Anand Malligavad: The Guardian of Lakes

Editor’s Note (Archival Restoration): This profile of Anand Malligavad was originally published by The Optimist News (Satyaki Baidya). We are restoring this piece to our active archives to continue spotlighting the grassroots heroes fighting against India’s impending water crisis.

Many software engineers move to Bengaluru in search of a better livelihood. However, for Anand Malligavad, things were different. When he realized that the “City of Lakes” was soon projected to become a Zero Water city, he left his corporate job to become a full-time lake conservationist.

One Lake at a Time

Initially, in 2017, Malligavad started out by rejuvenating the Kyalasanhalli Lake as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project on behalf of his company, Sansera Engineering Limited.

“Growing up close to lakes, it was a dream project for me,” he shared.

While interacting with villagers in the surrounding areas, he received an earnest request to restore the Vabasandra Lake, which he achieved with CSR support from Hewlett Packard. After the project’s completion in 2018, he assumed his conservation journey would end there. However, he was soon approached by Hikal Pharma Limited to restore Konasandra Lake. The lake’s condition was so deplorable that he simply could not refuse.

Malligavad’s efforts came into the limelight when a leading news portal featured an article about his initiatives. The piece was shared widely, and soon, requests for conservation projects began pouring in.

A Leap of Faith

Around that time, Malligavad made an out-of-the-box decision: he would leave his secure engineering job and take up lake conservation as his full-time occupation. Convincing his family was difficult, but they eventually relented.

“I explained that I would revive 45 lakes in Bengaluru by 2025 and then join my job again. Meanwhile, I will manage my expenses with my savings,” he shared. “However, today, the situation is entirely different,” he added with a hearty smile.

He launched The Lake Collective in partnership with a social organization, operating under the motto: ‘Restoring one lake at a time.’

The Gavi and Manae lakes were taken up in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Even during the pandemic, his mission did not halt. “Bengaluru is going to be a dry city if we do not save it now,” Malligavad reasoned. Soon after, the Hadosiddapura, Nanjapura, Chikkanagamangala, and Dyavasandra lakes were rejuvenated under CSR funding from various organizations.

Sustainable and Community-Driven Methods

Malligavad has also helped other conservationists rejuvenate lakes. Many NGOs work alongside him, deriving immense inspiration from his phenomenal work.

“I go for the most cost-effective, eco-friendly techniques. The idea is not just to fill up the lakes with water; the method needs to be sustainable as well,” Malligavad explained.

Rather than blasting rocks, he utilizes gravel directly from the lakes. For fencing, he plants bamboo and bougainvillea, which have extremely low maintenance costs.

Crucially, Malligavad takes the locals into confidence before beginning any initiative. “I visit the gram panchayats and talk to all the villagers. I take them to visit my previous projects and motivate the local kids to participate in the drive,” he enthused.

Overcoming Hurdles

The journey of conserving lakes has not been easy. Malligavad has faced multiple challenges, tackling them with patience and perseverance.

“Encroachment was a major problem that I faced,” he noted. At times, it was only after days of dialogue that he was able to convince villagers about the long-term benefits of the restoration. “When I started, people were skeptical, and getting approvals from the authority was difficult.” But as his actions began to speak for themselves, the community’s trust in him grew.

Every lake presents a unique ecosystem. “Hence, the method of conservation had to be different for each of them. My job does not end at reviving the lake; I have to ensure its maintenance as well. For instance, wherever I plant saplings, I need to ensure there is no grazing,” he explained.

Engaging the community in the fight against environmental degradation was challenging, as was convincing corporate houses to fund lake conservation—a process that takes significant time and financial investment.

Living by Action

To avert the impending climate crisis looming over the world, Malligavad believes that people must first appreciate the little things in nature and join hands in localized conservation efforts.

“Government policies are not sufficient to make desired changes unless people come forward and do their bit,” emphasized Malligavad, a man who firmly believes in actions rather than words.

Starting with Kyalasanhalli Lake, Malligavad is now planning to restore lakes across other parts of Bengaluru and Karnataka. “There are innumerable lakes across the country. My aim is to inspire, educate, and build the capacity of many more people to take the actions forward. I have the dream to build Anands in every country. If some people work towards a green planet, many more will be inspired to join,” he proclaimed.

Final Words

Anand Malligavad believes that any nation possessing three essential resources in abundance—water, forests, and wildlife—will not face major catastrophes, be they economic, health-related, or educational.

“If we strengthen these pillars, we would be the richest country in the world. There should be a strong infrastructure for storing rainwater and recharging the natural water resources. This will ensure the growth of vegetation and wildlife as well. We must always remember that we are also one among the wildlife,” he signed off.