Environment

Colville's Glory is one of the many picture perfect trees in Lalbagh. The tree is named after Sir Charles Colville who was Army Commander-in-chief in Bombay from 1819 to 1825 and subsequently Governor of Mauritius from 1828 to 1834. Colville's Glory tree Pic: MS. Colville's Glory flowers. Pic: MS. Squirrel on flowers of Colville's Glory. Pic: MS. Bojer, an Austrian Botanist, first found a single cultivated tree in 1824 in Madagascar when he mounted a specimen collecting expedition from Mauritius. Further, he described, in 1829, the flamboyant (Delonix regia or Gulmohur) which also he found in Madagascar. Eight of the…

This is a quick primer by for Bangaloreans on borewells, open wells, recharging, and undergound acquifers. Bangalore originally used to rely on open wells more than borewells. Open wells get their water from shallow acquifers that lie at depths of less than 80 feet from the ground. Many parts of Bangalore still have open wells. Illustration: Sripathy Konada, Biome Environmental Solutions. Click for larger picture. Borewells are in essence, narrow holes dug deep into the ground. A borewell taps into a deep acquifer, which essentially water in rocks. Because waters of shallow acquifers are subject to contamination (in part to…

I am a nature lover and it is killing me to see all the tree cover just vanish from Banglore. Have you seen CMH road recently? Why are the trees being chopped left, right and center? Are we even aware of the HUGE price we are paying and for what?I was delighted to read the article on the Committee to review road widening: High Court and I heaved a sigh of relief. But I guess relief on paper is not relief after all!On Sunday (20th July 2008) trees were chopped on Race Course Road. Why??? Is this in consonance with…

‘Ooru-Neeru’, an Urban Space Event, was held by the Bangalore City Project (BCP) in Hessarghatta on 6th July, 2008. Organized for the BCP by S. Vishwanath, it was the fourth in a series such events by the organisation. Vishwanath, who is part of the Rain Water Club and Arghyam (public charitable foundation setup with a personal endowment from Rohini Nilekani and focussing on the water sector), writes extensively on water issues. The BCP is an initiative of the Goethe-Institute, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore. Its objective is to create a platform for art and culture, and to raise awareness of the…

In his report placed before the Karnataka High Court on 23 June 2008, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka Dr P J Dilip Kumar has observed that the privatisation of lakes in Bangalore would be detrimental to the eco-system, the fallout of which would most affect communities living in the surrounding areas. Kumar heads the state's forest department and is the state's highest ranking forest official. The 91-page report was compiled at the order of the High Court in response to a writ petition filed by the Environment Support Group and others against the privatisation of lakes. Notice Board…

Ever wondered what happens to the used batteries, CDs and outdated television sets that we throw into the garbage bins? These are hazardous e-waste, containing substantial quantities of lead, cadmium, chromium and flame-retardant plastics. They reach scrapyards on the outskirts of the city - such as the ones at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnana Bharathi railway station -- where children are made to work. Pic: Saahas. Inhaling or handling such substances and being in contact with them on a regular basis can damage the brain, nervous system, lungs, kidneys and the reproductive system. According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore…

The Bannerghata Nature Camp is ideal for a short break, especially if you don't want to drive out too far from the city. The pond in front of the Bannerghata Nature Camp Long time Bangalore residents may remember this road past IIM Bangalore as a pot-holed drive into a fairly verdant area. Now it is a concrete mess right up-to the zoo. The resort is situated a few kilometres beyond the zoo, and we parked the car near the Jungle Lodges' new restaurant and were driven inside in the camp's vehicles.The resort itself consists of a half a dozen tents,…

It's a prickly, 15 acres of prime land that stretches through shrub and wild grass, unaware of the legal battles that have been waged over it for the past 20 years. Part of the Jakkasandra Lake (Meistripalya), it stretches a few yards away from the BDA Complex in Koramangala, adjoining the 7th Cross Road and Telephone Exchange. The bone of contention has been its identity. Is this undeveloped land, belonging to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) earmarked as a civic amenity, or is it meant for construction with commercial intent? The troubled land in Koramangala fourth block citizens are fighting…

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of the most wellknown parks in this part of the country and is particularly treasured by Bangaloreans. Visit the park early in the morning and you'll see a range of people -- from expert naturalists and amateurs to just plain nature lovers and walkers. Mahesh Srinivas, a Bangalore based amateur photographer has captured a range of pictures of Lalbagh's vibrant wildlife early in the morning. Here's a glimpse. The elusive Golden Oriole on a Peepul Tree, at Lalbagh Gardens. Pond Herons squabbling over fishing rights at the Lalbagh Lake. Checkered Keelback snake breakfasting on…

The name itself summons up visions of many of us, dressed in goatee beards, flowing white robes with burnouses, lined up with those thick leather gloves and magnificient-looking, keen-glanced birds of prey, racing them. It also conjures up fancies of some of us, astride birds with tiny reins and tinier saddles, flying through the air competitively, driving our birds on with worms dangled before their beaks.  A Black-Shouldered Kite, handsome in the monsoon wind. Pic: Deepa Mohan. Source: INW gallery. Wake up, wake up. This is a bird-watching race, actually. People should form teams of four and they will be…