Environment

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…

Flooding that took place in PES campus recently. Pic: Sent by a reader. Bangalore, with its burgeoning population, faces the challenge of providing decent housing for all. Sensing the opportunity, many builders have forayed into the field, with various real estate projects all over the city and the outskirts. LIST OF PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES REQUIRING PRIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE        1     Mining, extraction of natural resources and power generation (for a specified production capacity) Mining of minerals Offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration and development and production River Valley projects Thermal Power plants Nuclear power projects and processing of…

At about 29 acres, Dorai Kere in Uttarahalli, is one of the large water bodies in South Bangalore.  Location of Dorai Kere  In Dec 2010, DNA had reported that the lake was being restored by the BBMP at a cost of Rs 8 crore, including a sewage treatment plant (STP) to treat 1 MLD of sewage. One corner of the lake currently houses the STP. With a track along the bund, and lots of greenery, the lake is a nice place for morning walkers and joggers (despite a number of stray dogs). It is also a good place for bird…

  Mutilated Ganeshas at Sankey Tank. Pic: Vani Murthy  Lord Ganesha is my favourite childhood friend, my saviour at all times - when I met with a road accident on a highway, during my illness, when I am in despair.  He is the one who comes to my rescue. I do know many others too love him, respect him, look up at him as their friend in need, but for me he is something special. As I grew up I realised what makes him so special to all. Everything he did evoked fun in the mind of young ones. His…

  Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) is organising Climate Maha-Satsang under the ambit of Agents of Change Programme, in Bengaluru. Date: August 30th and 31st Time: 9:30 am to 7 30 pm Venue: Paradigm Shift, Koramangala  The primary focus of the workshops is on students and young professionals within the age group of 16-35 years. They will get an opportunity to interact with and listen to various experts on issues pertaining to local environments, vulnerable sectors and its linkages to climate change. The participants will also learn how to build a campaign using social media and will have opportunities to…

Ganesha festival celebrations that are meant to bring joy to all, proved fatal for two BBMP workers last year, near Whitefield, Bengaluru. Trying to immerse a huge Ganesha idol made out of Plaster of Paris, these two workers ended up drowning in Varthur Lake last year, as the idol did not sink.  A screen grab of the Varthur Lake incident during Ganesha Chaturthi in September 2013. This explains only a part of the danger that Plaster of Paris idols can pose. The pollution caused by PoP idols is known to all, still ignored. Come August, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)…

My Bhumi, a Bangalore-based NGO, in conjunction with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is working to promote an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year. Supported by Friends of Lakes, RR Nagar Cares, One Bangalore Lakes and other groups and individuals, the focus is to reach out to children through their schools, and educate them about the connection between eco-friendly Ganesha idols and lakes in Bangalore.    Children are being encouraged to get their parents to buy unpainted clay idols. If the brown idols cost more than the colourful ones they are used to, then they can go in for…

Damaged fence dangerously dangling near Ulsoor lake. Pic: Ganga Madappa Does this look surreal? Unreal? Or photoshopped? No - this is a real picture projecting the state of affairs in the Ulsoor lake bund. Such broken fencing areas are attracting dumpers, while the stagnant water inside continues to breed all sorts of mosquitoes. Though dumping was regular activity near Auro Mirra International school in Ulsoor in central Bengaluru, it reached the peak in the past couple of days. Residents of Lakeshore Manor Apartments, next to Auro Mirra School, noticed a tanker with a Maharashtra registration number, carrying septic tank waste…