The Bangalore-based Environment Support Group says in a communication:
BATPIC Network launched
As you are aware, we have been working with communities affected by a variety of transportation projects in and around Bangalore for a very long time. In recent years, we have assisted communities impacted by two mega transportation projects in Bangalore: widening of 216 inner city roads and the expansion of the Bangalore Metro project.
Thousands of families and businesses directly threatened by dislocation and displacement have found the administration largely insensitive to their situation. Besides these projects would destroy Bangalore's unique living heritage - its tree lined avenues, wipe out street vending spaces and making cycling and walking in the city a high risk activity.
The Bangalore Transportation Projects Impacted Community Network (BATPIC Network) is an effort in bringing together various communities differently impacted by transportation projects and help them to collectively advocate their concerns and also push for durable, climate friendly, low social impact and economically viable solutions to the city's traffic and transport problems.
We are happy to share that this network was launched recently and various constituent groups came together to address a Press Conference on 17 July 2012. The Statement of this network may be accessed at: http://esgindia.org/education/
Mavallipura wakes up wasteful Bangalore from its slumber
For close to a decade now, the residents of Mavallipura, a village 30 kms north of Bangalore, have borne the serious environmental and health consequences of Bangalore's waste being dumped in their village commons. Ramky, a private corporation, has been paid by the city to operate the landfill on scientific grounds. However, it has resorted to digging massive pits and filling municipal waste into it creating little mountains of wastes without any environmental safeguards. The resulting pollution has been unbearable and devastated many lives and livelihoods in Mavallipura and other villages.
Persistent efforts to force closure of this landfill by the villagers paid off when on 11 July 2012 the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board ordered Ramky to stop receiving waste and clean up the mess immediately, a decision that has found support from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (Details at: http://esgindia.org/campaigns/
There is, however, growing consciousness that segregating waste at source, composting organic waste locally, recovering recyclables and only disposing hazardous waste safely, should become a practice and policy for the city and is the only way out of this situation. To assist in this transition, ESG has developed a variety of community education material, including the critically acclaimed docu-films Nagara Nyrmalya and Nammura Chandadooru (both involving leading film and theatre personalities). We are keen that communities and the city government would use this material which provides pathways to reduce waste, recycle, and make unsustainable landfills or running toxic incinerators unnecessary and a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, we have continued to monitor various environmental factors at Mavallipura. In water analysis that we conducted recently, we have found very heavy contamination of all drinking water sources. Read more about this at: http://www.esgindia.org. To know why Mavallipura landifills must be permanently shut down, read reports at: http://esgindia.org/campaigns/
Warm regards
ESG Team
BATPIC Network launched
As you are aware, we have been working with communities affected by a variety of transportation projects in and around Bangalore for a very long time. In recent years, we have assisted communities impacted by two mega transportation projects in Bangalore: widening of 216 inner city roads and the expansion of the Bangalore Metro project.
Thousands of families and businesses directly threatened by dislocation and displacement have found the administration largely insensitive to their situation. Besides these projects would destroy Bangalore's unique living heritage - its tree lined avenues, wipe out street vending spaces and making cycling and walking in the city a high risk activity.
The Bangalore Transportation Projects Impacted Community Network (BATPIC Network) is an effort in bringing together various communities differently impacted by transportation projects and help them to collectively advocate their concerns and also push for durable, climate friendly, low social impact and economically viable solutions to the city's traffic and transport problems.
We are happy to share that this network was launched recently and various constituent groups came together to address a Press Conference on 17 July 2012. The Statement of this network may be accessed at: http://esgindia.org/education/
Mavallipura wakes up wasteful Bangalore from its slumber
For close to a decade now, the residents of Mavallipura, a village 30 kms north of Bangalore, have borne the serious environmental and health consequences of Bangalore's waste being dumped in their village commons. Ramky, a private corporation, has been paid by the city to operate the landfill on scientific grounds. However, it has resorted to digging massive pits and filling municipal waste into it creating little mountains of wastes without any environmental safeguards. The resulting pollution has been unbearable and devastated many lives and livelihoods in Mavallipura and other villages.
Persistent efforts to force closure of this landfill by the villagers paid off when on 11 July 2012 the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board ordered Ramky to stop receiving waste and clean up the mess immediately, a decision that has found support from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (Details at: http://esgindia.org/campaigns/
There is, however, growing consciousness that segregating waste at source, composting organic waste locally, recovering recyclables and only disposing hazardous waste safely, should become a practice and policy for the city and is the only way out of this situation. To assist in this transition, ESG has developed a variety of community education material, including the critically acclaimed docu-films Nagara Nyrmalya and Nammura Chandadooru (both involving leading film and theatre personalities). We are keen that communities and the city government would use this material which provides pathways to reduce waste, recycle, and make unsustainable landfills or running toxic incinerators unnecessary and a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, we have continued to monitor various environmental factors at Mavallipura. In water analysis that we conducted recently, we have found very heavy contamination of all drinking water sources. Read more about this at: http://www.esgindia.org. To know why Mavallipura landifills must be permanently shut down, read reports at: http://esgindia.org/campaigns/
Warm regards
ESG Team
About
ESG: Environment
Support Group is a small group committed researchers,lawyers and
activists responding to various issues of environmental, social
justice and governance concern. More details about the group may
be accessed at: http://esgindia.org/about-us/
1 comment:
The Bangalore Transportation Projects Impacted Community Network (BATPIC Network) is an effort in bringing together various communities differently impacted by transportation projects and help them to collectively advocate their concerns and also push for durable, climate friendly, low social impact and economically viable solutions to the city's traffic and transport problems.
Congress Youth Leader in Bangalore Central
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