Environment

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) now aims to go hi-tech to gain a clean green image. Going with the trends of the IT capital and borrowing its technological feather, the corporation within another three months aims to introduce an online tree felling grievances mechanism. Every year, around 3,000 permissions for axing trees are issued by the Tree Officer (Assistant Conservator of Forests), under the Tree Authority of the BBMP. In some areas, there are examples of trees being felled even during late night hours. But there is no formal record (online record with verification) explaining why the tree was…

We have been inviting you to bring your family along for "weekend gardening" at the lake. Some of the volunteers this past weekend did just that!    Our regular volunteers Mithilesh and Chandrika, a young couple from 24th Main came with the former's mother and sister. Balakrishnan and his 10 year old son Girish; Regu and youngster Sanjay from Brigade Millennium, Shubha, son Sharad and daughter Ashraya from South City, Nagalakshmi and nephew Gautham from Puttenahalli joined other individual volunteers and together did a lot of work at the lake last Saturday and Sunday.    The tone was set on…

The citizens of HSR Layout on Sunday, 7 July 2013, gathered on Agara lake bund, to create awareness on the encroachment of nature, and draw the attention of the authorities towards Agara Lake. As many as 15 gardeners appointed by the citizens had been working for the last two days clearing weeds and clearing out the floating plastic in the lake. As many as 400 people from all walks of life - young and old, men and women - joined hands to clear the litter on the walking track of the lake. The citizens have been meeting the government authorities…

Here is yet another example of conflict between two civic agencies. Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are at loggerheads over managing the 11 lakes entrusted to BDA in 2009, for rejuvenation. The tussle will affect the maintenance of the lakes which have been fenced and are on the road to rejuvenation. It will also result in wastage of public money spent on these lakes. Twelve lakes located in various parts of Bangalore, including M V Layout, ITI Layout, Banashankari 6th Stage, Anjanapura and Arkavathi Layout were given to BDA from the BBMP. The lakes are:…

Agara Lake is an expanse of about 98 acres, lying between Koramangala and HSR Layout. Pic: Google maps A few years ago, in 2007, there were plans for the lake area to be converted into an amusement park. However, amidst protests and petitions, this did not happen. In 2012, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) took back possession of the lake and it had indicated that it would welcome the active involvement of citizens and NGOs in getting the lake back to its former splendour.  Home to many birds and a place of recreation, today Agara Lake is in "not so good" shape, needing…

One of the best things that has happened in recent years in the city is growing community participation in the management of lakes. Starting from small attempts some years ago in one or two lakes, we have now reached a stage where at least two dozen communities are working steadily to revive and spruce up the lake environment around them. Today alone, I received invitations on email threads for people to be part of three initiatives - in Yelechenahalli, Agara and Avalahalli lakes. As I drove home past Sarakki lake, I noticed the fencing work has been substantially completed on…

Sushil Kumar, a resident of Sadashivanagar, was in rage and almost up in arms when he saw a majestic Gulmohar tree being axed to make way for road widening in his neighbourhood. When he tried to stop the workers from converting the trunk to logs, he was told that orders were given from the higher ups in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). When he contacted BBMP Forest cell top brass, pat came the reply, “I am not the authority concerned. But I will look into the matter, please give me the details.” He is not the only one. Sunita…

The Horamavu area (BBMP Ward 25) in the north eastern part of Bangalore is dotted with several lakes. As is the case with most of Bangalore’s lakes, they are subjected to dumping of debris and garbage, sewage and encroachment. Saddened by the plight of these lakes, some residents of the area have taken it on themselves to try to save them. They got together a few days ago, evaluated the state of the lakes and decided to focus on the two larger lakes for now – Horamavu Agara Lake and Jayanthinagar (Horamavu) Lake. To spread awareness about the status of…

I had taken the children of the Sindhi School, in Malleswaram, on a nature trail to the Bannerghatta Zoo area, and it was they who spotted this very interesting-looking caterpillar, and asked me what it was. “Looks as if the caterpillar has also packed a lot of lunch for a picnic in the Zoo!” joked one of the children. The reality, as I found out, was very, very different... this caterpillar was actually carrying its own death on its back, not its food!   A variety of wasps called ‘Braconids,’ deposit their eggs on the backs of certain caterpillars, like…

The soiled hands of Aditi, Arush, Dev and their friends told a different story altogether. Their happiness knew no bounds as the youngsters carried saplings and buckets of water as part of a 2-day long tree plantation programme. This was organized by Rank Residency Apartment Owners’ Association at Kaggadasapura on 15th and 16th June, 2013 with assistance from Trees For Free treesforfree.org The area has been witnessing large scale felling of trees due to unplanned urbanisation and encroachment. A decision was made about replacing the lost green cover. Appropriately, the residents named the initiative as “Trees for Tomorrow”.Anytime is right…