Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the Biocon Group, organized a plantation drive to celebrate World Earth Day at Yarandahalli Lake. The lake was adopted by Biocon Foundation and is being rejuvenated in partnership with the Malligavad Foundation. Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation and Anand Malligavad, founder of the Malligavad Foundation, presided over the plantation drive.
The drive was assisted by Biocon Group employees and Biocon Academy students who volunteered to support the Group's commitment to environmental responsibility. Volunteers were provided with an overview of the environmental sustainability efforts undertaken by Biocon Foundation, specifically on the rejuvenation of water bodies. They were divided into groups and provided with over 200 saplings for planting at the lake site.
Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, said, “Celebrating World Earth Day gives us a good opportunity to inform, engage and encourage citizens (starting with our employees) about the initiatives that Biocon Foundation is passionately leading in environmental sustainability. This plantation drive is in line with our plan to enhance green cover around Yarandahalli Lake, which is brimming with fauna. I am thrilled to see the support from our employees to volunteer for the cause. The Biocon Group holds environmental stewardship at the forefront of its business practices, recognizing the imperative to conserve natural resources. We have made concerted efforts to resuscitate waning water ecosystems and creating urban micro-forests.”
Numerous steps have been taken to revive the Yarandahalli Lake. The first phase of the rejuvenation process involved removal of weeds and sediments by desilting, bund strengthening as well as inlet and outlet reconditioning. As a result, the water holding capacity of the lake has more than doubled. The untreated sewage water has been separated from the main lake, transforming it into a rain-fed lake. The next phase of the rejuvenation work will involve formation of lagoons to receive, hold and treat wastewater and natural sewage treatment methods to support and sustain the wetland. Raw sewage would be treated and used to water the existing plants at the lake.
As part of its efforts to promote environmental sustainability, Biocon Foundation has also revived the 35-acre Hebbagodi Lake in Anekal taluk, Bengaluru and carried out urban afforestation initiatives in Dakshina Kannada using Miyawaki method.
