Society

The linking of a waste-water treatment plant, a wetland and lake ecosystem could be one method of keeping our lakes full and recharging our aquifers. Jakkur Lake in north Bangalore is one such live example. Steps that have been taken for its revival have seen positive results, which have been documented in Aajwanthi's thesis "Towards a water sensitive city: The story of Jakkur Lake" here. BIOME has planned a visit to Jakkur Lake. Date: Sunday, 6th April 2014Time: 9.00 a.m. Meeting point: Gate of the Jakkur Wastewater Treatment Plant (http://wikimapia.org/4129931/Jakkur-Lake-Paradise-for-Birds )  The tour includes- the waste-water treatment plant- the wetland - the lake-…

The fire that raged through the lake on the 16th of March almost killed our spirit. By burning several of our trees, it had made a mockery of our effort to increase the green cover in the area. The sun's heat, rapidly evaporating the water in the lake, sapped our enthusiasm as well. Whatever little water was present was getting covered with the Salvinia Molesta. Our many efforts to mobilize skilled labour to remove the Salvinia were making no headway. Attempts to get more residents to strengthen our effort drew a blank as well and only our regular volunteers attended our recent…

The fire that raged through the lake on the 16th of March almost killed our spirit. By burning several of our trees, it had made a mockery of our effort to increase the green cover in the area. The sun's heat, rapidly evaporating the water in the lake, sapped our enthusiasm as well. Whatever little water was present was getting covered with the Salvinia Molesta. Our many efforts to mobilize skilled labour to remove the Salvinia were making no headway. Attempts to get more residents to strengthen our effort drew a blank as well and only our regular volunteers attended our recent…

True to his promise, the Upa Lokayukta Justice SB Majage visited Yelahanka’s Allalasandra Lake and Puttenahalli Lake on 30th March 2014. As reported earlier, a follow-up of his February inspection was due in the first week of April, but he made it before time. Local groups have been earnestly following up with LDA / Forest Department and BWSSB to resolve the problems faced by the two lakes:  - water quality degradation due to continuous inflow of sewage, through storm water drains, broken sewage chambers and a dysfunctional STP- foul smell- mosquito nuisance- contamination of water in neighbourhood wells and borewells. While…

True to his promise, the Upa Lokayukta Justice SB Majage visited Yelahanka’s Allalasandra Lake and Puttenahalli Lake on 30th March 2014. As reported earlier, a follow-up of his February inspection was due in the first week of April, but he made it before time. Local groups have been earnestly following up with LDA / Forest Department and BWSSB to resolve the problems faced by the two lakes:  - water quality degradation due to continuous inflow of sewage, through storm water drains, broken sewage chambers and a dysfunctional STP- foul smell- mosquito nuisance- contamination of water in neighbourhood wells and borewells. While…

Playing with tops ia a boys' sport and pastime  in India. This is not a sexist statement, it quite simply is so; I have not seen girls playing with tops, from my childhood, till date. As I grew up, I found that there was a season for tops (referred to as "lattu" in Hindi and Bengali), much as there was a season for marbles, kite-flying, cricket, football, and gilli-danda. Tops came traditionally as wooden globes, with nails sticking out of them. Thin ropes were wound round and round the lower part of the top, which had grooves to accommodate the…

Playing with tops ia a boys' sport and pastime  in India. This is not a sexist statement, it quite simply is so; I have not seen girls playing with tops, from my childhood, till date. As I grew up, I found that there was a season for tops (referred to as "lattu" in Hindi and Bengali), much as there was a season for marbles, kite-flying, cricket, football, and gilli-danda. Tops came traditionally as wooden globes, with nails sticking out of them. Thin ropes were wound round and round the lower part of the top, which had grooves to accommodate the…

Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) had planned to commemorate World Water Day at Allalasandra Lake on 29th March, through a drawing/ painting competiton on the theme 'Water', as reported earlier.  The event was well attended, with the participation of more than 150 children from the government schools in Yelahanka and Allalasandra. Winners of the competition, would be presented their prizes in their respective schools in the week ahead.   After the competition, Ms Anna, a researcher from Russia who is currently doing a project with the Water Literacy Foundation headed by Mr Ayyappa Masagi took over. She showed the children shown short…

Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) had planned to commemorate World Water Day at Allalasandra Lake on 29th March, through a drawing/ painting competiton on the theme 'Water', as reported earlier.  The event was well attended, with the participation of more than 150 children from the government schools in Yelahanka and Allalasandra. Winners of the competition, would be presented their prizes in their respective schools in the week ahead.   After the competition, Ms Anna, a researcher from Russia who is currently doing a project with the Water Literacy Foundation headed by Mr Ayyappa Masagi took over. She showed the children shown short…

The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom now, across the city.     Against the blue, the purple looks lovely:     And then, of course, Nature strews the blooms across the path.     It's lovely to walk through a carpet of purple. The Jacaranda is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola and the Bahamas. It has been planted widely in Asia, and in Bangalore, at this time of the year, it adds great beauty.   Here   is the Wiki entry about the tree. Enjoy the flowering trees of spring and…