City: Bengaluru

Bengaluru boasts one of the world's largest networks of decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs). Yet, certificates of compliance are routinely issued without continuous monitoring, and much of the water treated on-site is never reused. In Part 1 of this series, we explored case studies of how three different apartment complexes navigate these issues. Missing pipelines, no buyers, and low trust in recycled water: the reasons why treated water has nowhere to go are numerous. In this second part, we examine these hurdles and what it will take to convert wastewater into a vital resource. Apartment residents often blame builder or…

In a 400-unit apartment complex in Jakkur, about one-third of treated water is being dumped into a nearby stormwater drain. While National Building Code (NBC) guidelines mandate that a building must have a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a capacity of 210 to 290 Kilolitres per day (KLD), this apartment actually has an STP with around 300 KLD capacity. A resident of the complex, who requested anonymity, said that despite conducting audits, regularly monitoring water quality, and installing aerators, the apartment still struggles to reuse 100 per cent of its treated water. This is not an isolated case. In a…

More than 1,000 trees to be cut. Close to 100 bird species and 400 plant species endangered. All this for a project that covers just about two kilometres and costs a whopping ₹1,140 crore. Residents and activists in Bengaluru have vehemently opposed the Karnataka government's Hebbal Short Tunnel project, launching a petition to halt construction immediately. Environmental activists and experts warn that the project threatens Bengaluru's cascading lake system and increases flooding risks. There is growing public concern that the tunnel will cut through one of North Bengaluru’s last major green-blue landscapes and cause lasting environmental damage. The petition, started…

Since Bengaluru’s lakes were formed by damming water flowing down valleys, they are typically wedge-shaped, with a gentle slope and a deep basin towards the embankment. This promotes the growth of diverse vegetation and animals, each adapted to a particular water depth. The result is a natural zonation – reedbeds and shoreline vegetation at the edges, floating and submerged vegetation in the middle, and open water at the deepest end. During the Open City biodiversity datajam held in December 2025, our group examined the ecological trends around Bengaluru’s lakes. In an earlier article, we examined how migrant and resident waterbirds…

Bengaluru has been without elected corporators for over six years. While the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) replaced the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) formally last year on September 2nd, elections to the new GBA have been stalled. Citing logistical challenges from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), authorities received a Supreme Court extension to hold elections by December 31st. The restructured GBA, expanding from 198 wards to five corporations across 369 wards, faces continuing gaps in solving various ward-level issues — such as solid waste management and traffic problems, poor execution of civic works and funding issues. People believe the…

The proposed GBIT project has generated considerable debate regarding its potential ecological impacts on the Bengaluru–Ramanagara landscape. Two overarching concerns include the loss of highly productive agricultural land, and the transformation of the region's existing natural ecosystems. In particular, the large-scale loss of tree cover and waterbodies has attracted significant public attention. However, another key ecological dimension is wildlife habitats and animal mobility. Unlike agricultural fields or trees, wildlife movement is dynamic and spans diverse landscapes. The area between Bengaluru and Ramanagara is marked by recurring human–wildlife conflicts, particularly human–elephant. Understanding these elephant movements is crucial  for addressing broader ecological…

The Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026 (KAOMA) changes how a homeowner's share of the land is calculated — and the new formula gives the individual less than what the old law, that is the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972 (KAOA), promised. The KAOMA Bill was passed by the Karnataka legislature in August, but is yet to receive assent from the Governor, who has sought clarifications on certain provisions. What is UDI and why does it matter? When you buy an apartment, you buy two things: The flat — a depreciating asset (buildings lose value over time). Your Undivided…

The Urban Development Department published the draft Greater Bengaluru Authority (Parking) Rules, 2026 on August 11 and opened it up to the public to give suggestions and file objections. This draft is the legal framework meant to strengthen Bengaluru's Parking Policy 2.0, introduced by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport in Feb 2021. When the parking policy was first brought in, the idea was to discourage the use personal vehicles and free up road space to ensure better mobility. However, the draft rules mostly focus on creating paid on-street parking zones, off-street parking on corporation land, leasing vacant private plots to run…

Citizen lake groups have historically played an important role in protecting the city’s lakes. The erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has a long history of engaging with citizen groups. Citizen-led lake groups have long played a crucial role in acting as “watchdogs” of Bangalore’s lakes. They are often the “first responders” to problems that emerge in water bodies. They have raised alarm bells around illegal encroachments and often help coordinate between agencies to monitor rejuvenation efforts. They foster community awareness on lakes and are often able to innovate new solutions. The most recent version is the Kere Mitra (Lake‑Friend)…

Lying at an altitude of 920 metres in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats, Bengaluru’s geography and climate do not support a perennial natural water source. Instead, a north-south ridge divides the city into three primary valleys: Hebbal, Koramangala-Challagatta, and Vrishabhavathi. Rainwater draining down these slopes feeds a network of small streams — forming a cascading lake system that the city historically relied on for its water supply. During the Open City biodiversity datajam held in December 2025, our group examined the ecological trends around Bengaluru's lakes. Data on insects, spiders and flora on platforms like iNaturalist were insufficient…