Retired engineer keeps city lake alive

New Delhi: For around 30 years now, Rabindra Kumar has been following the same ritual — taking out buckets of water from the enormous Sanjay Jheel to clean the filth and debris in the lake.

A 72-year-old retired engineer, Mr Kumar works tirelessly for the preservation and beautification of the lake. With limited resources, he has been able to achieve much more than the staff responsible for the maintenance of the lake.

Sanjay Jheel is a 42-acre beautiful water body in Mayur Vihar Phase 2. Developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 1982, the lake has seen a severe pollution crisis. However, over the years Mr Kumar has helped preserve the lake.

“I wake up at 5 am to clean my cars. Then I come here to fish out the stones from the shore and use them to make boundaries and level the ground,” said Mr Kumar.

Following this, he waters the plants in the surrounding woods, maintains the green patches, and focuses on beautifying the lake. He has made unusual rock art at the shores of the lake for children to visit and take selfies.

“I expect no help from anyone. I am a 72-year-old diabetic and I like doing something for the public. This activity helps me stay fit and happy. Many a time people call me jhadhudar (sweeper), malee (gardener), chowkidar (guard), or car washer,” he said.

A.S. Thakur, a regular visitor of the lake, said: “Rabindra is well-off and yet he indulges in all the ground work here without thinking about the dirt or garbage it involves. He is a retired official of TCIL.  P.S. Rawat, another visitor, said: “Even at such an old age, he cleans and maintains the lake with a smile.”

This is something we do not get to see on a daily basis.” On being asked whether he’s had any run-ins with snakes or any other animals, Mr Kumar replied: “I catch snakes and leave them in the water.”

D13