Articles by Sandhya Bhat

Stormwater drains are not just “invisible infrastructure.” They are the frontline of Bengaluru’s water security. When they fail, lakes die, groundwater gets poisoned, and neighbourhoods flood. Understanding this system is the first step toward reclaiming it, because without citizen awareness, the crisis remains hidden beneath our feet. In an earlier article, we explored how stormwater drains are the frontline of Bengaluru’s water security. Part 2 of the series shows how citizens can take action themselves by learning the typology of drains and conducting audits using simple tools. Accountability gaps in Bengaluru’s stormwater worksOver the years, Bengaluru’s SWD network has been…

Every summer, Bengaluru’s water crisis makes headlines; tanker prices soar, lakes dry up, and citizens protest encroachments, fish kills, and sewage inflows. While lakes and tanks often dominate the conversation, there’s another hidden system that quietly shapes the city’s water story: stormwater drains (SWDs). These drains are more than just channels; they are the veins of a valley city. Bengaluru sits on a central ridgeline that naturally divides its water flow into two directions: Eastward: draining into the Dakshina Pinakini (Ponnaiyar) River. Westward: draining into the Cauvery Basin via the Vrishabhavathi River. Ironically, what citizens often see as footpaths or…

Saul Kere, a lake off Sarjapur Road, was once a thriving habitat for birds. “When I started birding regularly in  2019, I had observed nearly 180 species of birds here,” Bijoy Venugopal, a birder and environmentalist, recalls. “Even during our latest bird walk on December 7th, we recorded 67 species of birds, more than what you would see at some bird sanctuaries.” However, the number of birds has declined, mainly due to effluent inflow. E-bird, a public data forum, has a record of 213 bird species in Saul Kere. That is the richness of the biodiversity of the Saul Kere…

Karnataka has long worn its forests as a crown, steeped in folklore, sanctified in song, and stitched into its cultural identity. None captured this reverence better than cultural icon and cinema legend Dr Rajkumar, whose evergreen lines, "Naaviruva Thaanave Gandhada Gudi. Andada Gudi Gandhada Gudi. Chandada Gudi Srigandhada Gudi," remain etched in the Kannada psyche. These words weren’t just poetic tributes—they were declarations of love for the sacred groves of this land. At the heart of this green devotion lies Bengaluru. Now known for its traffic and tech parks, the city once breathed through its 35 forest blocks, spread across…

The metropolis of Bengaluru, once celebrated as a garden city, is now grappling with the loss of its green spaces, leaving its dwindling lakes as the last line of defence against urban heat. Citizen groups deeply committed to preserving these lakes, have actively engaged in restoration efforts despite challenges like conflicting stakeholder priorities. This is Part 3 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru's lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru's lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a lake, including core zone assets (ecological assets) and social zone assets (recreational assets). …

A lake is much more than a mere water body, it is a complex ecosystem. All those resources or features that make this ecosystem complete and sustainable can be considered lake assets. Assets are generally classified into core zone assets (ecological zone assets) and social zone assets (recreational zone assets). Each serves a set of distinct purposes, supporting the ecological, infrastructural and social functions of a lake system. This is Part 2 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru’s lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru’s lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a…

Bengaluru’s lake system is a distinctive feature of its urban landscape, shaped by the city's unique topography. It is designed to manage its water resources effectively. Divided into three main valleys — Hebbal Valley to the north, Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley to the south and southeast, and Vrishabhavathi Valley to the west and southwest — the city’s lakes form interconnected cascades that enhance water storage, control floods, and recharge groundwater. This is Part 1 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru’s lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru’s lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a…

The e-khata project of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) digitises all manually maintained property records, making them accessible to citizens. In Part 1 of the two-part series on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Munish Moudgil, BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue) addressed queries on the digitisation process and other general questions on e-khata. In the second part, we look at property ownership and transaction, technical and portal issues, apartment-specific queries, name/data corrections, and language/format issues. We also examine issues pertaining to non-resident owners and inheritance, ward/location, fees and the process. Property ownership and transactions Q: Can e-khata serve as sole proof of…

The Revenue Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) provides a property ownership record, commonly referred to as the BBMP khata. This document serves as the official proof of ownership and is essential for various purposes, including property sales, registration, mortgages, loans, leases, and more. It is effectively the primary document used to establish and verify ownership rights. In an online interview with Citizen Matters, Munish Moudgil, BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue) spoke in detail about the e-khata project and how it can help property owners. Here is Part 1 of a two-part series on Frequently Asked Questions about e-Khata. What…

While most apartment associations strive to manage their societies with the utmost care, accidents related to swimming pools or electrical safety can still occur. Unfortunately, there have been some tragic incidents due to electrocution, which included the loss of two children, one of whom succumbed to an accident in a swimming pool and the other whilst playing in the park. There was also another death of a man, who died while working in an apartment sump. These incidents underscore the critical importance of implementing stringent safety measures and conducting regular maintenance to prevent such tragedies. “In apartments, lifts are well…