Anand Malligavad, known as the "Lake Man" in India, is a mechanical engineer from Bengaluru. He has spent his life studying ancient techniques for keeping lakes clean. Malligavad has successfully restored many lakes, covering a total surface area of 800 acres. These lakes now hold 106 million gallons of water, and the groundwater level in those regions has increased by eight feet.
It was in 2017, and he was out for a walk with colleagues when he fell into a smelly, dirty lake. Then the very next day, he asked his company if they would fund the restoration of the 36-ac re lake. However, they were uncertain whether Malligavad could do this. Determined to succeed, Malligavad took it upon himself to study the history of the lake and familiarize himself with various lake restoration methods. Four months later, Malligavad received funding from his company, which enabled him to start working on this project in the city of Bengaluru.
With the aid of hundreds of volunteers, they removed the waste and opened the channel. Malligavad then adopted the ancient Chola method to build mud walls that channel the extra rainwater into the lakes for agricultural use. It took them just 45 days and then they waited for the rains. Six months later, when the rainy season came, he was out boating on a fresh, clean lake. "When I saw the lake, I felt younger, and I wanted to jump into it,"Malligavad said.
Since this first win, Malligavad has not stopped. He has created a non-profit organization called The lake Revivers Collective. "All I have is a sense of urgency that if we don't repair the damage we've already caused," he said, "it's going to end badly for all of us. Water shortage is a major problem in Bengaluru, Water tankers(水罐车) must drive in to meet the population's needs." His methods help to solve the problem, and even attract wildlife.
