Environment | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Not just Lalbagh, your small neighbourhood park too can protect Bengaluru’s biodiversity

October 3, 2019 Manupriya

A recent study finds that Bengaluru’s neighbourhood parks establish a long continuum of greenery, facilitating the movement of birds, butterflies and insects. Hence the focus should be on setting up many small parks rather than a few large ones, says the study

All you need to know about Bengaluru’s Adopt-a-Street initiative

September 30, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Under BBMP’s new ‘Adopt-a-Street’ initiative, citizen groups and corporates can formally adopt and maintain streets. But will the programme sustain, or will it fizzle out like BBMP’s previous adoption programmes?

Climate Strike comes to India — three things to keep in mind

September 29, 2019 Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya

Over the last one week, thousands of Indian students and youth across India, inspired by the Global Climate Strike organised by ‘Fridays for Future’, marched together to demand immediate action to mitigate local and global climate risks. What should be the way forward?

Perforations on the borewell casing pipe in the attachments so that water starts flowing into these holes.

Rs 3 lakh savings per year, and borewells that never dry: What a Bengaluru apartment gained from RWH

September 23, 2019 Samir Kumar Rakshit

In water-starved Chikkabellandur, a small apartment community uses rainwater harvesting (RWH) to meet much of their needs. They use some of the rainwater directly, and the rest to recharge their borewells

Bengalureans will strike for climate justice on Global Climate Week

September 19, 2019 News Desk

On September 20th, Bengaluru will participate in the Global Climate Strike. This will be followed by a series of events till September 27th

“Bengaluru is the future of dozens of Indian cities”

September 19, 2019 Rafael Prieto Curiel

Does Bengaluru’s explosive growth make it a unique city? How does Bengaluru compare with other Indian and Asian cities?

Am I paying taxes to get killed?

September 17, 2019 Sakuntala Narasimhan

Bengaluru is beset with rotting garbage, killer potholes and increasing dengue cases. Yet the BBMP is planning a steep hike in property taxes. So should we pay?

Classic case of state poking its nose into BBMP: Will Bengaluru have advertisement hoardings?

September 2, 2019 Kedar Koushik

The High Court has upheld BBMP’s new bye-laws that ban hoardings in Bengaluru. But the state government is reluctant to accept the order. Does this mean Bengaluru will have hoardings again? And why is the state government poking its nose into BBMP’s affairs at all?

Sacred sites in Bengaluru: Where heritage helps conserve biodiversity

August 29, 2019 Sahana Ghosh

Despite Bengaluru’s rapid urbanisation, its kattes and temples still harbour over 120 different tree species. Majority of these are native species including neem and peepal. These trees should be mapped and given protected status, conservationists say

Clean Air Summit discusses health impacts of air pollution

August 24, 2019 News Desk

Air pollution can contribute to premature death from cardiovascular and other diseases. But how these health impacts can be communicated effectively to the public, and how pollution can be studied better, were among the topics discussed at the Clean Air Summit

How Bengaluru is targeting 100% segregation of waste by December 2019: BBMP’s new SWM bye-laws

August 23, 2019 Kedar Koushik

With its new draft bye-laws on solid waste management (SWM), BBMP is aiming for 100% waste segregation and minimal use of landfills. The bye-laws mandate waste segregation into eight streams, steep penalties for offenders, and greater role for ward committees in SWM

Clean Air Summit to discuss solutions to air pollution

August 22, 2019 News Desk

At ICAS 2019, scientists and policymakers from across the country will deliberate on strategies to reduce air pollution. You can attend panel discussions and trainings at the event

Will this year’s rains ease Bengaluru out of water scarcity?

August 20, 2019 Vaidya R

Till July end, Karnataka faced severe rainfall deficit, and water levels in Cauvery reservoirs were plummeting. But in just two weeks, the situation has turned around completely. What does this mean for Bengaluru’s water crisis?

All you need to know about composting garden waste

August 16, 2019 Luke Dhanaraj

Pit composting is perhaps the easiest way to dispose of garden waste – it takes minimal effort, and gives you high-quality manure for your garden. But what exactly happens in a compost pit? And how do you ensure the right conditions for composting? Here’s an explainer

How this Bellandur apartment saves Rs 25,000 a year composting garden waste

August 14, 2019 Luke Dhanaraj

The residents of Sobha Quartz once used to pay tractor operators to dump their garden waste. But once they started composting this waste instead, their garden has thrived from the compost, and they now save around Rs 25,000 a year

Volunteering is cool: How Bengaluru’s youth are helping out orphanages, cleaning black spots, and more

August 13, 2019 Ekta Sawant

Are Bengaluru’s youth disconnected from social realities? Here is a look at the city’s young volunteers that prove they aren’t. From serving others to saving the planet, there’s much these volunteers are trying to do

Thirsty city tantrums: How Bengaluru’s thirst for water is felt 400 km away

August 9, 2019 Kedar Koushik

To satiate Bengaluru’s unending thirst, water has been diverted from many rivers, including those from the Western Ghats. But these projects are starving local populations of water, and destroying ecosystems

How a residents’ group saved Benniganahalli lake from going the Bellandur way

August 6, 2019 Manini Mandal

When Benniganahalli lake started frothing in 2017, residents of the nearby Pai Layout pushed BBMP to restore it. The cleaned-up lake bed is now filled by monsoon rains. The residents have also formed a Trust to develop a jogging track and other facilities here in coordination with BBMP

How to compost wet waste in your apartment with just a bucket

August 5, 2019 Abhijna N C

If you live in an apartment, you may find disposing wet waste difficult. But to compost this waste, all you need is an old bucket. Here’s a DIY guide on making your own ‘compost bucket’ and using the compost in your garden

Handbags from milk cartons, plants in coconut shells, and more at Second to None sale

July 31, 2019 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru generates thousands of tonnes of waste everyday, but we can reduce it substantially by using recycled or repurposed products. Here is an account of some interesting recycled products that were sold at an event organised by the volunteer group Second To None, last Saturday