Civic amenities to be developed

Civic amenities to be developed
Plans are on to beautify lakes, medians and parks in the north and eastern parts of the city
The Times of India


While the Garden City is virtually exploding with growth, its civic amenities and infrastructure come under the microscope. Bangalore (East) has not been left behind in this phase of expansion and measures are being taken to ensure that its natural flora and fauna are protected, and other amenities are upgraded with the increasing population. So what's being done about the fire services, lakes and medians, and parks in this part of the city?

Fire stations
There are 11 fire service stations around the city says T Suneel Kumar, DIG, Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services. And there are several in the north and eastern parts of Bangalore including Whitefield, Cooke Town, Peenya, Seshadri Road, and Rajaji Nagar. Each station has different levels of manpower and now efforts are on to upgrade the equipment and services of the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services. "We wish to upgrade the equipment, ladders, rescue vans, and mist technology, and have advanced fire fighting techniques and equipment," explains Suneel Kumar. "We are also planning to introduce six more fire service stations in the city."

The public can also actively take part in their efforts and it's with this in mind that the Fire Warden's Organisation was started. "Anyone who wishes to be a volunteer can join this group where we impart basic training in fire safety and prevention," says Suneel Kumar. SAFE or Students Association for Fire Education has been incorporated to impart knowledge on fire prevention and safety to school students and already 16 schools have a SAFE group.

Medians and parks
According to Narayanaswamy, Chief Horticultural Officer, there are around 206 parks in Bangalore (East), which includes open spaces. "84 parks have been developed and the rest are to be developed. While 11 parks have been given for adoption, we maintain the others. We have plans for developing more parks this year and to improve medians and circles," he explains. There are about 37 traffic islands and numerous medians in that part of the city. Many have been given for adoption to organisations, hospitals and government offices. In case residents' associations or organisations are interested in adopting medians and parks, they can get in touch with the Horticulture Department.

Lakes

Like the gardens in Bangalore, lakes have also added to the city's enchanting environs and beauty. Numerous lakes in the city have been revived including the Hebbal and Nagavara lakes. Says B K Singh of the Lake Development Authority, "both these lakes had been developed by the Forest Department in the past and were revived with the INEP project. In order to ensure that these developed lakes don't deteriorate, we invited expressions of interest for these lakes. As far as Nagavara Lake is concerned, we have already entered into a contract with a company last November. The company can use up to five percent of the lake's land for development of infrastructure and engage in commercial activities, and part of the money earned will be given to the government. The new facilities on this lake are likely to be inaugurated during Dasara," he explains. Tenders have now been called for Hebbal Lake.

The process of revival of these lakes includes desilting, providing alternate routes for sewage, installation of sewage treatment plants, and even landscaping and fencing the area. In fact, a sewage treatment plant has been put in place for Nagavara Lake. "Bangalore has around 200 lakes and they must be preserved", says Singh.

posted by The Bangalorean @ 9/18/2005 09:19:00 PM 0 comments

BMP signs MoU on rainwater-harvesting

BMP signs MoU on rainwater-harvesting

The Hindu

All parks and buildings of the civic body will adopt a new technique of conservation

BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) to promote rainwater harvesting in its parks, playgrounds, hospitals and educational institutions.

The former Chief Secretary A. Ravindra and BMP Deputy Commissioner (Development) Krishnegowda signed the MoU in the presence of Mayor R. Narayanaswamy and Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam.

According to the MoU, an expert team from CSD will assist the BMP in implementing rainwater-harvesting measures in its buildings. The BMP, which will bear the cost, will later promote the technique among citizens and ensure that more people adopt it in their houses. The Mayor and the Commissioner said the civic body aimed at conserving and recharging rainwater extensively.

The Mayor said the building bylaws, which were amended in July 2004, had made it mandatory for all new buildings to adopt rainwater-harvesting techniques. "But we want to make it compulsory for all buildings, even those that were built prior to July 2004. A subsidy of Rs. 1,000 will be given to the first 5,000 houses that adopt this technique. The subsidy can later be extended to more houses if the response is good," the Mayor said.

New law

Mr. Jothiramalingam said the civic body had appealed to the State Government to enact a law making rainwater harvesting mandatory for all buildings in the city. "Although the amended building bylaws make it mandatory for all new building to adopt the technique, we are unable to monitor its implementation. So we have appealed for a legislation," he said.

Mr. Jothiramalingam said of the 10,000 building plans sanctioned from July 2004 till date, only 400 had adopted rainwater harvesting measures.

"It has been found that some of the buildings (built after July 2004) have not adopted the technique. "We have given them sometime after which they will be fined for violating the law," he said.

The BMP had set aside Rs. 1.5 crores this year for implementing rainwater-harvesting techniques in its buildings. "If required, we will divert more funds for this," the Commissioner said.

Dr. Ravindra appreciated the BMP's decision to grant subsidy to first 5,000 houses, which adopt rainwater-harvesting measures.

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Working towards a greener world

Working towards a greener world
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun282005/spectrum822372005627.asp
The Alt Tech Foundation plans to plant 50,000 saplings and nurture them in local conditions to increase green cover in fertile lands. NIRMALA GOVINDARAJAN finds out more.

Biodiversity is not about going after exotic plants, but about nurturing trees that flourish in local conditions, says the Alternative Technology (Alt Tech) Foundation.

Planting trees and leaving them to their fate isn’t the approach of this foundation, which sees re-introducing trees in barren lands as one way of many to create awareness on environmental friendliness.

It is not hard to understand that an organisation with this objective has something different to offer in the subject. With more fertile lands going barren, the Alt Tech Foundation has set itself the target of planting 50,000 saplings before the end of the year. And it has not looked beyond Karnataka while choosing what to plant.

The foundation’s director Anuradha Eswar explains that sustainability is a key factor in the mass-planting of trees. “I may have admired a tree in the Himalayas, but transplanting it in Karnataka will not work because of variations in soil and other conditions. Also, we need to look at factors that matter in the long run when it comes to planting trees,” she says.

Champaka, Sirsi, Kanak Champaka, Neem, Indian Butter Tree, Honne, Bhendi, Raintree, and Tamarind feature in Anuradha’s list of trees that will adorn the chosen landscape. The foundation has already zeroed-in on Agara village near Tatguni and Sagalipura for their project.

Anuradha reveals that they settled for the two villages because the foundation was looking for a place where trees will not be felled for the next 50 to 60 years. “The idea is to stabilise conditions in these areas, which is a long-term process. Things like reducing carbon content in the air aren’t good enough if it is going to work only for a few years.”

The fact that Agara and Sagalipura have a large number of empty lands makes the villages ideal for the project. The local Panchayat has assured the foundation that the land where the trees are to be planted will be protected. Alt Tech knows that sustainability of trees depends on the well-being of the local community, a reason why setting up basic amenities like schooling has been seriously considered.

Help from corporates

Readiness among local institutions and the people to guard trees has prompted the foundation to go ahead with planting saplings. This will take place in the monsoon months of June to August. A team has been appointed to oversee the activity. Individuals and corporates have been approached to sponsor a tree for Rs 350.

A board with details of the sponsor will be placed before the tree they have adopted and photographs of different stages in the tree’s growth will be sent to the sponsor. “It is heartening to see people coming forward to sponsor trees. The response so far has been positive and is an indication of the willingness among so many people to do their bit for the environment,” Anuradha mentions.

The foundation has over 17 years of experience in energy, water and vegetation. Biodiversity Conservation India Limited (BCIL), the foundation’s sister organisation, was founded with the active participation of architects, climate scientists, water management experts, energy analysts and the concerned public.

“We know how much pollution occurs when vehicles emit carbon monoxide and how much water is wasted when it flows into the drainage. The concern has driven us into sustainable development,” Anuradha says. Waste water management and rainwater harvesting are among several facilities offered at BCIL’s latest project in T-Zed homes on Bangalore’s Airport Road.

To sponsor a tree in the sustainable development project, contact: The Alt Tech Foundation at 2553-9300/9344/9350 or email bioconserve@vsnl.com.