Lakes

"Lakes are essential to every city. They provide means of entertainment, they help local economies and they're beautiful to look at. But many times, human activities destroy lakes, spoil the ecosystems and make them unbearable." Harshvardhan Sanghi's under-six-minute documentary that his mother Suman posted on Facebook caught my attention. This Std XII student of Greenwood High International School lives close to Varthur Lake, one of the large, polluted lakes of Bangalore. Eager to help the ongoing efforts to get the authorities/ community to do something for the lake, Harshvardhan made this short film. He talks about the reasons for degredation and the…

On Sunday, 16th August 2015, 7:00 a.m. onwards, MAPSAS is organising a bird walk at Kasavanahalli Lake, Harlur (off Sarjapur Main Road). To know where exactly Kasavanahalli Lake is located see here. You can get regular updates about the lake from its new Facebook page here. A view of Kasavanahalli Lake, as posted on its Facebook page Sumanth Madhav, of the Gerry Martin Project, an avid and entertaining speaker will be conducting the walk. Open to all ages, but note that there will be a bit of walking to do. Young children are bound to enjoy it. Go prepared with comfortable shoes, water bottles…

On the occasion of Independence Day on 15th August, Yelahanka United Environment Assocation (YUVA) along with Karnataka Amateur Rowing Association (KARA), an affiliate of Rowing Federation of India (RFI) is organizing Karnataka's first Inter-lake Rowing Championship, at the splendid rejuvenated 44-acre Allalasandra Lake in Yelahanka New Town.  Young rowers in action  More than ten children from schools located in the Yelahanka area have won medals in various National Rowing Championships. These young boys and girls travel all the way from North Bangalore to Ulsoor Lake which is over 35 kms away for practice early every morning.    KARA and RFI have been promoting the…

Pic: Subha Priya On June 29th 2015, a performance audit on Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Lakes under the jurisdiction of Lake Development Authority (LDA) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Karnataka by the CAG of India was tabled in the Assembly. The report brought into focus many of the ignored facts about lakes in the city and the state. This 75-page-long performance audit covering the period 2009 to 2014 highlights the deterioration in ecological health of lakes as well as issues among the institutions of management and governance of lakes. This audit scrutiny covers 56 lakes selected by adopting…

‘Cycle Day’ was organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport, Government of Karnataka, BCOS, Praja RAAG, EMBARQ and ESAF with support from Bangalore Police (Traffic and Law & Order) and BBMP in Yelahanka on 2nd August 2015, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This Cycle Day was dedicated to the memory of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Cyclists observed two minutes silence as mark of respect to the late President of India before the start of the cycle rally. Dr Kalam has a residence in Kendriya Vihar Apartment which overlooks the Yelahanka Lake. The cycling route was around…

Come Saturday 8th August 2015, treat yourself to a sumptuous Buffet Continental Breakfast at Le Pont Cafe and Patisserie.   Adding to the many flavours and ambience is the fact that you will be eating out for a cause.    PNLIT is coming together with our Puttenahalli Lake neighbourhood Le Pont Cafe and Patisserie to organise the first of its kind Fundraising Breakfast.   Team PNLIT invites each of one of you with family, including children, to come and enjoy your Saturday with us.   Date: 8th August 2015 (Saturday) Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Venue: Le Pont, 24th Main, JP Nagar 7th Phase (Opposite Brigade Palm Springs)   Cost: INR 500 for adults, INR 250 for…

Sunday, 2nd August 2015 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Yelahanka Lake   This Cycle Day event is dedicated to the memory of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. A poster exhibition is being organized at the venue. Cyclists will wear black armbands and observe two minutes silence in memory of the late President of India at the start of the cycle rally.   The cycle rally will be held around the 350-acre Yelahanka lake (around 6.5 km), followed by cultural events and traditional games on the street. Free cycle rentals with surrender of id card is being arranged. Light breakfast will be available…

Massive SEZ coming up on the catchment area between Agara and Bellandur lake. File pic. With the deadline only a week away for an eight-member Expert Committee to study Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project on Agara-Bellandur lake catchment area, the Committee has decided to submit an interim report on the project for the time being. The Expert Committee was formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as part of the litigation proceedings on the SEZ project by Mantri Tech Zone Pvt Ltd and another project by Core Mind Software and Services Ltd, on May 7th, 2015. ‘Yet to get details…

Who wants to get up early on a Sunday morning and that too, to do work in a public space? Sunday, 26th July 2015 saw more than 150 students of Seshadripuram PU College, Yelahanka at Allalasandra Lake doing just this. Led by the NSS co-ordinators of the college, Dr Subhash, Mr Shantaveerappa and Dr Mune Gowda, the students spent over fours hours (8 a.m. to 12 noon) working along the walking track, pulling out overgrown weeds and collecting garbage.  The 44 acre Allalasandra Lake in Yelahanka New Town is on its way to revival having been watchfully nurtured over the last…

Ganesha Chaturthi is still several weeks away (in mid-September), but sales of Ganesha idols have already begun. If you are accustomed to one of those colourful idols of the lord that more often than not end up polluting our lakes and waterbodies, this year you can do it differently. Look out for an ecofriendly Ganesha - one that will dissolve easily in water, and without toxic paints and non-recyclable paraphernalia.   There are many places in Bangalore from where eco-Ganeshas can be ordered and bought. You can look up old collated lists on these links - 2013, 2014.  Ashwini Prasad,…