Eco-friendly gestures echo across Bangalore

Eco-friendly gestures echo across Bangalore
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Concerned over the rapid depletion of glaciers and water bodies, experts called for large scale utilisation of renewable sources of energy.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in association with Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), will develop five parks in every new layout formed in Greater Bangalore.

Participating in a walkathon after flagging off a month-long campaign to address issues of water conservation and water management on the occasion of World Environment Day, BBMP Commissioner K Jairaj said a sum of Rs 5 crore will also be allocated by BBMP, from which Rs 1 crore will be utilised to earmark, develop and maintain a park in each ward.

“The City had 400 lakes, of which only 81 are left now. The BBMP, BDA and the LDA (Lake Development Authority) will do all it takes to preserve them. Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) should also be practiced in every home. A RWH unit can be installed adjacent to water sumps,” the Commissioner added. Later, Mr Jairaj led the walkathon on Brigade Road along with traders, accompanied by the Bishop Cotton School band. A short play by a theatre group Bimba was staged to create awareness on environment.

Concerned over the rapid depletion of glaciers and water bodies, experts called for large scale utilisation of renewable sources of energy. Participating in a talk on ‘Melting Ice: A Hot Topic’ organised by the Institution of Engineers, Minister for Planning Ramachandra Gowda called for controlled usage of fossil fuels, a major contributor to global warming. Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited Managing Director B Shivalingaiah said thermal energy was a major source of carbon monoxide and renewable energy sources had to be adopted to deal with the issue.

Legislative Council Chairman B K Chandrashekar planted a sapling at Bishop Cottons Girls School as part of celebrations organised by the YMCA Save Bangalore movement. Saplings were distributed to students who wished to make their school premises and their neighbourhood greener.

Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, a Bangalore-based NGO joined hands with the Department of Horticulture to initiate a Rasi Vana at Cubbon Park.

Saplings of 12 medicinal tree species, corresponding to the 12 rasis (zodiac signs), were planted.
Perot Systems Corporation celebrated the day by distributing over 4,500 saplings to its associates and conducted a rally.

Wesley Day Care Centre in Fraser Town planted saplings in its premises, where children took a pledge to plant and protect trees.

Neem meet
The Neem Foundation, an NGO working for the promotion of neem as a sustainable solution to global ecological and health concerns, will hold the ‘World Neem Conference - Neem 2007’ from November 21 to 24, 2007 in Coimbatore.

Mr K S Hegde, MD, Chairman, of the steering committee of ‘Neem 2007 ‘ said, “The conference will provide an opportunity to define the role of neem in meeting sustainability challenges facing the world.”
For details call 080-32712348 / 41122135.

GREEN PEDALLING
The Department of Horticulture launched new schemes at Lalbagh on Tuesday. Lokayukta Santosh Hegde launched electric bicycles for visitors. Around 200 new species of plants will be planted in the garden before the end of the monsoon. Four eco-friendly battery-operated bicycles were launched on Tuesday. Photo identity cards for regular garden workers were also launched as part of the celebrations.

HAL LANDMARK
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) achieved a landmark by completing the task of planting 25 lakh saplings across Bangalore. Last year alone, HAL had planted over a lakh teak saplings under ‘Go-Green’ campaign as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
The 25-lakh target was achieved after several years of sustained effort and the HAL’s Bangalore complex undertook this operation.

GREEN HONOUR
Six environmentalists and a government institution were felicitated by the State government on the occasion of World Environment Day. Salu Marada Thimmakka, Karnataka Police Housing Board, Prabhakar, Vijay Angadi, Keshav Hegde, Swamini Mala and C P Rajashekhar were felicitated by Minister for Forests and Environment C Chennigappa and Minister for Health R Ashok. A film — The Inconvenient Truth — was also screened.