processes. The approach prioritised ecological restoration over cosmetic improvements, aiming to rebuild the lake's capacity to support biodiversity and regulate local microclimate.

The HandsOn Foundation's methodology drew on scientific assessment of water quality parameters, sediment analysis, and biodiversity surveys before and after intervention. By documenting measurable improvements, the project established a replicable model for lake restoration that other citizen groups and urban local bodies could adapt. Bengaluru has over 200 lakes, many of which face similar pressures from urbanisation, sewage inflow, and solid waste dumping.

Urban lakes in Indian cities play a critical role in groundwater recharge, flood moderation, and urban cooling. As climate change intensifies heat island effects and disrupts rainfall patterns, the ecological and climate-regulatory functions of urban water bodies become increasingly important. Restoring lakes like Lalbagh contributes to building city-level resilience against extreme heat and erratic monsoon patterns.

Rao's work has inspired broader community engagement with lake conservation in Bengaluru, mobilising volunteers, school students, and corporate groups to participate in restoration and monitoring activities. The initiative reflects a growing civic movement in Indian cities where residents are taking direct responsibility for ecological assets that public institutions have struggled to protect.