Project Neeru

Project Overview

Project Neeru aligns with SDGs 6,13 and 14 by developing strategies to improve water conservation and access in resource-challenged areas of Bengaluru. It addresses water scarcity through lake rejuvenation projects and rainwater harvesting initiatives. Collaborating with NGOs based in Bengaluru, the team works on surveying encroached lakes, rejuvenating water bodies, constructing recharge pits, and fundraising efforts involving corporate partnerships. The project aims to explore the root causes of water scarcity and its redressal measures.

Project Impact

During the Millennium Fellowship, Project Neerua addressed water scarcity in Bengaluru through lake research, encroachment analysis, and sustainability initiatives. The project identified over 13 encroached lakes ranging from 1–1.5 acres in Anekal and initiated a rejuvenation project for the 13.5-acre Veerasandra Lake in collaboration with Friends of Lakes and Twin Glacier Foundation. The team also supported recharge pit construction projects in government schools and public borewells and studied ancestral well-digging communities to better understand sustainable water practices. While impactful, the project recognized that achieving long-term results will require continued effort, policy support, and effective implementation.

Millennium Fellows Involved

Mahalakshmi Sivakumar, Aishwarya Sati, Akshay Pradeep, Alapati Sriharshitha, Ansh Sachan, Aryan Singh, Bhagath Shibu, Burhanuddin Malubhoy, R Drithi Chandru, Nabeel Thalakkott, Parth Khilnani, Tanvi Saxena, Tanvy Somani