Green Circle, with the Rotary Oasis club, has displayed 24 posters at Avalahalli Lake. These posters attracted positive comments from lake walkers. The posters were displayed on 12th Feb 2025. But all these posters were removed by mindless labourers of BBMP who thought that these posters as commercial advertisements. We have taken up the matter with BBMP but they have no valid reasons to offer. Please have a look at the posters to see the message they conveyed. All the birds in the posters were clicked at this lake, and the messages were for lake conservation. If the authorities do not understand the importance of these posters, imagine how they would treat the lake
Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath addressed the Kere Connect Habba, a lake festival at Avalahalli Lake. He mentioned an attempt was made a decade ago. The goal was to construct a building for Chitra Kala Parishad at Yelahanka Avalahalli Lake. He added that a lot of conservation efforts have been made to protect the lake. However, a Sewage Treatment Plant is still needed to ensure the water quality. Lauding the efforts of Green Circle, he said that a bullock cart will be the future mode of conveyance. This is because fossil fuels extracted in the world are depleting at a faster rate. Rightly, a bullock cart is symbolically exhibited at the venue Green Circle, the organizers of Kere connect habba 2025. A bullock cart with the above message was provided for the kids. These kids participated in a Drawing competition. They enjoyed a ride around the Yelahanka Avalahalli Lake. Selvarajan, Chairman of Green Circle said that the lake was upgraded. It moved from the E category to the D category. This change was due to extensive conservation efforts. Vidyasagar, a member of Green Circle, added that the Rajakaluve feeding the lake has changed over the years. It has been converted into sewerage. The matter has been taken up with Yelahanka Tehsildar. The lake needs a non-mechanized Sewage Treatment Plant to filter the pollutants entering the lake. Kere Connect habba was a day-long festival of the lake. It was initiated by India Cares Foundation, Friends of Lakes, and DCS bank witnessed more than 1500 footfalls. The festival included a variety of programs. The activities included a drawing competition on the lake ecosystem and a workshop on composting. There was also rooftop gardening, cultural programs, and traditional games. At sunset, an Aarthi was also performed at the lake and a large number of participants displayed a human chain. Residents of the nearby apartments, and villages in Singanayakkanahalli and Rajanugunte Panchayats also participated in the program.
V Selvarajan, Chairman Green Circle thought of celebrating his 70th birthday by planting 70 saplings. So he has procured the saplings through Jeevan Mukthi, an NGO committed to greening Bangalore. They collect native saplings from local growers and supply the saplings free of cost. Selvarajan has taken the expenses for procuring the saplings and leveling the land to get it prepared for plantation. On this Birthday, he planted 70 saplings and after that the remaining 30 saplings were also planted
Republic day celebration in association with People’s Trust
Bangalore: Green Circle in association with People’s Trust observed the 76th anniversary of India’s Republic Day, which coincides with World Environmental Education Day. After the unfurling of the national flag by Chief Guest Dr. Rajesh Gopinath, Prof of Civil Engineering Dept, BMS Institute of Technology, Yelahanka, the students of Sai Shankar Vidyashala, Sriramanahalli held a March Past, followed by a patriotic dance program. On this occasion, Green Circle honoured the noted Environmental Educator, Dr Rajesh Gopinath, and presented the Green Teachers Award to him.
Speaking on the occasion, Selvarajan Chairman of Green Circle said, ‘Green Circle has instituted the Green Teacher Award to mark the World Environmental Education Day. Dr Rajesh Gopinath is an inspiration for students. Coordinating eco club activities at BMS IT, he has guided the students to make seed balls and conducted check-listing of flora and fauna at BMSIT’. Harish Uthaiah of People’s Trust presented a memento on behalf of Sai Shankar Vidyashala. Thanking both Green Circle and People’s trust, Dr Rajesh said, ‘As Coordinator of eco club at BMS IT, I have always been trying to engage in education as a major tool to inculcate environmental values in kids. wish to innovate the methods to improve its effectiveness.
Crossword Puzzle on Environmental topics is a step in this direction wherein students can learn by unconventional methods and, most importantly, gain inquisitiveness. I will continue to sensitize and spread awareness.’ Green Circle administered the crossword puzzles on select environmental topics, like pollution, water, and animal behaviour. About 125 Children of Sai Shankar Vidyashala, Sriramanahalli, participated in the puzzle contest. The top three winners were chosen from 8th, 9th, and 10th standard respectively, and were given prizes. Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of Peoples Trust added, ‘Soon we will be developing the People’s campus as a campus of five senses with the support of Green Circle.’ Pens, note pads and sweets were distributed to all children to mark the occasion.
The Second Biodiversity Survey of Avalahalli lake was held on 12.1.25. About 25 naturalists from all over Bangalore participated and recorded the birds as well as other flora and fauna. About 89 birds were recorded. EBird link is given below. Deepa Mohan, a renowned naturalist, led the survey https://ebird.org/checklist/S215005076
In 2021, Robin Sharma, the Editor of Dwarka Express, Delhi called me (Dr V Selvarajan) and expressed his anguish about my relocating to Bangalore from Dwarka. However, he continued to interact with him to save the twenty Nilgai, which had been dislocated due to the destruction of the 200-acre natural forest in Bharat Vandana Park in the heart of Dwarka. In the last 3 years, the place has been under the artificial construction of an amusement park. While both lamented that they could not save Bharat Vandana, at least they were taking steps to relocate the Nilgai. As the discussion continued, Robin Sharma requested that I write to Dwarka Express regularly. I suggested an exclusive page called South Express which will carry articles and news items from South India. Once decided, there was no looking back. This page was added as the ninth page of Dwarka Express. While Robin Sharma was happy to spread out to South India, I treated this as an opportunity to write about the environment. Slowly, many authors started contributing useful articles on nature and the environment. When 100 editorials were over, I contemplated a book named OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR CONCERN. Coincidentally, the title was the mantra of the Dwarka NGO called Green Circle, founded by me. Dwarka Express, in which South Express is a page dedicated to South India released the Book on 7.12.2024 in a glittering function at CCRT Auditorium Sector 7, Dwarka, New Delhi. About 200 Dwarkites attended the function. The function was organized by Green Circle Dwarka Chapter in association with Dwarka Express and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, Min of Culture, Govt of India. I owe this opportunity to Robin Sharma as South Express has crossed its 118th week. South Express will achieve many more laurels in the years to come. The book published by Alize Publishing is priced at Rs 299 and I will contribute all Royalties earned for the cause of Green Circle, founded by me in 2001. I sincerely remain grateful to all my readers, well-wishers, and friends of nature for their relentless support. This book will be available on the Amazon website from 7.12.24. Again, my sincere thanks to Robin Sharma for this honorary assignment.
Bangalore: 75 Children from Mallya Aditi International School learned a lot of craft-making skills. Children from Sai Shankar Vidyashala also acquired skills to save nature. They participated in the nature camps organized on 26-27 Nov 2024 at People’s Trust campus. Green Circle helped the children to learn the art. A nature walk to study the flora and fauna and a tree-planting drive were also organized during the camp. A visit to the STP at Rajanukunte was also organized to sensitize the students about passive waste management. Dr Selvarajan, Green Circle trained the students to make eco-friendly models. Students also planted saplings under the guidance of Vasanth Shetty, Director Green Circle. Harish Uthaiah welcomed the gathering and guided the students when they had a nature trail in Peoples Trust Premises
The School of Law, Presidency University organized a national-level conference titled Sustainable Future: Navigating the Climate Crisis in Anthropogenic Era on 25-26 November, 2024. Dr. Saroj Sharma Dean, School of law, welcomed the gathering. Inaugurating the conference, J Ashok G Nijagannavar Member of Law commission Karnataka, Justice Rajesh Tandon, former Justice of High court Uttrakhand said that everyone should realize his duties to environment enshrined in Article 51 A of the constitution. Piyush Manus, Environment activist delivered the keynote address. Dr. V Selvarajan, Environmentalist, Green Circle Bengaluru, Professor Sudesh V Bangalore University, Professor Sairam Bhat, NLSIU Bengaluru, Prof. SN Raju, Environmental Engineer Mysore University, Dr. Rajesh Gopinath, Environmental Engineer Advocate Rohith Kamath, Rex law chamber, Prof. Chetan Sangai, Legal Expert and Advisor NEP 2020, Ms. Sheela Chandran, Legal consultant, Ministry of Kerala, Sanjana, advocate, JP Associate, Vindhya Mani Partner Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan Attorney, Advocate and Samartha, founder JK legal, Bengaluru attended the conference. The Conference highlighted the issue of global climate changes continuing due to industrial development and urbanization and focussed on the policies for the natural environment. Dr. Mohd Saleem, Convener of the Conference proposed the vote of thanks. Toshali made the arrangements for the program
Presidency University NSS volunteers participated in a tree plantation drive at Naniah Park at Peoples trust. About 40 volunteers brought the saplings nurtured by them in their University campus. With the help of Rajanugunte Panchayat, 40 saplings were planted.
“We never expected this lake to have such a huge potential!” said Deepa Mohan, leading a team of naturalists from all over Bangalore in a biodiversity survey organized by Green Circle, an environmental organization working for the rejuvenation of Avalahalli lake in North Bangalore. Adding ‘we have spotted 70 species of birds including some uncommon birds like yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Lesser Whistling Duck, Ruddy breasted Crake etc” she said that this lake has every potential for naming it as ‘Biodiversity Hotspot’. A team of 20 naturalists specialized in flora and fauna listed birds, bees, butterflies, plants, herbs, trees and shrubs. Naturalist Rishov says, ‘the lake has a lot of plants and trees like Acacia, Asthma Plant, Banyan Bengal Day flower, Blue Ears, Casuarina/Australian Pine, Cluster Fig, Common Fig, insects like Caterpillars, Red Costate Moth, Dwarf Honeybee, Fly, Flesh Fly, Long-legged Honeybee, Grasshopper and butterflies like Apefly, Blue, Gram Blue, Lesser Grass’ Expressing thanks to the survey team, Kumar Kalyandurg, Public Relations Director of Green Circle said, ‘it is amazing to see that volunteers from far off places from South and Central Bangalore have taken pains to visit the lake to record the biodiversity in our lake. We are excited to know that such a lot of natural wealth is available in this lake area’.
Vasnathkumar, another director of Green Circle added, ‘our enthusiasm is gaining momentum. We will be working on rejuvenating the rajakaluve with doubled enthusiasm now’. Satish, a birder said, ‘for me, sighting of a yellow bittern is a great excitement, I didn’t know that this lake is so rich in its diversity’. Karthikeyan Nambiar, another participant recorded 24 varieties of trees and 17 plant species. Dr Selvarajan, Chairman Green Circle said, ‘Green Circle will undertake 3 more surveys on a quarterly basis and study the varieties here. People’s Biodiversity Register will be compiled and submitted to authorities’
GREEN CIRCLE 