Environment

Extensive coverage of urban environmental issues and the climate crisis as experienced in our cities through a combination of reports, analyses, interviews and commentaries. Focus areas include waste management, air and water pollution, protection of open spaces and water bodies, and the overall impact of climate change on urban communities. The articles explore solutions from a policy as well as citizen engagement angle.

Take a walk around Narasipura 2 Lake in the late evening and you will not miss hearing the brilliant Narasipura Amphibian Harmonic Orchestra! Yes, with the recent rains, the frogs and toads are out and about. While the "Life Cycle of the Frog" is commonly taught in school, how many of us actually know beyond the spawn, the tadpole and its shrinking tail?     An important part of the food chain, frogs and toads are considered to be very good environmental indicators. This means that having frogs and toads in an area tells us that the environment is healthy for them,…

Read more

Join the Begur Environment & Development Trust (BEDT) and Begur /Singasandra residents (BBMP Ward 192) for a massive tree plantation drive. Date: 22nd June 2014 (Sunday)Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.Venue: Begur Lake entrance next to Lake Point Tower Apartment (Opposite Subhash Nagar Main road), South Bangalore Planned schedule:9:30 a.m.      –  Assembly10:00 a.m.    –  Welcome and Introduction10:05 a.m.    –  Begur History (addressing about the culture)10:15 a.m.    –  Post card distribution (sending letters to BDA commissioner)10:20 a.m.    –  Lake rejuvenation and protection awareness10:30 a.m.    –  Unveiling of Citizen Centric Begur Lake Development Plan10:35 a.m.    –  Tree Plantating11:30 a.m.    –  Vote of Thanks For any clarifications/assistance, please feel free to call:Prasad 9845014801, Shaji 94498 14441 (MC Road area), Prashanth…

Read more

Today is memorable for many of us! Friends of Lakes, in association with local corporators and residents have planted more than 200 saplings in Vidyaranyapura Lake. – Mr Gopala Krishna The event was so beautiful. I kept walking around the lake pinching myself to ensure that I was not in a dream! – xxx These were the sentiments expressed by residents from the Narasipura 2 Lake area, about the tree planting event held at Narasipura 2 Lake (Sri Venkata Swamy Temple Kere) on 15th June, 2014. From six in the morning, the place was abuzz with people – dads and…

Read more

Current scenario of water availability in Bangalore seems to be grim with ground water almost over and tanker mafia twisting our arms. Last year’s indication of dry weather prompted our apartment to find out an easy way of collecting rainwater as a proper rainwater harvesting system was not made initially. Zephyr Block of Suncity Apartments, Ibblur, thought of using the flat roofs of the building to collect rainwater. Roof rainwater pipes were attached to a main big pipe and then to a small tank. The initial water collected in the small tank and after a while the clean water starts…

Read more

The Arekere Reserve Forest is located in Arekere-Mico Layout (off Bannerghatta Rd), near Puttenahalli Lake. It is home to several species of birds, butterflies and other life forms. Information on the efforts to get it cleaned can be found here.   Please see the message from Mr Saravanan, the coordinator of the clean up effort. -------------   Hi All,   We have the following events scheduled as part of forest restoration at Dorsani Palya Reserve Forest.1. Cleaning the reserve forest scheduled on 21/06/2014 (Saturday) at 7 am onwards2. Neighborhood campaign following Saturday (28/06/2014).Your participation along with kids, friends and colleagues…

Read more

Bengaluru has trees that flower through the year. Many a time one wonders how they can be a part of that whole system. How easy is it to plant trees and watch it grow? What are the requirements from departments involved? How are plant species selected? How did other citizens and groups go about tree planting? Tree planting is a big step that needs planning and dedication, the Tree Planting Guide simplifies the process and you could add to one of the city’s trees. How do we begin tree planting? Planning is an integral part of tree planting, though the…

Read more

Be part of a movement to save our lakes and protect our environment. Join hands with Friends of Lakes, for a tree planting event at Narasipura 2 Lake (Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple Kere), IEHCS Layout, Vidyaranyapura. Date: Sunday, 15th June 2014Time: 6:30 a.m. onwardsMeeting point: Venkateshwara Temple, IEHCS LayoutFor location, see google maps here. BBMP Corporator, Ward No. 9, Nandini Srinivasa has left this invitation on her Facebook page: This Sunday 15th June 2014 be part of protecting the environment by planting tree saplings @ Narasipura Lake. We would like to thank each and every individual involved in this activity and…

Read more

  Alright. We all know lakes are vanishing fast in Bengaluru. Many groups are fighting to save some lakes. However the mission hits the dead end when complaints to stop the encroachment yield no results. We also have heard about a District Lake Committee which is supposed to protect lakes. However, we don’t see this committee active. So what’s wrong? What is this committee supposed to do? In December 2013, the Karnataka High Court passed a revolutionary judgment in response to a PIL filed by Environment Support Group (ESG), directing the State Government to set up Lake Protection Committees to…

Read more

Four years ago on this day, four people were waiting at the sub-registrar's office in JP Nagar to get a trust deed registered. Along with them, two others, who were to sign as witnesses. They were well prepared, having drafted the document themselves, getting it reviewed by the sub-registrar office clerks a couple of days earlier, carefully printing it, with all the papers that they had been told to bring. However, given the reputation that the sub-registrar offices have, it would be wrong to say that they were not worried about being put in an uncomfortable spot at some stage.…

Read more

On 14th June 2014, Whitefield Rising is organizing a tree-planting drive along the shores of Munnekolala Lake. Read more about the restoration of this lake here.   As Arvind Keerthi from Whitefield Rising says, What is exciting about this drive is that it is a confluence of efforts made by the BBMP Lakes Department, which is supplying the 600 saplings, private sponsorship from United Way of Bengaluru, which is funding the equipment and materials, and of course our beloved volunteers, who coaxed the process along, and will supply the calories needed to plant the saplings.  If you love planting trees,…

Read more