Webinar: Green or gone? Development projects and their impact on environment

by February 9, 2022 Environment
Join this discussion on Feb 11th, on how real estate projects in Bengaluru are getting Environment Clearance, and how effective this process is.

The existing state of urban biodiversity, environment and natural heritage in Bengaluru is a matter of urgent concern. The impacts of ecological degradation is already felt in the city – for example, monsoons are often accompanied by the grim news of many areas getting flooded. Many of these vulnerable sites are found in large layouts and real estate projects that are built in valley zones and adjacent to lakes/rajakaluves (primary stormwater drains).

A favoured market for the real estate sector, Bengaluru has witnessed an increase in built-up area that has replaced its green cover and wildlife habitats.

Map showing how built-up area has replaced green cover in Bengaluru over time
Built-up area has been rapidly replacing green cover and wildlife habitats in the city. Graphic courtesy: T V Ramachandra, Indian Institute of Science

Clearly, construction projects in the city are worsening pollution and exacerbating climate change. So it is worth examining whether the processes designed to mitigate these effects are working as intended.

Depending on the size of the project, a real estate developer is supposed to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report or an Environment Management Plan (EMP), to get approval. A project with built-up area of 20,000 sq m or more needs to get an Environment Clearance (EC) , along with other permissions from the BBMP, BWSSB, etc. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) is the agency responsible for giving EC to projects in Bengaluru.

Read More: Not just Lalbagh, your small neighbourhood park too can protect Bengaluru’s biodiversity

Vidhi Legal and BIC, in collaboration with Citizen Matters, is organising a webinar which tries to bring out the framework of EIA processes in Bengaluru, how these processes work, and why they have not been effective. (Citizen Matters had recently reported on the standard copy-pasting of information in forms that developers submit as part of EIA process.) And given this background, what impact would the Centre’s proposed changes to the EIA notification entail?

EIA Webinar poster

Read more: Unchecked tree loss is wiping out the Slender Loris from Bengaluru

Event details:

Event title: Green or gone? Development projects and their impact on environment
Date: February 11, 2022
Time: 6 pm (The webinar will be followed by a brief Q&A session open to participants.)
Register here: https://bit.ly/Green-or-Gone

Speakers:

  • Dr K C Jayaramu: Ex-Chairman, State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, Govt. of India
  • Ulka Kelkar: Director of the Climate program, World Resources Institute India.
  • Mohan S Rao: Environmental Design and Landscape Architecture professional
  • Bhanu Sridharan : Independent journalist
  • Moderated by Meera K, Co-founder of Citizen Matters

Also read:

Sections:

About News Desk

The News Desk at Citizen Matters puts out Press Releases, notifications and curated information useful to the urban reader.
Read more by News Desk

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Implement policies to protect wetlands and prevent flooding: Citizen’s Charter for Pallikaranai Watershed

by September 10, 2026 Environment
Through the report, the Pallikaranai Collective demands urgent action to stop encroachment and concretisation in Chennai's wetlands.

The Citizen’s Charter for the Pallikaranai Watershed has called for watershed-based planning and immediate implementation of state policies to protect wetlands and waterways in one of Chennai's most flood-prone areas. The charter, compiled by the Oorvani Foundation and the Chennai Wetlands Action Collective (CWAC), was released on Wednesday by the Pallikaranai Collective, a coalition of civil society organisations, environmental groups, resident welfare associations, activists and conservation experts striving to protect the Pallikaranai watershed region. The report documents issues ranging from wetland degradation, encroachment by construction projects, sewage and solid waste pollution and blocked canals to poorly planned restoration works and…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Designing cooler cities: What makes public spaces truly liveable for children?

by September 10, 2026 Environment
Rising temperatures and unshaded parks are keeping Delhi's children indoors. Experts call for child-friendly, passive cooling design for public spaces.

Every afternoon around 2 pm when school ends, nine-year-old Rian looks forward to playing basketball. The neighbourhood park near his home does not have a basketball hoop, so he often uses a tree as an imaginary net. A few months ago, his doctor advised his mother, Geeta Kohli, to ensure he plays daily to help manage his childhood obesity. However, during Delhi’s unforgiving summers, the heat often disrupts this routine.  Rian's tuition classes start at 5.30 pm and in the afternoon, the outdoor temperature hovers around 45 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to go out and play. By the time…

Continue reading