RCB one of the most celebrated teams in the Indian Premier League has hit the headlines with its commendable work towards nature, though unable to gather a good number of wins in the tournament RCB has won in the quest to work for the natural habitat and conservation of the same. RCB has restored three lakes in Bengaluru under its campaign of ‘Go Green’. RCB’s form in this IPL has been witnessed dwindling, however, in its match against MI, it showcased a lip-biting match but ended up being trounced by the Indians.

This initiative was adopted by the team back in 2011 and since then, through multiple initiatives, with this venture, RCB has now become the world’s first carbon-neutral cricket team in support of people’s movement for a greener and healthier planet.
About the Drive
Recently, the India Cares Foundation released a report according to which the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru has successfully completed the restoration work of two prominent lakes namely Ittgalpura Lake and Sadenahalli Lake in the silicon city of India – Bengaluru.
RCB had launched this Lake Improvement Works Project in October 2023 as a part of their ESG commitment. As per the commitment, the prime focus remains on desilting and developing the two lakes mentioned above. Under this drive, RCB has worked to improve the water-holding capacity of these lakes and add civic amenities in a third lake, with this they also helped improve the state of biodiversity around these lakes.
As per a press release from RCB, the lakes were shortlisted on the basis of being highly water-stressed areas, with borewell depths ranging from 1000 to 1500 feet. The areas also lacked access to southern Kaveri River water and are dependent on groundwater and surface water. As stated in the report, over 1.20 lakh tonnes of silt and sand have been removed at the Ittgalpura Lake and Sadenahalli Lake, which has been used to create bunds and pathways across the lakes and 52 farmers have used the soil as topsoil for their fields as well.
A total of nine acres of lake land have been reclaimed, resulting in the establishment of stabilization ponds and wetlands. These features will benefit the birds and animals inhabiting the lakes. Additionally, the water-holding capacity of the lakes has increased by up to 17 acres. Not only will the lakes facilitate groundwater recharge, but they will also serve as vital sources of drinking water and support agricultural activities in the surrounding area.
The rejuvenated lakes provide additional livelihood opportunities for the fishermen and farmers of the two lakes, who can now harvest three times as much as before.
Previously reliant on borewells for agriculture, farmers can now utilize these restored lakes for farming and other purposes, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability.
Meanwhile, at Kannur Lake, the objective has been to improve community ownership through the creation of civic amenities as lake assets.
Ethno-Medicinal Plants Parks, Bamboo Parks, and Butterfly Parks are also being established at all three lakes as part of an initiative to enhance and sustain the biodiversity of the lakes while serving as educational hubs for children to understand the ecosystem.
It’s worth noting that the National Compilation on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2022 report by the Central Groundwater Board estimates that over 12 percent of groundwater blocks in India have been over-exploited, with 12 percent in the semi-critical stage and 3 percent in the critical stage.
RCB management comments on this achievement

Rajesh Menon, VP and Head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru quoted that, “Fans are at the heart of everything we do at RCB. Their unwavering support has propelled us to become one of the world’s first carbon-neutral franchises.
Our fans have been actively engaged in our green initiatives since 2013, playing a pivotal role in spreading awareness about sustainability within our community. Building on this momentum, we naturally expanded our focus to support our local community by spearheading the restoration of key lakes in Bengaluru.
These lakes not only serve as critical groundwater sources for neighboring villages but also form the backbone of local livelihoods. Through collaborative efforts with both local authorities and communities, we have managed to take a small step in the bigger purpose of restoring the old pride of Bengaluru, the lake city.”
RCB took its X account to thank the authorities and their partners involved in this initiative.
RCB will be seen donning the green jersey in their next IPL game against the Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.