Yogesh K Porwar 
On the occasion of World Environment Day,the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike organized a special event at the U.R.Rao Auditorium located within the premises of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium.
The event was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Bengaluru Urban Development,D.K. Shivakumar.
*Bengaluru Climate Action Clubs:
To raise climate awareness among the youth and develop actionable plans through educational institutions, youth-led Climate Action Clubs have been initiated across high schools and pre-university colleges.
So far,706 institutions have registered for this initiative. On this occasion,students took the Climate Pledge, affirming their commitment to environmentally responsible practices,with the pledge being administered by the Deputy Chief Minister.
*Blue-Green Award Winners:
The Blue-Green Awards were presented by BBMP to recognize the efforts of Residents’Welfare Associations, government departments,NGOs,schools,startups, corporations,and educational institutions actively involved in environmental conservation across Bengaluru.
Applications were invited under eight climate action categories:solid waste,water, air quality,biodiversity, disaster management,energy,transportation,and planning.
A total of 175 applications were received,from which 15 winners were selected based on impact and effectiveness by an expert jury.The awardees are as follows:
1.Energy & Transport:Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)–(Government Department).
2.Solid Waste Management:Office of the Commissioner of Police,Bengaluru–(Government Department).
3.Energy,Buildings,Water,Wastewater,and Rainwater Management:Classic Orchards Property Owners’ Association–(Apartment Owners’Association).
4.Water,Wastewater,and Rainwater Management: Century Saras Apartment Owners’Association– (Apartment Owners Association).
5.Water,Wastewater,Stormwater,and Disaster Management:Hasiru Dala–(NGO).
6.Urban Planning,Greening, and Biodiversity:Sensing Local–(Startup).
7.Energy,Buildings,Solid Waste,Water,Wastewater,and Rainwater Management:Raagi Kana–(Community Initiative.
8.Transport:Texas Instruments (India) Pvt. Ltd.– (Corporate).
9.Transport:Tommok–(Startup).
10.Solid Waste Management:Let’s Be The Change– (NGO).
11.Solid Waste Management:Hasiru Dala Innovations Pvt. Ltd.–(Startup).
12.Solid Waste Management:HSR Citizens Forum– (NGO).
13.Solid Waste Management:Smart Refill–(Startup).
14.Solid Waste Management:Cambridge Institute of Technology–(Educational Institution).
15.Solid Waste Management:The Indian Flaggers Army –(NGO).
*Dedicated WhatsApp Helpline for Waste-Related Complaints:
To improve urban cleanliness,BBMP has set up a dedicated complaint redressal system.Citizens can now report waste-related issues by sending messages along with photos to the WhatsApp number *9448197197*.
Appropriate action will be taken within a stipulated time frame,and follow-up information will be provided by the concerned authorities.
*Public Exhibition:
A public exhibition showcasing climate resilience strategies and citizen innovations was organized from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
It included displays by student groups,NGOs,and local government teams involved in climate action, along with interactive sessions.
*Target to Plant 1 Lakh Saplings:
For the year 2025–26,BBMP has set a target to plant and maintain 1 lakh saplings across the city.Various native plant species are being cultivated in BBMP nurseries. These saplings will be distributed to the public for planting within the city limits.
*Other Key Highlights of the Event:
*Unveiling of the Tree Census Video.
*Release of the Forest Handbook.
*Launch announcement of Mapathon 2.0 in the Mahadevapura Zone.
*Release of the Bengaluru Green-Blue Infrastructure Network (BGIN) Summary Document.
*Launch of the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Toolkit for lakes.
*Release of the Bengaluru Climate Action Plan (BCAP) Executive Summary Handbook.
*MoU between BBMP and Unboxing BLR Foundation: Aimed at creating green public spaces and developing micro and mini urban forests in Bengaluru.
The event was attended by BBMP Chief Commissioner, Maheshwar Rao,CEO of BWSSB,Dr.K.Harish Kumar, Chairman of BWSSB,Ram Prasath Manohar,BMTC Managing Director,R.Ramachandran,BMRDA Commissioner,Rajendra Cholan,BBMP Special Commissioner,Preeti Gehlot,and other senior officials.
