Environment

Alahalli Lake & Neighborhood Development Trust (ALNDT) has organised a lake cleaning activity on Sunday 25th August 2013, 7a.m. to 10 a.m. The public is requested to spare some time to help and support the trust's efforts to bring life back to this lake.  This Sunday's target jobs:- Cleaning the bund area- Removing the plants which are covering the fencing- Tree plantations on the bund- Removing the parthenium and other wild bushes that have grown around the lake. Volunteers can come with comfortable clothing and closed shoes. And if possible, with an apron and whatever gardening tools they have. Arrangements for…

Kanaka Champa tree with its seeds Pic: Usha Hariprasad Walking amid heritage trees can give you a sense of history and a deep connection towards nature. The fascinating facts revolving around these leafy guardians, the deep bonds between trees and the winged birds, animals and other creatures can whisk you away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The two-hour walk organised by Hasiru-Usiru on 10 August at Hebbal Lake proved to be an eye-opener in every sense. At the onset, the walkers were introduced to a giant fig tree which showcased the delicate balance existing between the fig tree and…

To mark the 66 years of India's Independence, Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust (YPLBCT) organised a clean up drive at the 10-hectare Puttenahalli Lake this morning. The event received an overwhelming response from the neighbourhood, with about 175 people sacrificing their Independence Day holiday morning and turning up at the lake. Notable by their presence were large groups of students from the Yelahanka Seshadripuram College and jawans from the CRPF. Students of Seshadripuram College with YPLBCT Trustee Dr Sangunni   The Honorable MLA of the Yelahanka Constituency, Sri S.R. Vishwanath and the Range Forest Officer of the Forest Department, Sri Appurao also…

It was with very deep sorrow that we heard the news of the demise of eminent bird watcher, long time Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, Padmashri Zafar Futehally last Sunday, 11th Aug., at Kihim, Maharashtra.    He had supported PNLIT at every step and we turned to him constantly for advice which he gave so readily. He had visited the lake in early 2012 with his wife Mrs. Laeeq, ardent nature lover and writer. When he heard about the presence of the migratory Garganey Ducks at our lake, he came to see them, binoculars slung from his neck. He later brought his granddaughter…

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” - Anonymous proverb. So if you haven't yet planted a tree in your lifetime, use the opportunity this coming Independence Day morning and visit Chinnappanahalli Lake (near Marathahalli). The Chinnappanahalli Lake Development Trust (CLDT), with the support of Strategic Outsourcing Services, has organised to plant about 200 saplings. Thursday 15th August, 7:00 a.m. onwards. For more information, please contact Mr Prabhashankar Rai <ps_rai@hotmail.com>. Those in the Yelahanka area can give a hand to the Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust (YPLBCT). Established as a formal trust in…

Monsoon is at its best this year. Rivers and reservoirs are in spate, enhancing the beauty of waterfalls across the state manifold. Weekends are your chance to revel in the lap of nature and water, more so if the weekend is long. Citizen Matters lists some destinations that are not very far from Bangalore, where you can spend your weekends this monsoon. Google maps or GPS navigation would be your best friend for all these journeys, if you are driving on your own. A trip to Shivanasamudra will ensure you enjoy the beauty of the twin falls -Gaganachukki and Bharachukki…

A picture, it is said, is worth a thousand words. So it was, with reference to the recent inauguration of the ‘Kasa mukta’ (garbage free) initiative, at Freedom Park in mid-July. While several thousands of words have been written and spoken about garbage, and about the authorities’ failure in cleaning up the mess, one picture said it all, very eloquently. (The Hindu, 25 July). It showed a horrendous pile of used plates, hundreds of them, tossed on the ground at the Freedom Park, at the end of the meeting by the ‘invitees’ including VIPs. The participants could not care about…

A scene that steals your heart. Pic: Nikita MalusareThe 17-feet-high, 40-feet-wide vertical garden, with 5000 pots. Pic: Nikita MalusareFlowery carpets welcome you to the show! But no - you will not want to walk on them! Pic: Nikita MalusareVegetable grown in pots, put up by Horticulture Department. When are you going to set up your own vegetable garden? Pic: Nikita MalusareYes, that's an EGG PLANT! Pic: Nikita MalusareTake home some seeds, and grow a piece of Lalbagh at your own balcony.. Pic: Nikita MalusareThese water-rich plants are a gardener's delight.. Pic: Nikita MalusarepotTry figuring out what flowers are these! Pic:…

Everyone knows of the national bird, the Indian Peacock. But do you know what the State bird is? Karnataka, along with other States (Andhra Pradesh,Bihar, and Odisha) has chosen the Indian Roller.  It’s a bird that almost as beautiful as the Peacock, and as interesting too. These birds can often be seen perched on telephone or telegraph wires, and they feed on  insects, spiders, small lizards, snakes and frogs, too. Pic: Deepa Mohan. Contrary to the belief that birds are afraid of fire, these birds seem to know that fire attracts insects, and they can often be found swooping on…

If we think that with fencing the lake area to prevent further encroachment, planting trees and bushes and nurturing them, eliminating sewage, and getting more rain water into the lake, we have saved the lake, we're in for a surprise. That is just the beginning!     It was last August when a gentle green carpet started spreading itself over the dormant waters of Puttenahalli Lake. PNLIT trustees brought this to the notice of a few experts who said it could be a form of algae, and that the best way to get rid of it was to get more clean water…