Published in Dwarka Express on 14.5.23

Yes! Election fever is here with us also as Karnataka goes for its assembly elections. But our fever is a variant slightly. We administered an environmental poll using Telegram App and the same was responded by 102 persons as at 7 PM on 11.5.23. Several options were given such as a) better garbage management b) planting more trees c) protecting existing trees d) pollution free traffic e) preserving waterbodies f) construction waste control g) stringent encroachment norms h) tab on migratory population i) better roads and infrastructure j) nothing  an work (NOTA).   Interestingly 60% of respondents indicate that the lakes and tanks must be the top concern for the Government, while better garbage management (57%) and planting more trees (44%) are considered for 2nd and 3rd place respectively.  The respondents were asked to choose top 3 concerns, though we are aware that all the above problems are important. The top 3 priorities chosen by Bengalurians Of course, in today’s scenario, any urban area is vulnerable to all concerns enlisted above. Perhaps in other cities, garbage management might have been the top priority, but in Bengaluru, lakes are drawing more attention and it is the need of the hour too.

Historically the lakes are called kere in kannada language. Most of the waterbodies are known to be man-made tanks which were formed during the erstwhile dynasties like Vijayanagara and chola dynasties ensured that there is sufficient water by digging new tanks and deepening the existing tanks. Visionaries like KembeGowda are remembered as the architects of the city as they took a lot of initiatives to save the watr resources. When the 70 Sq km area of Bengaluru has expanded 10 times, slowly 100s of tanks disappeared. Today, an ordinary citizen though do not have time for protecting the lakes, definitely laments about the depletion of these precious waterbodies. It is evident from the response in the survey. Next to waterbodies, a Bengalurian is also concerned with the persistent garbage issue.

Bengaluru had enforced the segregation of waste at source, a decade back. This is being religiously practiced in apartments and gated communities. But the mixed garbage which is spilled in streets is still an eyesore. No little effort by citizens groups is seen to show any positive change in the mindset of the authorities. Citizens are also to blame. However in many unauthorized places, residents conveniently dump wastes and then make a hue and cry that the authorities are in deep slumber.

While planting new trees in massive scale is the 3rd concern of the Bengalurians, saving the existing trees have become a concern has been relegated to 4th place in the survey, and perhaps Bengalurians have now lost hope since the massive tree felling in the name of Metro and road construction is going on unabatedly. Environment cannot be compartmentalized and moreover it has no jurisdiction or borders. If air is polluted it will affect all and if ground water doesn’t get recharged, the human survival will be affected. Waste cannot be eliminated but has to be managed judiciously.

As for as Karnataka elections are concerned, by the time this paper goes for printing, election results would have been announced. Follow on will be a slew of horse trading, if the results indicate a hung assembly. Someone will be lobbying for a ministerial berth while another MLA may be contemplating on some nepotism for his dear and near one. In any case, the burning environmental concerns may hardly draw any attention.

Dr. V Selvarajan