Watch videos of foam-filled lakes, traffic congestion.
By Dileep Thekkethil
BENGALURU: It’s called the ‘Garden City’ of India but now, people who come to Bengaluru seeking ample greenery might have to leave disheartened as what welcomes them are thick foam-filled lakes and highly congested traffic, thanks to senseless urbanization.
For people living in Bengaluru, the report by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) that says urbanization will make the city ‘unlivable’ in 5 years, does not come as a shock. Most residents knew that something grave was in the waiting line, gave them the red alert with year after year of drastic climate change and fast depleting natural resources.
According to the Deccan Herald that carried the study of IISc, Bengaluru witnessed a staggering growth of 525% in built-up area in the past 40 years, which resulted in the depletion of 78% of its vegetation that gave the city the name the “Garden City of India”. The study also says that there has been an equivalent amount of decline in water bodies in the city.
The 2011 census revealed that the Greater Bengaluru region is home to nearly 8.4 million people, up from 2.9 million 1981. Since 1971, the population has increased by nearly 500 percent.
According to the Sherwood Institute in the US, Bengaluru has lost more than three-fourths of its lakes over the years after urbanization kick started in the region. It also said that during its pristine years, the city had more than 400 lakes, which is now down to just around 93. The US-based nonprofit is currently on a mission to restore the city’s lakes by teaming up with the local population, which largely constitute of migrants.
There were reports recently that Bellandur Lake, which is one of the last remaining lakes and the largest in Bengaluru, is frothing with toxic foam accumulated from untreated sewage water and industrial waste dumped from small factories; a shocking reminder of the future of many water bodies in the city.
The IISc study says: “These are not just figures, but the lakes and trees that surrounded you have quietly disappeared as a result of the urban sprawl.”
According to Prof. TV Ramachandra of Centre for Ecological Sciences at the IIS, Bengaluru is on a path of self-destruction due to the mad and senseless growth that will prove disastrous in the near future.
He cautioned that Bengaluru, which is one of the most sought after cities to live in south India, will in a matter of five years turn unlivable and literally be ‘dead’ if authorities fail to see the impending disaster, and take corrective measures.
It has to be also noted that the city is experiencing the worst summer this year, with the temperature crossing 38.3 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded, since April 30, 1931. This is a stark contrast to the common belief that the city maintains pleasant weather all through the year.
Till the 1970s, Bangalore, or Bengaluru as it’s called now, was a small provincial town situated 3,000 feet above sea level. The city doesn’t have a single river flowing through it but had an abundance of lakes, both large and small, that in the early days numbered more than 400. This was incremental in keeping the city cool, but not anymore.
Rapid urbanization over two decades swept clean most of the lakes and now the city is depending largely on water from the Cauvery river, which flows almost a thousand feet below and 100 KM. away, from giant pipes. If Cauvery dries up, so will Bengaluru, and the ever cool city will turn into a desert.
According to figures, the population of Bengaluru has gone up 150% in the last 25 years. In 1990s, the total population of the city was 4 million, but now it has reached a whopping 10 million plus.
Urban expert Ashwin Mahesh was quoted by the Deccan Herald saying that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) was to blame, for not creating a planned city. He said: “The BDA has become an agency which facilitates land deals for the benefit of corrupt politicians. People feel it should be closed down.”
Environmentalist Yellappa Reddy told Deccan Herald, “The government is not competent enough to foresee the future implications of the present growth. There is no proper policy on land use and water. The land is being exploited on the whims and fancies of the politicians.”
The state government must get Bengaluru out of this precarious condition. As an immediate measure, it should stop allowing new industries inside the city and take steps to decongest Bengaluru of traffic. Also, the government should acquire land that can be converted into water bodies, playgrounds, and gardens.
Video of Toxic foam in Bellandur lake
Video of polluted Varthur Lake
Video of unpredictable traffic in Bengaluru city
(This post was updated on May 3, 2016).
1 Comment
It,s high time the higher ups in the government as well as those who aré tied up with the upliftment of our once called the garden city to buckle up and go in the right dirección to save our beautiful city which at present is fading and falling apart. A few sugestión. 1: stop high rise buildings. 2: Ban on cutting trees 3: Strict check on pullition level ie. Tnansport ministry, Industries, 4: EXPANSIÓN OF LOCALOTIES IN THE CITY TO BE STOPPED & PERMIT OUTSKIRTS ONLY. 5: CREATE AN AWARNESS AMOUNG CITIZENS TO KEEP THE CITY / THE PLACE THEY STAY CLEAN AND NO LITTERING IN PUBLIC PLACES ANDO IMPOSE FINES ON DEFAULTERS. THESE ARÉ A FEW SUGESTIÓN TO THE CITIZENS OF 8ANGALORE. .