Environment

   Around mid August this year, 21 volunteers from 14 countries arrived in southern India to work and learn from marginalized communities about their challenges pertinent to health and sanitation. They were part of "Health on Stage", a six week project where they learnt to use forum theatre to initiate simultaneous dialogues on public health in low income areas of Bangalore, Mysore and Chennai. And on 30th September, the 3 groups of participants, their trainers and faciliators gathered in Bangalore to share their experiences with healthcare professionals, media persons and theatre artists.It is well known that water related illnesses are…

In Recyclathon Awards, part of Bengaluru Recycling Habba, Mantri Tranquil apartment in Kanakpura road won the championship for Best Waste Wise Apartment (above 250 units category). Around 2009, a few residents here studied different recycling models across the city and designed their own version. Dr Ramachandran at the Mantri Tranquil recycling unit. Pic: Navya P K Their organic compost unit now generates about 3000 kgs of compost every month, which is used in the gardens within the complex or sold outside. Residents also segregate dry waste into five categories. which is collected and recycled by the NGO Saahas.Dr N Ramchandran,…

In Recyclathon Awards, part of Bengaluru Recycling Habba, Mantri Tranquil apartment in Kanakpura road won the championship for Best Waste Wise Apartment (above 250 units category). Around 2009, a few residents here studied different recycling models across the city and designed their own version. Dr Ramachandran at the Mantri Tranquil recycling unit. Pic: Navya P K Their organic compost unit now generates about 3000 kgs of compost every month, which is used in the gardens within the complex or sold outside. Residents also segregate dry waste into five categories. which is collected and recycled by the NGO Saahas.Dr N Ramchandran,…

A trash dump that was earlier in the Mini Forest area was shifted, some time ago, to the compound wall of Casa Ansal Apartments, on the road perpendicular to Bannerghatta Road: In spite of repeated requests from the residents of the apartment, trash continues to be dumped there. The number of rodents in the area has proliferated, and there are serious issues of hygiene as a result. Can BBMP please shift the trash dump back to the old location, where it was not directly in front of any residential building, and clean up this awful, stinking mess? ⊕

A trash dump that was earlier in the Mini Forest area was shifted, some time ago, to the compound wall of Casa Ansal Apartments, on the road perpendicular to Bannerghatta Road: In spite of repeated requests from the residents of the apartment, trash continues to be dumped there. The number of rodents in the area has proliferated, and there are serious issues of hygiene as a result. Can BBMP please shift the trash dump back to the old location, where it was not directly in front of any residential building, and clean up this awful, stinking mess? ⊕

BBMP has allocated 2 crore rupees for the development of Ulsoor lake in the current year’s budget and work for the same will commence from November. Commissioner Siddhaiah and MLA Roshan Baig at Ulsoor Lake. Pic courtesy: BBMP Local MLA Mr Roshan Baig conducted an inspection around the lake. Tenders have been called for to build pedestrian path around the lake, bridge construction, painting for grills etc and work will start as soon as the process is over.During October a program has been taken up to clean all weeds and partheniums and to plant about 300 saplings on a single…

BBMP has allocated 2 crore rupees for the development of Ulsoor lake in the current year’s budget and work for the same will commence from November. Commissioner Siddhaiah and MLA Roshan Baig at Ulsoor Lake. Pic courtesy: BBMP Local MLA Mr Roshan Baig conducted an inspection around the lake. Tenders have been called for to build pedestrian path around the lake, bridge construction, painting for grills etc and work will start as soon as the process is over.During October a program has been taken up to clean all weeds and partheniums and to plant about 300 saplings on a single…

Some 25 members of the Bird Watchers Field Club, Bangalore, led by ardent bird watcher, Deepa Mohan visited the Puttenahalli Lake on 8th Oct. After spotting the juvenile coots, little grebes and pheasant tailed jacanas and seeing a coot couple building a nest, Deepa called our lake a "nursery." This was the nicest thing to hear about the lake we have been trying very hard to revive and sustain. The nesting shows that the birds feel safe to raise their young ones and the presence of large shoals of fish means that the water is clean enough for them to…

Some 25 members of the Bird Watchers Field Club, Bangalore, led by ardent bird watcher, Deepa Mohan visited the Puttenahalli Lake on 8th Oct. After spotting the juvenile coots, little grebes and pheasant tailed jacanas and seeing a coot couple building a nest, Deepa called our lake a "nursery." This was the nicest thing to hear about the lake we have been trying very hard to revive and sustain. The nesting shows that the birds feel safe to raise their young ones and the presence of large shoals of fish means that the water is clean enough for them to…

This Joy of Giving Week (Oct 2-8, 2011), please "give" to Puttenahalli Neighbourood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT).A citizens' initiative, the PNLIT has been working with the Bangalore municipality (BBMP), to rejuvenate and preserve Puttenahalli Lake in South Bangalore. A couple of years ago, the lake was almost lost to 'development' but it is now a "saved" lake of Bangalore that is teeming with fish and attracting birds. Indeed, the Puttenahalli Lake is an example of what we, the people can achieve with governmental support (and visa versa!!).In May 2011, PNLIT became the first citizens' group to be given charge of…