Category Activities

Biomimicry – learning from nature!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: BMS Institute of Technology and Management (BMSIT) organised a Biomimicry event on 22 April 2026. GREEN CIRCLE and the BMS eco club, OIKOS, jointly organised the event to mark World Earth Day. Biomimicry is the practice of learning from nature and using those ideas to solve human problems. The eco club initiative engaged 53 students across 10 teams, each presenting live working models based on biomimicry principles. The projects focused on real-world applications such as water conservation, climate-responsive design, disaster resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Key innovations included termite mound-inspired passive cooling systems, honeycomb-structured columns, lotus leaf-inspired self-cleaning surfaces, penguin body-based insulation, spider web-inspired earthquake-resistant structures, etc. The models were evaluated by a panel of three juries, including one industry expert, L. R. Phanindra, GE Healthcare, to ensure a balanced assessment of technical feasibility, innovation, and societal relevance. Projects were also mapped to relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising their contribution to areas such as clean water, sustainable cities, and climate action. Says Prof Rajesh, ‘the event highlighted the potential of nature-inspired solutions in addressing societal needs and stands as a replicable model supporting the objectives of the Bharat Environment Programme’. The best models were awarded in the felicitation ceremony on the same day. First prize was bagged by Manisha Ramisetty’s team, while second and third places were secured by Anagh Manivarnan’s team and Darshan Gowda’s team, respectively. Dr V. Selvarajan, Green Circle, made a presentation on an eco STP model at People’s Trust based on the cow’s four-chamber stomach designed on the biomimicry principle.  Speaking on the occasion, Principal of BMS IT & M, Dr Sanjay H. A. lauded the efforts of the eco club and encouraged them to do some extracurricular activity on every Saturday. Harish Uthaiah, People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg, Green Circle, were present. Jury members of the Drawing competition, Dr V Selvarajan, Vasantha Kumar, Green Circle, Sreelakshmi B. K., Lumen Technologies and L. R. Phanindra, GE Healthcare, were honoured on the occasion. Rakshitha V, Nedium Chandana, Bhoomika S B, and Machireddy Dhanitha were also awarded the prizes for winning the drawing competition.

Can’t speak or hear, gave voice for Earth

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bengaluru, April 22: Oceanik Education Society observed World Earth Day with an environmental awareness programme at its campus, drawing participation from 167 students and 39 staff members. Dr. V. Selvarajan, Chairman of Green Circle Bangalore, attended as Chief Guest, alongside Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg, Secretary, Green Circle, as Guests of Honour. The Institution encourages inclusive education where differently abled children go hand in hand with other students who foster fraternity and friendship. The event featured inter-college competitions in drawing, painting, poster-making, and essay writing, with prizes awarded to winners. A parallel seedball activity led to the preparation of around 1,050 seed balls for afforestation efforts. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Selvarajan highlighted the urgency of climate action, pointing to rising temperatures, food wastage, and increasing waste generation. He urged students to adopt sustainable practices and follow the principle “Think Globally, Act Locally.” The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, leaving students inspired to contribute towards environmental conservation. Principal Prof. Shobha K. M. welcomed all.  The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Ravi. Dr. N.M. Poovaiah, Founder of the Institution, felicitated all.

Green ideas during summer camp

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: Sai Shankar Vidhya Shala, a rural school at People’s Trust campus in Sriramanahalli, Yelahanka, Bangalore, organised a summer camp for the children from villages. About 30 children participated in the camp. Children were taught Yoga, meditation, dance, and robotics, as well as eco-friendly crafts like paper bag making, Food chain game, Biodiversity Appreciation Album making, and Poster making on what children can do to save the environment. The camp was inaugurated on 14.4.26 by V Selvarajan. Ganga Bhavani, Head Mistress, Sai Shankar Vidhya Shala welcomed the gathering. Hairsh Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust, delivered the keynote address and thanked everyone for joining. Some fun activities and painting programs were also part of the program. Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle says that such summer camps engage the children usefully during the holidays. Meenakshi Bose, an artist, guided the students to make paper bags. She also displayed her acrylic paintings during the camp. Shyna and Chalapathi of People’s Trust trained the students in Yoga and meditation. Teachers Rajini, Rathnamma, Vishavani, Pavithra, Sunitha and Venkatesh volunteered to manage the camp. School Administrator Neetha Uthaiah supervised the camp events.

10 small climate action ideas!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: On 1st April 2026, a Community Organisation Programme focusing on Climate Action Initiatives was conducted by Rohan Benoy and Roshan K. Thomas, students from Kristu Jayanti College. The event was organised for 40 students from classes 6 and 7 of the Total Residential Education Program (TREP) at Sri Sathya Sai Shankar Vidyanikethanam at People’s Trust, Sriramanahalli, Rajanukunte, Bangalore. The objective of the programme was to raise awareness among young students about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living, especially in light of the pressing global challenge of climate change. The speaker on the occasion, Dr V. Selvarajan, Chairman, Green Circle, told the children that climate action is possible at their level if they adopt certain environment-friendly simple actions. He gave a list of 10 points and advised the students to practice the same. The other speakers included Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle. Topics covered included waste reduction, resource conservation, and the adoption of eco-friendly habits in daily life. The students came away with the understanding that small actions can lead to significant impacts. They learned practical methods to tackle environmental challenges, such as minimising plastic use, planting trees, saving water, and embracing sustainable alternatives in their routines. The organizer of the program Rohan, said that this program was aimed at enhancing students’ understanding of climate issues and inspiring them to engage in environmental conservation. It fostered a sense of responsibility for a sustainable future.  Roshan adds, ‘After listening to the talk, I feel that children can contribute a lot in the form of simple climate action initiatives.’

Posts

Digitalising trees!

Dr V Selvarajan 1 Comment

Bangalore: Is there any way out to scan a tree to know the entire details about a tree? Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle says, ‘Yes! We could capture all data in QR code form and affix it to a tree, as a plate.’ About a year back, Green Circle Bangalore contemplated this project to geotag the trees and approached BMS Institute of Technology & Management, Yelahanka, Bangalore, to use the green technologies to conserve trees. Prof Sridevi of the MCA Dept agreed to the proposal and identified two MCA students for this purpose. BMS IT into a Memorandum of Understanding between Green Circle. As a pilot project, Green Circle chose People’s Trust campus where there are 1000 plus trees belonging to 100 plus varieties. The project was curated by Venu and Sunny, MCA students, who relied on AI data for identifying the trees. They developed the software page, which was incorporated in Green Circle Website. Dr Sanjay HA, Principal of BMS Institute of Technology & Management, inaugurated the first geo-tagging of the project by BMS Rotaract club on 11th Oct 2025. Geotagging of trees was done in several rounds. Volunteers from Green Circle, BMS Rotaractors, NSS from Presidency University, Sai Shankar Vidyashala, and People’s Trust Sri Sathya Sai Shankar Vidyaniketan Boarding Children participated in the tagging. About 1000 trees were geotagged. The valedictory program was organized at People’s trust Auditorium on 15.3.2026. About 150 volunteers participated in the program and were issued the certificates for their service. The Curators of the project Venu and Sunny were honoured with shields. Prof Sridevi Head of the MCA Dept was felicitated for the support from her department. Prof Venkatesh was also felicitated. Prof Tejaswini, in charge of volunteers from BMS, Ganga HM of SSV School, Bobji and Seethamma, Pranjal, Presidency NSS Coordinator, Chalapathi of People’s Trust, Harshita from TREP, and Vasant Kumar, Kumar Kalyandurg and Karthik from GC were felicitated. An 8-foot by 5-foot collage titled “Birds of People’s Trust”, was formally unveiled by Bobji and Harish Uthaiah. This board showcases the beauty and diversity of avian life in the premises, as the photos were clicked by Karthik and Selva. Bobji made a PowerPoint presentation on Conscious Conservation in action. Selvarajan, Chairman, Green Circle, welcomed the audience. Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee, People’s Trust, proposed the vote of thanks.Bangalore: Is there any way out to scan a tree to know the entire details about a tree? Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle says, ‘Yes! We could capture all data in QR code form and affix it to a tree, as a plate.’ About a year back, Green Circle Bangalore contemplated this project to geotag the trees and approached BMS Institute of Technology & Management, Yelahanka, Bangalore, to use the green technologies to conserve trees. Prof Sridevi of the MCA Dept agreed to the proposal and identified two MCA students for this purpose. BMS IT into a Memorandum of Understanding between Green Circle. As a pilot project, Green Circle chose People’s Trust campus where there are 1000 plus trees belonging to 100 plus varieties. The project was curated by Venu and Sunny, MCA students, who relied on AI data for identifying the trees. They developed the software page, which was incorporated in Green Circle Website. Dr Sanjay HA, Principal of BMS Institute of Technology & Management, inaugurated the first geo-tagging of the project by BMS Rotaract club on 11th Oct 2025. Geotagging of trees was done in several rounds. Volunteers from Green Circle, BMS Rotaractors, NSS from Presidency University, Sai Shankar Vidyashala, and People’s Trust Sri Sathya Sai Shankar Vidyaniketan Boarding Children participated in the tagging. About 1000 trees were geotagged. The valedictory program was organized at People’s trust Auditorium on 15.3.2026. About 150 volunteers participated in the program and were issued the certificates for their service. The Curators of the project Venu and Sunny were honoured with shields. Prof Sridevi Head of the MCA Dept was felicitated for the support from her department. Prof Venkatesh was also felicitated. Prof Tejaswini, in charge of volunteers from BMS, Ganga HM of SSV School, Bobji and Seethamma, Pranjal, Presidency NSS Coordinator, Chalapathi of People’s Trust, Harshita from TREP, and Vasant Kumar, Kumar Kalyandurg and Karthik from GC were felicitated. An 8-foot by 5-foot collage titled “Birds of People’s Trust”, was formally unveiled by Bobji and Harish Uthaiah. This board showcases the beauty and diversity of avian life in the premises, as the photos were clicked by Karthik and Selva. Bobji made a PowerPoint presentation on Conscious Conservation in action. Selvarajan, Chairman, Green Circle, welcomed the audience. Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee, People’s Trust, proposed the vote of thanks.

One response to “Digitalising trees!”

  1. Dr V Selvarajan Avatar
    Dr V Selvarajan

    This is a wonderful 3 in 1 program

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

Green Circle gets its address!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

‘It is a great moment for all our work,’ says an emotional Dr V Selvarajan, founder of Green Circle. He adds, ‘In fact, I never even thought that it would be possible. When Green Circle was formed 25 years ago, in Delhi, it was a modest beginning. I had not even Rs 1000 to get it registered’. Green Circle has celebrated its Silver Jubilee at Dwarka New Delhi on 1.11.2025. Within 6 months, a land was allotted by Singanayakkanahalli Gram Panjayat office, which was earmarked for charitable organisations. MLA SR Viswanath was in all praise for Green Circle activities for protecting environment. He recommended to the PDO for allotment of land for its office. Nanje Gowda, a member of the Gram Panchayat and patron of Green Circle, pursued the matter and obtained the documents to the effect. The Panchayat office also requested Green Circle to develop a green patch around its office. Green Circle on 14.3.2026 arranged a Bhoomi Puja in the allotted land. For this purpose, the land was levelled using a JCB and garbage was removed. GC Members Selvarajan, Ramachandra, Kiran Taula, Kumar Kalyandurg, Vasanth Kumar, Vidyasagar Arya, and other members, were present. Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee, People’s Trust, was a special invitee for the occasion. Nanje Gowda started the Puja. Others Prof Ramappa, Prof Venkatesh, Kantharaj, Virabatrappa, Santosh were present. Puja was conducted by CRPF temple Pandit. Kiran Taula said, ‘it is a milestone in the history of Green Circle’ Vasanth Kumar added, ‘This is only a beginning, we will soon construct an ecofriendly office. The office will be surrounded by herbal garden. We are planning to make this location a green area’. The place was named as ‘Green Circle Vatika’.

Dead Pelicans at Bangalore lake

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Harohalli Lake in trouble? The lake officials don’t care to know the cause!

On the 27th, the Lake Walkers invited environmental activists to visit Harohalli Lake in North Bangalore. This 90-acre lake has significant water storage capacity. Members of the Green Circle visited the lake. They found 12 dead fish. These fish ranged in size from 12 to 18 inches. They were located along the lake’s periphery. To their surprise, they also found two dead pelicans, and one was in a dying condition. Dr. Selvarajan of Green Circle suspects that the fish died due to a deficiency of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the water. Another possibility he considers is contamination from untreated sewage entering the lake. Green Circle raised this issue with the Commissioner of the Greater Bangalore Authority (GBA) and the Fisheries Department. They have also contacted the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). The lake Managers perhaps been instructed to remove the dead fish and pelicans. But it is unclear whether any further actions will be taken to prevent future deaths. The next steps to prevent future fatalities remain unclear. Dr. Selvarajan poses an important question: “If authorities claim the deaths were caused by low oxygen levels due to extremely cold conditions, then why did the pelicans die? These resilient birds are usually capable of surviving harsh weather.” Another local resident emphasized the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the quality of the water, stressing the importance of finding out whether similar tragic incidents have been reported in other lakes.

A mega walk for lake 7.12.25

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

A Walk for Lake awareness campaign was organised by Green Circle on 7.12.25 at Avalahalli lake, Yelahanka, Bangalore. More than 1000 participated in the program. The walk started at Avalahalli lake with Yelahanka MLA S R Viswanath in the forefront along with Green Circle volunteers, Gram panchayat members, residents from the local apartments & layouts, Avalahalli village, BMS IT&M volunteers, NSS, NCC and Rotaract club. Children from Charitable institutions like People’s Trust and Vidya Gokula also joined the rally and staged cultural programs highlighting the need for saving the lake. A human chain and Aarthi were also staged during the rally. Nanje Gowda, Patron of Green Circle, says, ‘The city was once known for its numerous lakes. At one point, it boasted over 1,000 lakes; however, due to extensive urbanisation and extensive encroachment, that number has dwindled to fewer than 200.’ Residents were concerned that Avalahalli Lake could suffer the same fate as other lakes if timely action is not taken. A group of vigilant citizens, under the banner of Green Circle, launched a movement to save the lake four years ago. Navigating this task proved challenging, as the lake is surrounded by a maze of apartment buildings and a diverse array of layouts. Each twist and turn added an intriguing layer to the experience!  Green Circle decided to engage residents, authorities and panchayat members. Yelahanka MLA S R Viswanath pledged his support. Green Circle found that the lake was home to about 75 bird species. Ramachandra, Vice President of Green Circle, says, ‘We found that illegal activities, including fishing and open defecation, are rampant as the lake had neither a fence nor a security guard. The water quality was poor and polluted. The inlets and outlets were clogged. We took up the matter with the local Panchayat Authorities and BBMP (now GBA). ‘We realized that the water quality is bad because the nearby colonies throw the untreated sewage into the lake,’ adds Kumar Kalyandurg, Secretary of Green Circle. Vidyasagar Arya from Green Circle coordinated with municipal authorities to apprise them of the need to survey the feeder canal (Kaluve) that connects to the nearby Krishna Sagara Lake. Chairman of Green Circle V Selvarajan says, ‘The canal is currently not linked to the lake, which leads to frequent flooding during the rainy season. Although the Panchayat began restoring the canal, the work was delayed due to a petition from some residents against the Kaluve rejuvenation, as the route passes through their plots. The present walk is to impress the locals about the urgent need to connect the lakes. The walk for lake awareness event started from Avalahalli lake and walked alongside the proposed canal and reached the Krishna Sagara lake, from where the canal originates. The walk ended at Avalahalli lake after the MLA inspected the Kaluve and its encroachment points. Singanayakanahalli Panchayat President Amravathamma also joined the walk. Other Panchayat members included Muni Reddy, Keshavmurthy, Prasanth Reddy, Manjunath, Nanje Gowda, Kran Kumar, Babu, Sathish Reddy, Girish, and others participated. From Green Circle Selvarajan, Ramachandra, Vasanth Kumar Shetty, Kumar Kalyandurg, Vidhyasagar Arya, Sandip Kumar Mukhopodhyay, Biju, Virabathrappa, and Vidya Badri joined the walk. Nanje Gowda, patron of Green Circle, proposed the vote of thanks

Poster making

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Down to Earth care needed – Green Circle Chairman Dr V Selvarajan

Presidency School of Law conducted an intra-university poster-making competition titled ‘Art for Earth‘. This was to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2025. The theme for this year was “Our Power, Our Planet“. This initiative aimed to combine artistic expression with environmental advocacy. It sought to foster a culture of awareness among the youth. It also aimed to instill responsibility in them. The key resource person for the event was Dr. V. Selva Rajan, an environmentalist. A good number of participants attended the event. They designed compelling and thoughtful posters. These highlighted the role of legal frameworks in fostering sustainability. The competition served as an educational tool. It was also an advocacy tool. Students transformed complex legal and social theories into compelling visual narratives. Dr. Saroj Sharma Dean, School of law, welcomed the gathering. This event was coordinated by Dr. Mohd Saleem, Associate Professor, and Ms. Toshali Pattnaik, Assistant Professor.

The report of the Presidency University School of law is given in the link. Click the link below to view.

https://presidencyuniversity.in/events/art-for-earth-intra-universityposter-making-competition

Lake festival (kere habba)20.2.25

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

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.

Eventful day with varieties of activities