Environment

As work on the Mamallan Reservoir project is picking up pace, environmentalists and locals dread the devastation it is unleashing. The project not only threatens the fragile Kovalam-Nemmeli coastal wetland and the habitats it supports, but also poses flood risks to communities living nearby.  In an earlier article, we showed how field studies by the Suzhal Arivom team documented the damage this project will cause to the local ecology. Based on that same report, Part 2 looks at how the project impacts the daily lives and livelihoods of people in the Kovalam-Nemmeli area. The project can trigger the erasure of…

A few months ago, there was widespread uproar over attempts to convert a small part of the Pallikaranai Marshland in South Chennai into multi-storey apartments. Yet today, the equally vital Nemmeli coastal wetland in Chengalpattu district faces silent destruction. Richer in biodiversity and livelihood support than Pallikaranai, the Nemmeli wetland, also known as the “Great Salt Lake,” is being converted into a freshwater reservoir by the Tamil Nadu government, purportedly to boost drinking water supply to Chennai. But the project spells disaster. Phase one of the Mamallan Reservoir project involves acquiring more than 5,000 acres of land, removing topsoil, and…

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…

Over the past few years, maths teacher Usha found her classroom sweltering during her usual 12.50–1.50 pm period, on the second floor of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School. “It was so difficult to take class during the peak hours,” she says. But this year, she mentions that it feels slightly bearable, and attributes this to the shade of the trees, the wind blowing through the building, and the latest addition — solar-reflective paint on the roof. Data from a state government and UNEP Cooling pilot project at the Ambattur school shows that reflective coating brought the classroom’s internal…

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 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…

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…

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…