Environment

  'We never know the worth of water till the well is dry'.                                                                                   - Thomas Fuller, English Historian Bangalore is facing a water crisis like never before. Our lakes are polluted. Several of them have been built over. More than half of the city’s drinking water comes from 150 km away - 35% of this water is lost due…

It is literally the neglected backyard of Bengaluru. When you enter the ill-fated village of Mandur, the pungent smell of rotting garbage fills your nostrils. You will have to bear it, till you leave the village. When the winds are strong, the smell too becomes strong. The village is just a kilometre or so from the dumpyard. When we went inside Mandur past the police security on the main road, the sight of death welcomed us — villagers had gathered around the dead body of a resident, Narayana Rao, in front of his house, despite the curfew imposed. Rao had…

The recent heavy rains in Bangalore have resulted in quite a bit of water finding its way into Puttenahalli Lake, quenching the thirst of the cracking lake bed. Something like a full bottle's water getting poured into one's throat, after a long harsh summer outing. As a part of the summer regimen, workmen have been deweeding, and a lot of the water weeds have been taken out. The green around is looking lush.    For those who do not live in the Puttenahalli Lake vicinity, here are some recent pictures. Deweeding in progress, 6th Jun 2014  Puttenahalli Lake after deweeding, 9th…

On June 8, 2014, the Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) in association with The Hindu newspaper organized the 5th year edition of the Chennai Coastal Cleanup and the 1st edition of India Clean Sweep - a major awareness campaign on environmental conservation. The location chosen was Yelahanka's Puttenahalli Lake in north Bangalore. More details on the planning of the event here. The main objective of this initiative was to create more awareness among the general public against the use of plastics and reduction of our garbage footprint through segregation, re-cyling and reuse and keep our lakes clean too. The cleanup was inaugurated…

Report by Jesse Jonathan A recent report stated that there are only 17 trees for every 100 people in the city of Bengaluru. This alarming statistic prompted some much needed action. On the occasion of the World Environment Day, the Uttarahalli Magakere Walkers’ Association along with UWBe and the BBMP organized a Planting Drive at Uttarahalli Lake. Event details can be seen here. 300 saplings were planted on the occasion. 200 Corporate volunteers from Ingersoll Rand and SanDisk, and close to 30 community members from the Uttarahalli area participated in the event. The activity was held to reaffirm the community’s commitment to…

What better way to celebrate the arrival of the south-west monsoon in Bangalore, than commemorating World Environment Day (WED)? Organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is an international day celebrated on June 5th every year, to raise awareness and encourage action for the environment. World-over events such as clean-up campaigns, tree planting drives, recycling drives, awareness campaigns, film screenings and the like are conducted. Though each of these events are but a blip on the global radar, they contribute towards a bigger movement.  Why should you be a part of WED? The United Nations designated…

On the occasion of World Environment Day, United Way of Bengaluru along with the Uttarahalli Magakere Walkers' Association and BBMP is organising a Tree Planting Drive at Uttarahalli Lake on Thursday, June 5, 2014 between 9:30am and 12:30pm. Uttarahalli Lake in South Bangalore is spread over about 15 acres, and is being maintained by United Way of Bengaluru, with the support of local groups and corporates. More about the efforts at Uttarahalli Lake can be found here.   300 saplings will be planted at the lake by about 200 corporate volunteers and several community members. Ingersoll Rand, which has been supporting…

Bangalore saw thunderstorms early this week. Pic: Shree D N In the past month, the weather in namma Bengaluru has taken several dramatic turns. Only a few weeks ago, folks in the city were commenting on how hot Bangalore had become, and how horrible it was to step out during the day. People who have been in the city long enough to truly appreciate the weather were nostalgic about the wonderful weather in the mornings, the lovely showers in the evenings and the marvelously pleasant nights. A week ago Bangalore was witness to something akin to thunderstorms with wind speeds…

5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day every year.   This year, the trust MAPSAS (Mahadevapura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti, working at several lakes in East Bangalore) along with Say Trees, will be planting more than 400 indigenous tree saplings at Kasavanahalli Lake. Approval of the BBMP who is the custodian of the lake has been received.   Kasavanahalli Lake, Haralur, is about 22 acres, and is the first lake upstream of Kaikondrahalli Lake, off Sarjapur Road.     About 100-120 volunteers from four corporates (3M, AIG, EMC, San Engineering) are expected. Members of the public are invited to volunteer…

A tree uprooted in Malleshwaram 6th Main on 2 June, 2014. Tree Comittee will have to keep track of the trees planted and uprooted, and plan accordingly to protect green cover in the city. Pic: Shree D N The Karnataka High Court directed Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to draw an action plan that will ensure accountability and maintenance of trees that BBMP claims to have planted since 2007 till 2011, and in future. Following the HC’s order on 25th April 2014, a suo motu PIL was (WP No. 7288/2011) filed by former Justice D V Shylendra Kumar and WP no.…