Floral therapy for Lalbagh lake

Floral therapy for Lalbagh lake

Authorities are bringing in plants to clean up the lake

By Durgesh Kumar Y
Posted On Thursday, October 16, 2008

Lalbagh lake lovers can rest assured that their favourite lake will soon be completely pollution-free, thanks to ‘floral floating bases’. And what is so special about them? These bases encompass a purifying plant called, ‘Bergonia Semperference’ and the roots of these plants absorb the dirt too, along with water. Thus, it cleans the surrounding area of the lake. The base is made up of PVC and bamboo and these plants are then balanced on top of them. Not only do these plants help clean the environment, they also manage to look good doing that! Simply because these plants come in five different colours - red, green, cream, yellow and white.

The credit for coming up with this idea of battling lake pollutants with purifying plants goes to former director of horticulture G K Vasanthkumar and the incumbent director Jagdish.

Even though Lalbagh has been one of the better maintained lakes in Bangalore, filth could be seen covering the sides of the famed lake and this was unacceptable to the authorities of Lalbagh. They brought in these plants from the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants near Hebbal.

Lalbagh has been taken care of, but what about other lakes? Jagdish said: “Some of the lakes in the city are being maintained by private parties and some are under the BBMP. Once this technique becomes a success here, we will try selling the idea to them as well.”

Well, the case of lake contaminants is solved. At least for now!