Environment

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) tracked the ambient air and noise quality in Bengaluru before and during the Invest Karnataka 2016, Global Investor Meet. Here are their findings. Status of Ambient Air Quality To know the impact of the Global Investor Meet (GIM) 2016 on ambient air quality in Bengaluru, air quality monitoring was carried out at 12 locations round the clock before and during GIM 2016, using manual and continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations. Name of the Station RSPM µg/m3 before GIM RSPM µg/m3 during GIM % of RSPM I/D CAAQMS SG Halli 115.6 85.5 26.0…

This is the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count  (February 12th to 15th). I wanted to get away and do some serious birding away from the immediate backyard this weekend. I set out this morning to explore my usual neighbourhood haunts — Kaikondrahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes. This week turned up a lower species count than last week – the terns, in particular, were missing at both lakes. Backyard birding, it seems, turns up some pleasant surprises. Indian Spot-billed Ducks and a single Northern Pintail drake (centre) at Kaikondrahalli Lake. Pic: Bijoy Venugopal Kaikondrahalli lake I was at Kaikondrahalli by 6.15 am and it was a lot…

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) conducted an interaction programme on e-waste management in Peenya Industrial Area, in association with M/s.Auma India Pvt Ltd. A press note from KSPCB says that the programme was organised in order to create an awareness, among the industrial stakeholders, to practice reuse, recycling and recovering of e-waste, without damaging the environment. 80 participants from various industries of Peenya Industrial Area participated in the event. Lakshman, Chairman of KSPCB inagurated the event and delivered an inaugural address. He explained that all advancement in information technology and communications’ has stimulated the economy and improved the living…

The situation in Vibgyor got out of hand only because there were so many people around because of which the leopard panicked. The recent incident at Vibgyor school, Marathahalli in Bengaluru, involving the rescue of a leopard which had strayed into the school premises, has once again brought up the topic of man-animal conflict in urban areas. The rescue mission which lasted ten hours, was traumatic for both the animal in question, as well as the several men who were injured during the course of the rescue. While the animal was captured and moved to a rescue centre, there are…

Dear Sir, Greetings from CIVIC Bangalore! You have promised the citizens of Bengaluru that you will solve the garbage problem at the earliest. Attached please find recent photos that were taken of garbage being littered in government office campuses in the heart of Bengaluru where the highest officials of government sit. The first picture was taken in the campus of the MS Building, where many Secretaries to government sit. The second was taken in the campus of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan where State-level officials of the Education Department sit. The High Court has issued a directive that all government offices…

If you are like most people, you are only vaguely aware of Kundalahalli Lake. Maybe, it is to you that largish pond between AECS layout and EPIP. A water body whose shimmer perhaps caught your eye while you once glimpsed out of your tenth-storey office window. If you are a motorbike-rider, it is a well-known — and sadly, illegal — shortcut to your workplace. No wonder that this lake, an urban environmental gem, is largely unvisited except for transit purposes. For it is hidden, surrounded by that most Bangalore of combinations, that is, gleaming tech-parks and wretched slums. Almost everybody is guilty of dumping…

On February 8th, I had the pleasure of watching Beedhi Nataka (street theatre) at Jayanagar 4th Block, performed beautifully by the PG Commerce students of NMKRV College for Women. The team performed at Maiyas, Cool Joint, Ganesh Darshan and the 4th Block bus stand. At first glance, the performance looked like a discourse with nature, which then transformed into an ensemble of natures parade against the atrocities of man.  Snapshots from the street play. Pic: Madhuri SubbaraoSnapshots from the street play. Pic: Madhuri SubbaraoSnapshots from the street play. Pic: Madhuri SubbaraoSnapshots from the street play. Pic: Madhuri Subbarao‹ › $(document).ready(function(){ $('.carousel .carousel-inner .item').first().attr('class', 'active item');});…

To most people, Whitefield is synonymous with ITPL, the Sai Baba Ashram, luxurious villas and of course traffic jams. But there’s another positive aspect of Whitefield which is the number of lakes in the area. These are some of the lakes which are located to the east/north-east of Marathahalli Bridge and west/south-west of Hope Farm.  Munnekolala and Chinnapanahalli lakes inside AECS Layout Hoodi lake behind Zuri (no direct access to the lake) Seetharampalya lake near Graphite signal Sheelvantharakere Lake behind Palm Meadows Nallurahalli lake on the Nallurahalli-Borewell road Thubarahalli lake, opposite Mainland China (no direct access to the lake) Kundalahalli lake…

Here’s a video I took, of some remarkable ‘fishers’ that we are able to see, even in urban lakes such as Madiwala or Lalbagh, in the winter. These are Spot-billed Pelicans which are local travellers. There are some long-distance travellers, too. These are Bar-headed Geese landing at Hadinaru Kere, near Nanjangud, Karnataka, in August 2015; they come all the way from Mongolia! Here’s one, which was tagged in Mongolia (yes, I received a reply from the scientists there when I emailed them, it was quite a thrill). This winter, we had another lone, and surprise visitor. The Demoiselle Crane was a lone bird that I spotted in a lake…

For 11,595 lake encroachers in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, February 29th is the deadline. They can submit their grievances or objections in response to the notices served to them by revenue officials, on encroachment. Though this date may be extended for a few more days, not much time is left for those who wish to communicate their version to the committees headed by tahsildars of respective taluks. This also gives a chance to those who have information on encroachments to share it with the committee. A 11-member Committee of the Legislative Assembly headed by K B Koliwad, Ranebennur MLA…