Chitlapakkam

A long-term solution to water scarcity, this low-maintenance system costs just Rs 7,000. And the best part? It doesn't just recharge the groundwater table, it also prevents water from stagnating.

The residents of Chitlapakkam in Chennai have restored a 50-acre lake after years of efforts, petitions, cleaning drives, and a relentless campaign called #SavingChitlapakkamLake. Their efforts resulted in the state sanctioning Rs 25 crores for the project.

Chitlapakkam Rising, founded by Sunil Jayaram, Udaya Utthandi and Ezhildasan, is a volunteering group based out of Chennai, has been working relentlessly to find solutions to basic civic issues in their neighbourhood from waste disposal to bigger movements like reviving a lake.