Like a Lake

Ganesha Chaturthi is still several weeks away (in mid-September), but sales of Ganesha idols have already begun. If you are accustomed to one of those colourful idols of the lord that more often than not end up polluting our lakes and waterbodies, this year you can do it differently. Look out for an ecofriendly Ganesha - one that will dissolve easily in water, and without toxic paints and non-recyclable paraphernalia.   There are many places in Bangalore from where eco-Ganeshas can be ordered and bought. You can look up old collated lists on these links - 2013, 2014.  Ashwini Prasad,…

Ganesha Chaturthi is still several weeks away (in mid-September), but sales of Ganesha idols have already begun. If you are accustomed to one of those colourful idols of the lord that more often than not end up polluting our lakes and waterbodies, this year you can do it differently. Look out for an ecofriendly Ganesha - one that will dissolve easily in water, and without toxic paints and non-recyclable paraphernalia.   There are many places in Bangalore from where eco-Ganeshas can be ordered and bought. You can look up old collated lists on these links - 2013, 2014.  Ashwini Prasad,…

Do you enjoy making motion pictures? Here is a chance to get rewarded for it too. The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) is happy to launch its annual competition The Raindrops Geneva Award 2015. The Raindrops Geneva Award is a worldwide art competition by IRHA since 2007, to increase global awareness of rainwater harvesting. Held every other year, the competition chooses a different art form each time, such as posters, photos, videos. This year IRHA invites artists for submissions for “The Best Video on the Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting: Raindrops Geneva Award 2015”. Entries should be based on one of three different themes and the best artistic works,…

Do you enjoy making motion pictures? Here is a chance to get rewarded for it too. The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) is happy to launch its annual competition The Raindrops Geneva Award 2015. The Raindrops Geneva Award is a worldwide art competition by IRHA since 2007, to increase global awareness of rainwater harvesting. Held every other year, the competition chooses a different art form each time, such as posters, photos, videos. This year IRHA invites artists for submissions for “The Best Video on the Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting: Raindrops Geneva Award 2015”. Entries should be based on one of three different themes and the best artistic works,…

Message from MAPSAS trustee, Priya Ramasubban Kaikondarahalli Lake stands today as a shining example of lake restoration in Bangalore. It started back in 2008 with local citizens and the custodian government body, BBMP, working closely to rejuvenate the lake in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive way. Once restored, the BBMP encouraged active citizens to take up day-to-day maintenance, which resulted in the formation of Mahadevpura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti(MAPSAS), a non-profit trust which started off with maintaining 2 lakes, KK Halli and Lower Ambalipura (which was also restored around the same time). Today, MAPSAS has been entrusted by…

Message from MAPSAS trustee, Priya Ramasubban Kaikondarahalli Lake stands today as a shining example of lake restoration in Bangalore. It started back in 2008 with local citizens and the custodian government body, BBMP, working closely to rejuvenate the lake in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive way. Once restored, the BBMP encouraged active citizens to take up day-to-day maintenance, which resulted in the formation of Mahadevpura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti(MAPSAS), a non-profit trust which started off with maintaining 2 lakes, KK Halli and Lower Ambalipura (which was also restored around the same time). Today, MAPSAS has been entrusted by…

Last weekend's Bangalore Cycle Day was held at the historical 350-acre Yelahanka Lake, in Yelahanka (near  Kogilu Cross international airport road). Yelahanka Lake  Organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport,  Government of Karnataka & BCOS on 5th July 2015, this Sunday morning event was supported by The Times of India, BBMP and Bangalore Police.     Around 3000 cyclists, including school and college students participated in the event. Yelahanka MLA Mr SR Vishwanath joined the cyclists to complete the entire stretch of 6.5 km. Free cycle rentals were organised.   Mr Venkate Gowda, a…

Last weekend's Bangalore Cycle Day was held at the historical 350-acre Yelahanka Lake, in Yelahanka (near  Kogilu Cross international airport road). Yelahanka Lake  Organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport,  Government of Karnataka & BCOS on 5th July 2015, this Sunday morning event was supported by The Times of India, BBMP and Bangalore Police.     Around 3000 cyclists, including school and college students participated in the event. Yelahanka MLA Mr SR Vishwanath joined the cyclists to complete the entire stretch of 6.5 km. Free cycle rentals were organised.   Mr Venkate Gowda, a…

A summary of some key "Bangalore lake" news Encroachments – eviction and regularisation Encroachments on government land, including lakes, shot into front page news with the demolition drive at Sarakki Lake in JP Nagar 7th Phase, in April 2015. Eviction drives and attempted drives have been happening in Bangalore on and off. For example, in September 2014, Venkatarayana Lake was cleared of some illegal structures, and in January 2015 HRBR Layout residents received eviction notices as their homes were on lake beds. In both these cases, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) was a common factor, being the reason for the…

A summary of some key "Bangalore lake" news Encroachments – eviction and regularisation Encroachments on government land, including lakes, shot into front page news with the demolition drive at Sarakki Lake in JP Nagar 7th Phase, in April 2015. Eviction drives and attempted drives have been happening in Bangalore on and off. For example, in September 2014, Venkatarayana Lake was cleared of some illegal structures, and in January 2015 HRBR Layout residents received eviction notices as their homes were on lake beds. In both these cases, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) was a common factor, being the reason for the…