Like a Lake

It is now official. Puttenahalli Lake Birds Conservation Reserve is now a reality! Puttenahalli Lake in Yelahanka has been declared a "Conservation Reserve" by the Karnataka Government.  Bangalore Mirror's article dated 14th Sep 2015 says: The move makes Bengaluru arguably the only Tier-I urban area to have a bird sanctuary within the city limits.   For several years, efforts have been on to get this lake in north Bangalore onto India's Conservation Reserve list. A report in The New Indian Express of April 2007 said: According to biodiversity expert Dr Harish R Bhat, Bangalore is left with only 34 healthy tanks, 14 of which are in…

It is now official. Puttenahalli Lake Birds Conservation Reserve is now a reality! Puttenahalli Lake in Yelahanka has been declared a "Conservation Reserve" by the Karnataka Government.  Bangalore Mirror's article dated 14th Sep 2015 says: The move makes Bengaluru arguably the only Tier-I urban area to have a bird sanctuary within the city limits.   For several years, efforts have been on to get this lake in north Bangalore onto India's Conservation Reserve list. A report in The New Indian Express of April 2007 said: According to biodiversity expert Dr Harish R Bhat, Bangalore is left with only 34 healthy tanks, 14 of which are in…

The nightmare of our lakes is fast approaching. Yes, this is the time of year that every lake that has water in it would actually be wishing it was dry enough to turn away devotees of Lord Ganesha. Every year during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, thousands of idols that do not dissolve/ with hazardous paint and paraphenalia (not environmentally friendly) find their way to lakes and immersion tanks, creating tons of garbage after the festival.   This year, in order to encourage people to use clay Ganesha idols, MAPSAS will be doing two events at Kaikondarahalli Lake on Sunday, 13th…

The nightmare of our lakes is fast approaching. Yes, this is the time of year that every lake that has water in it would actually be wishing it was dry enough to turn away devotees of Lord Ganesha. Every year during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, thousands of idols that do not dissolve/ with hazardous paint and paraphenalia (not environmentally friendly) find their way to lakes and immersion tanks, creating tons of garbage after the festival.   This year, in order to encourage people to use clay Ganesha idols, MAPSAS will be doing two events at Kaikondarahalli Lake on Sunday, 13th…

Another Kere Habba this Saturday! The Horamavu Parisara Abhivruddhi Samiti (HPAS) - formerly Save Horamavu Lakes, in association with Namma Bengaluru Foundation is organising the Horamavu Agara Kere Habba on Saturday, 12th September 2015, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at Horamavu Agara Kere. The exact location of the lake can be seen at this link goo.gl/maps/LYjmV. Kere Habba is an initiative of Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF). Habbas are held periodically at different Bangalore lakes, to create awareness about the importance of our lakes, and encourage citizen participation in their preservation. Reports/information about the previous four Kere Habbas can be seen on these links - Kere Habba at Kaikondrahalli Lake, Puttenahalli Kere Habba, Madiwala…

Another Kere Habba this Saturday! The Horamavu Parisara Abhivruddhi Samiti (HPAS) - formerly Save Horamavu Lakes, in association with Namma Bengaluru Foundation is organising the Horamavu Agara Kere Habba on Saturday, 12th September 2015, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at Horamavu Agara Kere. The exact location of the lake can be seen at this link goo.gl/maps/LYjmV. Kere Habba is an initiative of Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF). Habbas are held periodically at different Bangalore lakes, to create awareness about the importance of our lakes, and encourage citizen participation in their preservation. Reports/information about the previous four Kere Habbas can be seen on these links - Kere Habba at Kaikondrahalli Lake, Puttenahalli Kere Habba, Madiwala…

Independence Day flag hoisting is traditionally held in schools, parade grounds, community centres and other public places. At mutlistoried apartment complexes too, this has become an event on the cultural calendar. This year, it was a pleasant surprise to see pictures of flag hoisting done at two lakes - Devarabisanahalli Lake in Bellandur ward in south-east Bangalore, and Vibutipura Lake in LB Shastri Nagar near HAL Airport. As reported on the Devarabisanahalli Lake's Facebook group, the flag hoisting at 7:30 a.m. had a good turnout with some of the candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections also making appearances. And the day ended…

Independence Day flag hoisting is traditionally held in schools, parade grounds, community centres and other public places. At mutlistoried apartment complexes too, this has become an event on the cultural calendar. This year, it was a pleasant surprise to see pictures of flag hoisting done at two lakes - Devarabisanahalli Lake in Bellandur ward in south-east Bangalore, and Vibutipura Lake in LB Shastri Nagar near HAL Airport. As reported on the Devarabisanahalli Lake's Facebook group, the flag hoisting at 7:30 a.m. had a good turnout with some of the candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections also making appearances. And the day ended…

"Lakes are essential to every city. They provide means of entertainment, they help local economies and they're beautiful to look at. But many times, human activities destroy lakes, spoil the ecosystems and make them unbearable." Harshvardhan Sanghi's under-six-minute documentary that his mother Suman posted on Facebook caught my attention. This Std XII student of Greenwood High International School lives close to Varthur Lake, one of the large, polluted lakes of Bangalore. Eager to help the ongoing efforts to get the authorities/ community to do something for the lake, Harshvardhan made this short film. He talks about the reasons for degredation and the…

"Lakes are essential to every city. They provide means of entertainment, they help local economies and they're beautiful to look at. But many times, human activities destroy lakes, spoil the ecosystems and make them unbearable." Harshvardhan Sanghi's under-six-minute documentary that his mother Suman posted on Facebook caught my attention. This Std XII student of Greenwood High International School lives close to Varthur Lake, one of the large, polluted lakes of Bangalore. Eager to help the ongoing efforts to get the authorities/ community to do something for the lake, Harshvardhan made this short film. He talks about the reasons for degredation and the…