Environment

Pruned trees on podium. Pic courtesy: Rajesh Nair Two months ago, the residents of Prestige Shantiniketan in Whitefield, Bangalore, saw around twenty trees pruned down to 4 feet. Recently they also came to know that another 491 trees are waiting in the queue to be cut. They claim that the trees are 11-year-old. The plan to cut 491 trees was envisaged by the Management Committee of Prestige Shantiniketan, who are worried that 500 trees are on an elevated slab or a podium, and will damage the podium structure. They are concerned that the podium will not be able to take…

Anyone who has lived in Bangalore for some time will fondly remember the pleasant climate, flowers blooming and the city roads covered with flowers of all hues and colours. Alas, it is no more like this today, and the city is competing with Kolkata and Chennai in summer temperatures, and vast stretches of our water-starved city are left to the mercy of water tankers. Rapid urbanisation, unplanned development and a free run to land mafia has led to massive encroachment of lake land, raja-kaluves and large-scale exploitation of underground water. Today, 85-90% of lakes have turned dry and are sitting…

One Bengaluru for Lakes (OBL) is conducting a seminar "One Bengaluru, One Voice, One Demand" on 21st September 2014 at Senate Hall, Central College. Please attend the seminar to get an update of the current situation of Bangalore's lakes, what the Government proposes to do, the idea of One Bengaluru for Lakes, and the key demands and action plan sought from the Government. Open to the public. No registration needed.  Please also visit www.greenpeacex.in/p/OBL and sign the demand to ask "ASK KARNATAKA CM TO IMPLEMENT 6 STEPS TO SAVE BANGALORE LAKES".    

Another ‘Cycle Day’ was successfully conducted by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka and BCOS - in Yelahanka New Town next to Allalasandra Lake this 14th September 2014, Sunday morning (6:30 to 10:30 a.m.).   The last Cycle Day was held a couple of months ago and can be read about here. Cycle Days are being organized with the objective of popularizing cycling within the locality thereby helping in reducing motorized traffic, reduce pollution, reduce fuel consumption and improve health and fitness.   Around 4500 citizens including Honorable Speaker of…

A week has sped by but the story telling event we had on Sept. 6th in collaboration with The Storywallahs is so vivid in our minds as if it took place, well, today. The occasion for special too - celebrating International Literacy Day.  The day was murky from morning and when it began to rain at around 2 p.m., we were relieved. If it rains now surely it won't during the story telling. We reached the lake well in advance, set out the registration counter and ... it rained. We took the table to the gazebo, wiped it dry and…

"If there is magic on earth, it is contained in water." - Loren Eiseley Bangalore Film Society and Deep Focus cinema along with the partners of the film festival; Rolling Frames Film Society and Birdspot – Bird Habitat Observers, with support from Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, welcome you to the 9th edition of Voices from the Waters International Traveling Film Festival on Water - a community outreach event on water in everyday life  addressing the most important issues – potable water for house hold needs, agriculture and industry. Festival Venue: National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) Bangalore, Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore Festival…

Even after constant monitoring from the High Court and many orders in place, managing waste the right way still continues to be a major issue in Bengaluru. Disposable diapers occupy a major share of the crisis. The solution doesn’t lie in leaving your kids run around naked, not for the busy and indulgent mom of today. This is where modern cloth diapers come into the picture. “What, cloth diapers? No...!” is what we hear, even from the environmentally conscious citizens of Bangalore, who otherwise try to do their bit. Many others who would want to minimise the expenses of diapers…

Where there is water, there is life. And Narasipura Kere has it all.   First it was the birds,  then the amphibians and  Now it's time for the snakes  !   The Pancharatna Plus of Narasipura Kere are delighted to invite you to the Snake Awareness program.   Date: Saturday, 13th September 2014 Time: 1600-1700 hours Place: Just Books, Vidyaranyapura   Mr Sharath Babu, former Honorary Wildlife Warden, Bangalore Urban will be conducting the session.   To register for the session please call/e-mail JustBooks, Vidyaranyapura Phone: 23644501 Email: Frontoffice Vidyaranyapura <frontoffice@vrp.justbooksclc.com>This is open to all age groups, and there is no entry fee. Also, you do not…

PNLIT is happy to announce a unique story telling + activity event for children.   Let your children listen to TWO exciting stories: The Generous Crow Kaka and Munni.    The story tellers are Nupur Aggarwal and Parvathi Om from the reputed The Storywallahs!http://www.thestorywallahs.com/   And hey!! That's not all. Let your kids engage in delightful paper craft with our experts!   All this fun for only Rs.100 per child. Admission restricted to 50 kids only.    Hurry! Register NOW! A free gift from PNLIT awaits your child! To register, please sms Nupur 9886629769/ Sapana 9880554136 or email puttenahalli.lake@gmail.com.   Date: Saturday,…

With the 5th day of Ganesha Chaturthi (2nd September) past us, the festival in Bangalore has more-or-less ended for the year. Government departments and citizen groups that are closely associated with lakes must be reviewing the impact of the festival on the water bodies. In recent years, the BBMP, NGOs and other local groups have been putting in a lot of effort before the festival, educating people about the use eco-friendly idols, paints and decorations, and encouraging them to do home immersions so that water bodies are not burdened. Most of the lake groups are well prepared for the festival, planning…