Situated along the Vishwamitri River between the fertile plains of the Mahi and Narmada Rivers, Vadodara—the city of banyan (vad) trees—faces acute seasonal water scarcity, with the Vishwamitri often reducing to a trickle during summer months. This underscores the critical need for urban and peri-urban water body restoration. Located on Vadodara’s eastern periphery, the village of Sikandarpura (spanning $2.81\text{ km}^2$) relies heavily on its 14-acre lake for shallow groundwater recharge. Prior to intervention, the lake suffered severe degradation due to choked water pathways, invasive weed infestations (Prosopis juliflora, Parthenium, Castor, Sky Lotus), heavy siltation, nutrient accumulation, and urban encroachment. To revive this vital blue-green infrastructure, the Environmentalist Foundation of India (E.F.I.), in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, executed a comprehensive ecological restoration.

We thank Gujarat State Government for the administrative support extended
and Kotak Mahindra Bank for funding this Restoration.

The following restoration activities were undertaken to revive the Sikandarpura lake back to its glory. The periphery of the lake was covered with non-biodegradable garbage such as plastic covers, bottles, glass pieces, etc., which were removed to prevent clogging. A total of 3 tonnes of solid waste were cleared from the lake surface.

De-weeding of dried plant matter and invasive weeds such as Parthenium, Castor, Prosopis juliflora and Sky Lotus was carried out to promote the growth of native vegetation. The cleared plant debris was not left to waste but was collected by the villagers for firewood. 

Peripheral Desilting & Storage Expansion: Excavated 4 acres along accessible shorelines to an average depth of 1.2 meters, significantly boosting water-holding capacity.

Embankment Reinforcement & Construction: Repurposed excavated silt to strengthen 850 meters of existing bunds and establish 320 meters of new primary and secondary embankments, enhancing flood resilience.

Site Protection & Perimeter Security: Installed 250 meters of outer boundary fencing to prevent urban encroachment and protect the lake from solid waste dumping.

Ecological & Structural Revival: Completely cleared invasive weeds and established defined, secure perimeter boundaries.

Enhanced Soil & Flood Resilience: Reinforced peripheral bunds to effectively mitigate soil erosion and stabilize shoreline topography.

Hydrological & Habitat Impact: Maximized volumetric storage capacity, converting the lake into an active rainwater percolation basin that accelerates groundwater recharge and sustains diverse local wildlife.

Take a look at the huge transformation of the Sikandarpura Lake

Volunteer for Vadodara and her Environment with E.F.I