Nano-tech is eating away lakes woes

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Published: Saturday, Dec 10, 2011, 10:15 IST 

By DNA Correspondent | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Nano-technology is no more a concept that is confined to research labs; it is helping revive Puttenahalli Lake, JP Nagar, which was dying until four years ago.

Introducing Nano-Nutrient Solution (NNS) in the lake on a trial basis yielded impressive results. Buoyed by the result, the authorities are planning to use NNS to the hilt to revive the lake.

The lake was in a pathetic condition owing to a high level of pollution. That was four years ago, when a writer living in an apartment near the lake took notice of the plight. Usha Rajagopalan and her four-member team initiated steps to restore the lake.

As a part of their initiative, Enzen Global Solutions, a social entrepreneur company, conducted a four-week experiment on the lake water. “The first-of-its-kind sampling initiative by Enzen, carried out on 15,000 litres of water, has proved successful in restoring the dirtiest culvert from the lake into a cleaner water body through a natural cycle,” said Easwar P, head, Enzen.

NNS, an indigenous technology, was used for the experiment. Easwar said for four weeks, they kept adding NNS into the tank in equal proportions. On the very first day, odour was eliminated. By the fifth day, the water was less murky and visibility was better.

After a week, the bottom of the lake could be seen. Two weeks later, they let in some fish, which adjusted to the water within two weeks, he said.

After the success of the experiment, Enzen, Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will work jointly to revive the lake.

The BBMP has already spent about `1.56 crore on improving the lake. Now, it will be carrying out civil works around the lake and use NNS on a larger scale. Rajagopalan, trustee, PNLIT, said Enzen would be introducing NNS in the lake on a weekly basis and monitor the improvement.

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