Environment | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Bengaluru’s yes to Hesaraghatta film-city means a no to the Lesser Florican

January 6, 2021 Arathi Menon

The 356-acre Hesaraghatta grassland is the last remaining grassland habitat in Bengaluru, and hosts many endangered species. While the state government mulls constructing a film city here, environmentalists have proposed a conservation reserve instead.

Polluted lakes, poor waste management contaminating Bengaluru’s groundwater

January 5, 2021 Sanjana Alex, Shashank Palur, Shubha Ramachandran, Suma Rao and Veena Srinivasan

A majority of lakes and storm water drains in Bengaluru are severely polluted. These water bodies recharge groundwater, which means their pollutants are getting into our open wells and borewells.

City of blinding lights: Artificial light disturbs nature’s processes in Bengaluru

December 14, 2020 Vimal Simha

Bengaluru is among the top Indian cities with extreme levels of artificial lighting. These lights affect vital activities such as migration, foraging, reproduction and survival of the living beings around us.

Did Bengaluru really get excess rains in 2020?

November 4, 2020 Vaidya R

This year, some parts of Bengaluru got extremely high rainfall while some others didn’t even get the usual amounts. This also means floods and damages were disproportionate across the city.

Bengaluru’s “other” water bodies shelter rich biodiversity, but are fast vanishing

October 15, 2020 Mohit M Rao

Small water bodies host a variety of bird and animal species, and ensure water security. But unlike lakes, they are completely ignored. A majority of these water bodies have already been filled up.

Bengaluru lakes are drying up even during monsoons, here’s why

September 28, 2020 Sanjana Alex, Shashank Palur, Shubha Ramachandran and Suma Rao

Why do lakes like Sowl Kere and Arekere remain dry even during monsoons? The reasons are often man-made – building over stormwater drains, sewage, excessive borewell digging, etc. But there are solutions too.

Unchecked tree loss is wiping out the Slender Loris from Bengaluru

September 24, 2020 Mohit M Rao

Slender lorises were commonly spotted in Bengaluru once, but with widespread tree felling, they are now cornered into isolated patches like IISc. Further tree loss is threatening the survival of the small population that remains now.

PRR: Massive environmental damage for another futile Ring Road?

September 21, 2020 Vimal Simha

On September 23, a public consultation will be held on the environmental impacts of the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR). What are these impacts? And is the project likely to reduce traffic congestion in the city at all? Here’s an explainer.

Body to protect Bengaluru’s biodiversity revived, but can it help?

September 15, 2020 Apekshita Varshney

Bengaluru recently revived its Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), which is supposed to be the local authority for biodiversity conservation. But lack of clarity on their roles and powers have made BMCs largely ineffective across the country.

Bengaluru’s lost crop varieties: How we are missing out on local, nutritious food

August 24, 2020 Apekshita Varshney

Many local, nutritious food varieties in Bengaluru have nearly disappeared over time. While millets like ragi are now making a comeback, there are still several crops we have not even heard of.

Is the axing of 5,000 trees for road widening around Bengaluru justified?

August 21, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Bengaluru only has around 3% of its green cover left. Can the city cope if 5,000 trees in its periphery are chopped off for yet another road widening project?

5,000 trees to go for widening roads around Bengaluru, says Forest Dept. But is that all?

August 20, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Though the Forest Department says 5000-odd trees have to axed for the ‘Bangalore Surrounding Roads Project’, data discrepancies makes this number suspect. Secrecy around the project has made citizen engagement nearly impossible too.

Why Bellandur lake spews toxic froth, and how to stop it

July 30, 2020 Priyanka Jamwal and Sanjana Alex

Bellandur and Varthur lakes release huge amounts of foam almost every year, especially around the monsoons. Why does this happen, and what can we do to stop it?

Shut in at home during COVID? Rooftop gardening can give you some respite

July 1, 2020 Sudha Narasimhachar

Most of us are now staying home all the time, but this could be frustrating. Rooftop gardening is a good option for being close to nature without having to go out. Here’s a Bengaluru couple who are doing exactly that.

Study: Bengaluru’s new road-widening project will irreparably damage the environment

June 26, 2020 Harini Nagendra

The felling of thousands of trees for the ‘Bangalore Surrounding Roads Project’ will permanently damage the city’s environment, finds an EIA by Azim Premji University. The actual number of trees to be cut are far higher than that reported as well, finds the EIA.