At Hand in Hand India, we believe that true sustainability begins at the grassroots. This is evident in Chennai, where 2 neglected lakes - Tondiarpet Lake and Basin Bridge Lake have found new life through the Chennai Lake Ecological Restoration Project (CLERP).

With generous funding support from Gurukrupa Foundation, we set out on a mission not just to restore 2 water bodies, but to reimagine how urban ecosystems can work for people, wildlife, and the climate together.

Why Lakes Matter More Than Ever

In cities like Chennai, lakes are not just natural assets, they are lifelines. They store water, recharge groundwater, reduce flood risks, support biodiversity, and offer critical green space. However, years of neglect, encroachments, and pollution had turned these vital water bodies into environmental hazards.

That’s where CLERP stepped in.

Tondiarpet Lake:

From Forgotten Wetland to Thriving Urban Oasis

Spanning 40.87 hectares, Tondiarpet Lake had become heavily silted and unusable. Our restoration efforts included the excavation of 18,000 cubic metres of earth, which reestablished natural water flow and enhanced storage capacity.

We also planted 600 native saplings around the lake, ensuring long-term ecological balance and a green buffer that supports birds, insects, and small mammals. The lake now acts as a vital groundwater recharge zone, offering relief to surrounding communities during dry months.

Basin Bridge Lake:

Reclaiming What Was Lost

Once a dumping ground overrun with invasive weeds and dense jungle growth, Basin Bridge Lake was in desperate need of rescue. Our teams cleared 21,780 square metres of overgrowth, removed 8,000 square metres of invasive aquatic plants, and desilted 6,970 cubic metres of sludge.

With the addition of 100 saplings, the lake’s shoreline has started healing. Today, Basin Bridge Lake functions as a restored reservoir, improving urban flood resilience and offering a healthier environment for the local community.

The Bigger Picture: 24 Million Litres of Impact

Together, these 2 lakes now contribute an additional 27 million litres of water storage capacity to Chennai’s urban ecosystem. That’s not just a statistic, it’s cleaner water, healthier soil, reduced flood risk, and a safer, more resilient future for the people who live around these lakes.

Partnerships that Power Change

This transformation would not have been possible without the vision and support of Gurukrupa Foundation, whose funding made this mission possible. At Hand in Hand India, we are proud to have implemented this impactful project, one that sets a benchmark for urban ecological restoration across India.

Together, we’ve shown that even in dense urban environments too, nature can bounce back stronger, greener, and more beautiful than before.

What’s Next?

We see this as just the beginning. With every lake restored, we’re not just reviving water bodies, we're restoring community well-being, environmental balance, and climate resilience. We’re committed to scaling this impact across more geographies in the years to come.

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Here’s our take on friendship. Across ages. Across states.

“ To the world, you might be one person. But to one person, you might be the world — Dr.Seuss”

On Friendship Day this year, we took a look at all the people we came across in our work. We found many friends and different things that tie them together. One common factor — Smiles, in plenty.

Maharashtra, India

Friendship = Togetherness

We call them the Pirates of the Indian Ocean. For these youngsters from the Government School in Maharashtra, friendship is togetherness. A day spent with friends is a day well spent they say. Our Activity Based Learning Systems help these children have fun alongside education.

Self Help Group Members come together to form an enterprise, building self-confidence and family income

Maharashtra, India

Friendship = Comaraderie

Vanita (Centre) and her three friends run a paper bag making enterprise. Friendship for these women is the daily banter, stories they share as they make profits. Our SHG’s are all about bringing together women together and creating a strong bond. Transformational stories like that of Sakubai from Madhya Pradesh are also our favourite.

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Gujarat, India

Friendship = Bonding over lessons

For these little girls from SABL school in Gujarat, their teacher is the best friend! Every day is fun with the interactive learning methods that are used here. We along with our CSR partners ensure that the environment for our little ones is such that they are rearing to come to school every morning!

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Tamil Nadu, India

Friendship = Lending an ear and a hand

Amutha and Kalaivani are best friends. They are also co-workers: the two work at one of our Solid Waste Management Projects as Green Friends. As they go through their job of sorting waste, they also lend each other an ear for their mutual problems. Amutha being the older offers advice and Kalaivani looks up to her senior as the friend she never had.

Gujarat, India

Friendship = Learning together

At this school in Gujarat, Anand and his bestie Mithun are not just buddies, but they also study together. While Anand gives his friend some math tips, Mithun helps him with English language. We played a small part in their friendship by giving them a colourful and fun environment to learn in!

Our transit schools provide a chance for children of migrant labourers to not miss out on their studies

Madhya Pradesh, India

Friendship = Sisterhood

Meet Muskan and Mahi, two sisters and friends from our Transit School in M.P. At home, they help with household chores. The school gives them an opportunity to catch up on where they dropped out. It also gives them time to bond! The sisters also found themselves new friends at school. Like Muskaan and Mahi, we have more interesting stories like that of Rajan, who found a secret route just to get to school!

We are an Indian non-profit working in the areas of Children, Women, Skill Development, Health and Environment. Read more about our work here.

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