Tech-driven efforts help Bengaluru’s lakes rejuvenate amid urbanization

Recent rainfall has contributed nearly 2 million liters of water to Bengaluru’s Handenahalli and Sollepura lakes, a development closely tracked by the city-based environmental NGO, SayTrees. The organization’s founder Kapil Sharma shared the update on X, highlighting how technology is transforming urban water conservation. He revealed that SayTrees is preparing 10 lakes in Bengaluru, 2 in Hyderabad and 15 in Maharashtra to harvest rainwater this monsoon season. Sharma also tagged the Ministry of Jal Shakti in his post. 

Also Read: BBMP Budget 2025-26 to exceed Rs 18,000 Cr; presentation likely on March 27 or 28

To monitor water retention, SayTrees has deployed solar-powered, radar-based sensors in both lakes, which measure fluctuations in water levels.  Media reports noted that Handenahalli Lake's water level increased by 0.02 meters, while Sollepura Lake saw a rise of 0.01 meters from the lakebed. Over the past year, SayTrees has been actively rejuvenating these lakes by desilting, clearing inlets and outlets, reinforcing bunds, and fencing the area to prevent dumping of waste and construction debris. These sensors are crucial in assessing the long-term impact of these interventions by continuously tracking water levels. 

#Sensors Installed in the lakes are doing their job.
A day of rain and 2 lakes in Bengaluru collected about 2 Million liters of water.
Waiting for monsoon as @saytrees_ind is getting 10 lakes in Bengaluru , 2 in Hyderabad and 15 in Maharashtra ready to receive rain water.… pic.twitter.com/DqW6MdmXr9

— Kapil Sharma (@kapil_saytrees)

#Sensors Installed in the lakes are doing their job.
A day of rain and 2 lakes in Bengaluru collected about 2 Million liters of water.
Waiting for monsoon as @saytrees_ind is getting 10 lakes in Bengaluru , 2 in Hyderabad and 15 in Maharashtra ready to receive rain water.… pic.twitter.com/DqW6MdmXr9

— Kapil Sharma (@kapil_saytrees) March 24, 2025

">March 24, 2025

According to IISC researcher Dr. TV Ramachandra, Bengaluru once had 1,452 water bodies and 80% green cover in the 1800s, which kept the city’s climate cooler. However, urbanization and encroachments have significantly reduced this number. By the 1970s, only 760 lakes remained, and today, just 216 exist. His research team has mapped 193 of these lakes, leading to the creation of the Bangalore Lake Information System, which tracks the city’s diminishing water resources.