India Clean Sweep - Clean up of Khajaguda lake

GHAC Volunteers Cleans Khajaguda Once again

With every sun that rises, we rise from sleep to a new day with a different spirit. Waking up for a different cause and challenge. Some of us have to run for office, some for their basic needs. This weekend on this Sunday (June 8th) on ‘World Environment Day’, we woke up for a better reason for cleaning up the Khajaguda lake that we have been the most frequent visitors for. I was representing GHAC (Great Hyderabad Adventure club) while the event was organised by the club in association with Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) and The Hindu.

Many volunteers from GHAC, NGOs-Bhumi and Dirty Feet, college-IIIT Hyd and school children joined the event at the lake surrounded by beautiful rocks, trees, fishes and with many birds at 6:30am. The clean up was inaugurated by Diyanat Ali, founder of GHAC and the volunteers were briefed about the impact they would make on the environment by regular clean up and awareness programmes. 

We gathered near the lake and planned the clean up with different bags for different waste (degradable, non-degradable). GHAC organisers briefed everyone about the safety precautions to be taken during the clean up programme. Armed with the reusable gloves and mask, we started to pick the waste.

With the curious onlookers who came to the lake for their morning activities, the serious vendors who were weighing their fish to get the best Sunday deal from the sale, the birds that perched onto the rocks in the middle of the lake, to sip and take a dip in the water, the pigs that were muddling in the mud, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the buffalos that were having a haughty swim in the water, the lorry that was taking bath in the lake water, the encroachment into the lake that haughtily dominated the lake area, the green trees that were welcoming us with the cool breeze, encouraging us for the activity it was quite a scene near the lake.

While cleaning the lake, we gave the locals some educational materials explaining the hazards of littering and benefits from the proper disposal of garbage.

We tried to motivate the onlookers, fishermen and others who gathered near the lake regarding keeping the lake clean and in reducing plastic usage. By 8:30am we held nearly 41 large bags of garbage treasure collected near the lake.

Some of the garbage was of the ganesh chaturthi celebrations of the previous year.

Apart from the satisfaction of having done something for the day, we had a surprise breakfast provided by Dirty feet organization which we ate haughtily.

We retired to our homes after disposing the garbage in the local bins. It was a day to remember, a day which must not be much different from our regular days. Finally, we hoped to carry the same spirit in keeping our homes and locality equally clean but not only for a day. 

Here is an earlier post on GHAC efforts to cleanup Khajaguda

About Author:Akhila Manne is an outdoor enthusiast and an Inquisitor, she is a researcher at IIIT Hyderabad and trainee organizer with GHAC. In her free time she likes to travel, in her words: 'I Pamper my inner senses. I savour the smell of the first rains, the sweetness of the wind chimes, brightness of the moonlit sky, touch of the soft waves- I travel'

Pictures credit: Saiteja

Botanical Garden Kondapur : Some obeservations

An old man was planting a mango seedling. A passer-by was surprised to see it and enquired from him as to why he is planting mango seedlings in old age. He will not be there to relish its fruits. He smiled and said he is doing it for his grandchildren. He was not aware that in the coming years there will be a drastic change in the socioeconomic environment. Grandsons will not be interested in eating mangoes. They will use tree as timber and land for building concrete jungle. 

A visit to the Botanical Garden Kondapur in Hyderabad reminds one of this story. One can practically feel the efforts of the grand old man who planed this garden and planted trees in a systematic way. On some of the trees plates depicting genus and family are still visible. The dying teak tree in the very beginning of the garden near the toddlers play area is visible. 

The tree trunk is still doing its duty and supports an electric wire and a chord. Weeping Indian gum tree nearby is attacked by an insect Inderbella. Sandalwood tree has lost its glory and died. Ill kept roses forgot to bloom. Evan the Triumph variety has been overpowered by diseases, pests and weeds. Trees are doing their best to survive by producing new shoots from dried trunks but in the absence of support from human beings they will not be able to live.

Good place for morning walk

Not very well maintained

The grand old man must have thought of water shortage in Hyderabad and had provided huge water ponds which can collect rain water and this water reservoir can provide water to the plants in summer months. Still sign boards lying on the ground warn parents of the depth of the pond. But alas no one cared to keep them in proper shape. Still some water and birds are visible in the deeper tank. The shallow tank is now playground for the dogs.

The Pond

One part of the garden has been devoted to the cultivation of cacti. Very good collection and arrangement is visible. But probably there is a misconception that cacti do not require attention. 

Cacti with flowers

Some have died and the others are struggling. Their worth can be guessed from the fact that even in this neglect they are producing flowers. A beautiful glass house in the shape of a tortoise looks magnificent nearby. But please see it only from a distance. Inside there are only empty glass jars and boxes.

Tortoise shape glass house

Indian Gum Tree

 Indian Gum Tree attacked by Inderbella an insect

Dying Teak Tree

Some citizens are trying to save Botanical Garden

Succulent plants

Botanical garden is still serving its purpose. Visitors come here daily to breathe fresh air, do exercises, play badminton or escape from the city noise. An effort is being made to save the garden by hanging a signboard in one corner of the garden and collecting some money from the morning walkers for fighting court cases to save botanical garden. But is anyone worried about the upkeep of the trees and the garden? Someone should respect the dream of the man who planned and build this beautiful garden. 

About the author: Dr.H.S.Rewal Plant is Pathologist by profession retired as Head, Department of Plant Pathology from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He is fellow Indian Phytopathological Society and Indian Society of Plant Pathologists. He is recipient of Narasimhan Academic Award conferred by Indian Phytopathological Society and Best Extension Scientist Award conferred by Punjab Agricultural University. He did research on the diseases of cereals, fruits and vegetables and gave recommendations for their management. He successfully transferred technologies developed in the university to the fields of the farmers . Many plant disease epidemics were thus kept under control in the state. At present he is working as consultant agriculture for the improvement of hill agriculture.  The views expressed are his personal 

Matheran in Maharashtra

Matheran a unique hill station in Maharashtra

Matheran is a colonial time small hill station in a quiet corner of Maharashtra. I say unique  because unlike the devastating flood inducing development in Uttarakhand, and most other hill-stations in India, Matheran  has maintained its character of a sleepy town.

All development  is highly regulated, motor vehicles are not allowed and  you need to walk or take a horse cart to move around. Recently GHAC organized a trek to Matheran, which began by some social responsibility by distributing stationary and sports kit at a local school for underprivileged kids.

GHAC Team distributing stationary and sports kit to school kids

GHAC Team at the beginning of Trek in Matheran

For most of the time weather was very nice with light drizzle making the hills lush green and mysterious with the fog.

Rains added to the fun








The Magic of Mist

We  had a great time exploring, hiking and just chilling in Matheran. A Few more treks to Matheran are planned in coming weeks. Please check here to join them.