Diligent India Restores Iblur Lake With Floating Gardens

In a shining example of corporate citizenship and green responsibility, Diligent India has made major contributions towards restoring Iblur Lake in Bengaluru by implementing Floating Wetlands—a cutting-edge, nature-based technology solution to treat urban water pollution and ecological decline. The project, under the aegis of Diligent India's corporate volunteering programme, is a reflection of the company's dedication to developing local communities and revitalizing natural ecosystems.

The lake, situated in Bengaluru's Bellanduru area, is a significant green belt over about eight acres. Bordered by greens and footpaths, Iblur Lake has been a favorite spot for morning walkers, families, and nature enthusiasts all along. But of late, the lake has been facing increasing ecological pressure due to indiscriminate flow of untreated sewage from the nearby residential and commercial areas. This huge release of contaminants has resulted in a poisonous buildup of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, causing eutrophication. The subsequent algal blooms, odor, and reduction in dissolved oxygen have impacted aquatic life, steadily deteriorating the biodiversity and health of the lake.

Seeing the imperative to act, Diligent India found the Iblur Lake to be a high-impact area for ecological restoration using Floating Wetlands. It was installed in May 2025 and involved an active engagement of more than 180 company employees on the company's Global Day of Service. They worked together to build and install 20 units consisting of 320 individual floating units, each having one sapling of Canna indica, a resilient wetland species used for its phytoremediation properties. 320 saplings were planted onto the floating decks.

Floating Wetlands are floatable units that are intended to host wetland vegetation in water surfaces. The plants' roots extend directly into the water column, where they perform a natural filtration process of absorbing extra nutrients and pollutants. This also enhances the water's oxygenation, inhibits the growth of harmful algae, and creates a home for aquatic life such as fish and insects. In addition to the foregoing functional benefits, the installations also beautify the lake, and they further contribute to the area's attractiveness for tourists and to public appreciation of efficient water management.

The benefits of the intervention are already documented shortly following installation. Initial evaluations document a moderate reduction of concentrations of nutrients in wetland waters, supported by observed decreases in blooms of algae. The project has also seen the return of birds and small fish, a marker of the onset of ecological restoration. Further, the floating gardens have created interest and participation from visitors to the lake and the surrounding residents, and numerous people have been interested and grateful to view conservation like this being done.

All of the floats stayed firmly in place and solid when they were installed, with the plants still thriving. The saplings experienced robust root growth, reaching into lake water and fulfilling their intended purpose of nutrient uptake. Their healthy development is a positive indication of long-term viability and ongoing ecological function.

Srinivas Chamarthy, Site Lead and Country Head and Senior Vice President Engineering at Diligent India, said about the initiative: "We wish to inculcate the habit of encouraging our employees to give back to the localities and do little things to save the environment. Recently, as part of Global Day of Service in May 2025, we launched a lake rejuvenation project at Iblur Lake in the Bellandur region of Bengaluru.". More than 180 employees joined hands to contribute towards restoring the lake by floating gardens—a eco-friendly measure to de-silt the waterbody, enhance the quality of water, and promote biodiversity. As a part of our initiative, we want to infuse a culture of citizenship responsibility and environmental stewardship in our company."

The Iblur Lake Floating Wetlands project is more than one intervention—it is a sign of a replicable, scalable approach to the rehabilitation of city lakes victims of neglect and pollution. The dedication of Diligent India, fueled by the spark of employees and the cooperation of the public, brings hope to the larger urban ecological rehabilitation mission.