Environmentalist Harsha Tej, known on social media as @muddyfingers, founded BlueDot Foundation after leaving his corporate job to focus on environmental conservation. Coming from an agricultural background, Tej says his understanding of soil and water shapes his approach to restoration.
He has worked on reviving 18 lakes during his career. BlueDot has also created Bengaluru’s newest lake, Thimmakka Lake, at the CRPF campus in Yelahanka. The lake was inaugurated by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut and Ashoka Chakra awardee. The foundation’s initiatives, supported mainly by companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, focus on lake restoration, improving water retention and promoting rainwater harvesting.
Restoring Lakes Through Scientific Methods
Many lakes have lost their water-holding capacity because of accumulated silt and sewage inflow. To address these problems, BlueDot Foundation conducts detailed studies and feasibility surveys before deciding on the restoration measures required for each lake.
The foundation uses several techniques, including photogrammetry surveys to assess the landscape, desilting to remove accumulated sediment, planting native trees around lake boundaries and developing wetlands at lake inlets to filter incoming water.
Removing excess silt and restoring a lake to its natural level helps improve its ability to hold water during the monsoon and retain supplies into the drier summer months. These interventions are aimed at improving water storage and supporting the long-term health of the surrounding ecosystem.
Restoration Timelines And Monitoring
The time required to restore a lake depends on its size and condition. According to the information provided, restoration work can take between three months and a year, followed by approximately three years of monitoring to assess long-term sustainability.
This monitoring helps evaluate whether restoration measures continue to support the lake over time. The process requires sustained attention to water quality, sediment accumulation and the condition of the surrounding environment.
Rainwater Harvesting To Address Water Shortages
BlueDot Foundation also encourages households to install rainwater-harvesting pits to help address Bengaluru’s recurring water crisis. These systems channel rainwater into the ground instead of allowing it to run off paved surfaces, helping support groundwater recharge.
Harsha Tej estimates that installing a rainwater-harvesting pit can cost between ₹25,000 and ₹1 lakh, depending on its size and the requirements of the property. He believes that widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting across Bengaluru could make the city water-positive within two to three years. This is his assessment of what broad participation could achieve.
Corporate Support For Environmental Initiatives
BlueDot Foundation’s environmental initiatives are supported mainly by companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. This support helps fund projects focused on lake restoration and water conservation.
Through lake rejuvenation, the creation of Thimmakka Lake and the promotion of household rainwater harvesting, Harsha Tej and BlueDot Foundation are working to improve Bengaluru’s water management and encourage greater participation in environmental conservation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Lake restoration and rainwater harvesting are important steps towards protecting natural resources and addressing urban water shortages. Harsha Tej’s work through BlueDot Foundation highlights the importance of sustained conservation efforts, corporate support and public participation. However, lasting progress also depends on protecting lakes from sewage contamination, maintaining restored water bodies and encouraging responsible water use.
Environmental conservation cannot remain the responsibility of a few individuals or organisations; it requires collective action from residents, businesses and authorities. What more can Bengaluru’s residents and institutions do to protect lakes and conserve water for future generations?
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