As Bengaluru grapples with the loss of its ‘Garden City’ moniker, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is taking proactive steps to reclaim its green status. The municipality is spearheading a series of Mapathon events aimed at leveraging technology to identify potential green spaces within vacant sites across the city. Currently underway in the Bommanahalli zone as a pilot project, this initiative is set to extend its reach to all eight zones of Bengaluru.
DCM DK Shivakumar, also overseeing Bengaluru City, announced the city’s participation in the Cities4Forests platform. This global alliance, comprising over 95 cities, will provide technical assistance and foster knowledge exchange to promote urban forestry initiatives. Bengaluru’s partnership with WRI India marks it as the fourth Indian city to join Cities4Forests. Additionally, in response to water scarcity challenges, the Climate Action Cell is launching a crowd-sourcing campaign to map open wells, pivotal to the city’s water security.
The identified wells will undergo rejuvenation following a scientifically developed standard operating protocol, with detailed information to be soon available on the BBMP website. Building on past environmental initiatives, BBMP merged its Horticulture, Forest, and Lakes wings into the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Management Unit, showcasing its commitment to environmental causes and climate resilience.
Last year, on November 27, 2023, BBMP launched Bengaluru’s inaugural Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP), aligning the city with global standards in climate action. BCAP aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bolster community resilience against climate-induced hazards. It includes a comprehensive GHG emission inventory and a Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Bengaluru.
