Environment | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

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.

Iblur lake bedecked with flowers: Volunteer efforts pay off

June 25, 2020 Naresh Sadasivan

Iblur lake, which had once been a toxic cesspool, is now thriving and beautified, thanks to citizen efforts. The lake’s trustees are also planning to develop a Miyawaki forest in the vicinity.

Bengaluru's Silk Board Junction during the lockdown. Pic: Naveeen Thomas Prasad

Air pollution dropped 28% in Bengaluru during lockdown

June 24, 2020 Aishwarya Sudhir

As per an analysis, PM2.5 levels in Bengaluru reduced by an average of 28% during lockdown. In some localities, air quality even met WHO safe levels, perhaps for the first time in two decades.

Why Bengaluru lakes catch fire, and how to prevent this

June 23, 2020 Sanjana Alex, Priyanka Jamwal, Shashank Palur, Veena Srinivasan, Shubha Ramachandran and Suma Rao

Raw sewage, industrial effluents, solid waste dumping, can all lead to build-up of flammable gases in lakes. Why do these issues persist and what can be done to resolve these?

Toxic heavy metals in Bengaluru’s air, finds study

June 4, 2020 Ankit Bhargava

A recent study of Bengaluru’s air quality showed that areas like Koramangala and Haralur had dangerously high levels of PM2.5. Neurotoxins like manganese and lead were also found in excess.

Why fish die in Bengaluru lakes, and what you can do to prevent it

May 27, 2020 Sanjana Alex, Shubha Ramachandran, Suma Rao and Veena Srinivasan

Much of the fish and bird kill in Bengaluru lakes is caused by pollution. What are the exact sources of such pollution, and what can we as citizens do about it?

Podcast: Why we need to plant more native tree species in Bengaluru

May 20, 2020 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru has lost much of its natural vegetation to urbanisation. Majority of trees that do remain, cannot protect the city from heat island effects or climate change.

Podcast: Why citizen groups alone can’t save Bengaluru’s dying lakes

May 19, 2020 Grace Madigan

In Bengaluru, neighbourhood citizen groups have worked to revive many lakes. While some groups like PNLIT have been successful, some others have failed due to lack of government support and resources.

Volunteers, Kishore and Aravind, water the plants in Vasanth Nagar every alternate day in the evenings. Pic: Rajkumar Dugar

How four Vasanth Nagar residents are saving plants during lockdown

April 13, 2020 Rajkumar Dugar

Plants in public places are becoming water-starved during the lockdown. In Vasanth Nagar, four residents have been going out and watering such plants to ensure they stay alive.