10 Lakes, 100,000 Lives, Nexus Select Trust’s ‘Lakes of Happyness’ Makes Ripples Across India
India, 14th November, 2025: Nexus Select Trust, India’s largest retail real estate platform, has announced the successful rejuvenation and handover of its 10th lake under its flagship ESG initiative, “Lakes of Happyness.” The program, which aims to revive 15 lakes by FY2026, is dedicated to restoring India’s threatened urban and rural water bodies through sustainable, community-led practices.
Launched in 2022, the initiative has already revived 10 lakes across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, directly benefiting over 100,000 people across 100+ villages and communities. With the restoration and handover of Gurunath Cheruvu, a 21-acre lake in Miyapur, Hyderabad, the project has now achieved a significant milestone.
Dalip Sehgal, CEO, Nexus Select Trust, said:
“Water scarcity is not just an environmental challenge it’s a human one. When a lake revives, life revives. Through Lakes of Happyness, we’re restoring not just water sources but wellbeing for people, nature, and future generations.”
One of the key highlights of the initiative is its impact beyond the company’s business footprint. Several restored lakes are located far from Nexus malls—across drought-prone farmlands in Chalisgaon, temple-linked ecosystems in Chennai, and wildlife corridors in Bengaluru—where water is fundamental to community survival.
Working with renowned water conservationists Anand Malligavad (Lake Man of India) and Gunwant Sonawane, Nexus has adopted traditional, nature-based restoration methods—avoiding cement structures and opting instead for de-silting, deepening, native plantation, and natural catchment rebuilding.
The initiative has already created tangible, measurable outcomes:
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Groundwater levels have risen by up to 1.5x in drought-prone belts like Jalgaon and Chalisgaon.
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20 dry wells have refilled, restoring agricultural activity across hundreds of acres post monsoon.
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Biodiversity has flourished, with the return of migratory birds and native species.
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Community migration has reduced, as families now have access to reliable drinking water year-round.
Jayen Naik, President Operations, Nexus Select Trust, added:
“Every lake we restore becomes the lifeline of its community—recharging groundwater, improving farmlands, inviting biodiversity, and reconnecting people with nature. These lakes hold more than water—they hold hope.”
With its 10th lake completed, Nexus Select Trust marks the halfway point toward its goal of reviving 15 lakes by FY2026, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, community resilience, and environmental stewardship. The success of “Lakes of Happyness” demonstrates how purpose-driven corporate action can create ripples of change far beyond the balance sheet.
