Mega-park plan gets funding boost from Bengaluru's civic body
Bengaluru: The forest department's move to create large lung spaces for fast-expanding Bengaluru received a boost Tuesday, with DK Shivakumar promising enough funds for the project.
"We already have Cubbon Park and Lalbagh in the city. If the forest department is keen on developing forest areas within Bengaluru, I have already told the forest minister that funds will be made available from BBMP. Once these forest areas are developed into mega tree parks, they will not only benefit the public but also save forest lands from encroachment," Shivakumar said.
Last week, the forest department took possession of 153 acres of reserve forest in Madappanahalli near Yelahanka and planned to convert that into a mega park for bustling north Bengaluru.
Over the last two centuries since the creation of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, Bengaluru hasn't had any other mega park.
The DCM said mandatory directions have been given to schools and colleges to set up eco-clubs to create awareness on climate change. "Each club must have at least 25 students and select a location near schools to plant trees," he told students at the Environment Day event.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah said destroying nature is nothing but destroying ourselves. "If we protect biodiversity in Western Ghats, it will protect us," he told students.
Reiterating the message, My Life My Tree, Siddaramaiah urged children to plant more trees in the coming days.
— Raksha R
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
1 lakh neem trees in district: Ernakulam's two-year greening mission reaches milestone
KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday planted the 1,00,000th neem (aryaveppu) sapling on the campus of Rajagiri High School, Kalamassery, marking the culmination of a massive two-year-long tree-planting drive across Ernakulam district. The environmental campaign was launched on June 5, 2023 — World Environment Day — when Industries Minister P Rajeeve planted the first sapling, with the mission to plant 1 lakh neem saplings across the district. Spearheaded by Sriman Narayanan's 'Ente Gramam Gandhi Jeevitham Mission', based in Muppathadam, the initiative has now reached its green milestone. The final phase of the campaign saw the planting of the remaining 12,000 saplings in the past few weeks in various parts of the district, ensuring the target was met before the next Environment Day cycle. 'Ernakulam is one of the districts worst hit by air, water, and soil pollution. Neem, with its remarkable purifying and medicinal qualities, is an ideal choice to fight this environmental degradation,' said Sriman Narayanan, who leads the mission. Known for its immunity-boosting and pest-repelling properties, neem tree is also believed to have benefits in post-Covid health management. The organisers focused on densely populated urban colonies, where both human and ecological health need urgent attention. The saplings were sourced from nurseries in Tamil Nadu.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru suburban rail project: 157 more trees on chopping block
Bengaluru: A total of 157 trees are set to be axed across the city to facilitate the construction of skywalks and foot overbridges at five major railway stations as part of Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project's corridor-2. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A proposal seeking clearance to this effect has been submitted by K-Ride (Rail Infrastructure Development Company-Karnataka Limited), the nodal agency for the suburban rail project, to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). On Saturday, a public notice was issued regarding the proposed tree felling, inviting objections or suggestions from citizens within 10 days. Corridor-2, known as Mallige Line, is a 25km route from Byappanahalli to Chikkabanavara. The locations where trees are on the chopping block include Chikkabanavara, Mydrahalli, Shettyhalli, and Yeshwantpur railway stations. The civic agency is yet to publish information on the species and description of trees facing the axe. According to BBMP sources, the request for removal of trees has been made with a view of improving pedestrian infrastructure around these stations as they are likely to witness high footfall in the future. Moreover, safety upgrades have long been pending at these stations. "There is pressure from the Centre to get the much-delayed suburban rail project going as Bengaluru's mobility-related problems worsen. One of the challenges faced with Mallige Line pertains to handing over land for executing the project. Of the 91.5 acres of land required for corridor-2, around 28 acres is private land. The next big challenge could be the opposition from environmentalists to the chopping of trees," a source said. The proposal to chop 157 trees comes just a month after green activists from across the city intensified their protest against the felling of 368 trees in Cantonment Railway Colony.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Bengaluru celebrates Bandi Devara fest with gusto
Bengaluru: The city witnessed vibrant celebrations during the historic Bengaluru Bandi Devara Utsava, held as part of the birth anniversary of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, founder of Bengaluru. The three-day festival, marked by traditional fervour and large public participation, brought a slice of rural heritage into the urban heart of the city. On the second day, a grand procession of over 20 elaborately decorated bullock carts — representing the farming communities of Bengaluru and its surrounding areas — wound its way through iconic city routes, including Hudson Circle, Cubbon Park, the High Court, and Gopal Gowda Circle, before concluding at the Kempegowda statue near Vidhana Soudha. Each cart carried idols of Kempegowda's ancestors, Kempannaswamy and Sri Veeranna Swamy, which were ritually worshipped before the march. Nearly 2,000 people joined the procession, showcasing the region's cultural pride. The festivities began with floral tributes at the Kempegowda statue within the BBMP premises, led by Paramapoojya Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Mahasansthana Mutt, who also inaugurated the day's celebrations. Addressing the gathering, Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji observed, 'This festival was once confined to villages. Seeing it revived and embraced in the city is deeply satisfying. Let us uphold and grow this tradition in the years to come.' Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who participated in the celebrations, commended the farming community for their spirited involvement. 'It is a matter of pride that Bengaluru, a city founded by Kempegowda, is preserving its cultural roots. The government has earmarked ₹100 crore for the construction of Kempegowda Bhavana, and plans are underway to open libraries in his name,' he announced. The event concluded with the distribution of sweets to attendees. Prominent attendees included Mahalakshmipuram MLA Gopalaiah, senior IRS officer and Utsava Committee Honorary President Jayaram Rayapur, Committee President Talakadu Chikkarangegowda, Secretary M. Amaresh, Vice President Nagaraj (Retd. SP), and several cultural and academic figures including Dr. B.S. Puttaswamy, Divya Rangenahalli, Prof. Jayaprakash Gowda, and members of the First Circle Organisation.
