Restore Bengaluru lakes while retaining their character: Biodiversity chief

He was speaking at a meeting on conserving Bengaluru’s biodiversity at the BBMP headquarters on Monday. A statewide campaign to conserve biodiversity is being held from July 1 to August 15, and activities, in collaboration with citizens, such as planting, surveying and protecting lakes will be carried out in all BBMP wards, he said.

BBMP should carry out lake development while maintaining the original nature and natural resources of the lakes, and local citizens should join hands with the civic agency, he said.

Areas with rare biotic ecosystems should be identified in the city and declared heritage sites. Data on forest renewal, available species, and kinds of plants available in nurseries must be recorded, he said.

Documenting biodiversity

BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said the meeting discussed documentation of the development of biodiversity sites in BBMP limits. Awareness will be raised among citizens about preserving biodiversity, he said. BBMP’s budget provides for lake rejuvenation as well as afforestation, he added.