The idea of a morning walk around a massive lake appealed to the residents of Powai. Since 2000, the residents took it upon themselves to protect the lake covering and make the area look more presentable. After constantly following up with the BMC, holding public meetings and the need for a proper walking area, the Powai promenade was inaugurated on January 2, 2011.
Earlier, despite the beauty of the lake, residents had several grievances that gave rise to the initiative of getting the BMC to build a promenade. “There were several cases of crocodiles poaching along with reported crocodile attacks,” said Elsie Gabriel, founder of Young Environmentalists Programme Trust.
Residents began appealing to the BMC to beautify the area around the lake 10 years ago. Letters were sent to the BMC commissioner and the civic hydraulic department. The residents even called playback singer Hariharan, who lives in Powai, to support the cause. “The lake looks much cleaner now that there are definite dimensions for people using the footpath,” said Hariharan. To ensure that the promenade remains clean, residents meet three or four times a year to conduct a cleanliness drive.
Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com
