Bengaluru: IISc conducts panel discussion on lake conservation

Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru conducted a panel discussion regarding conservation of lakes. The discussion took place in the Seva Sadhan, located in Malleshwaram. 

The panel members consisted of Dr U.V Singh,IFS(r) Member of the Monitoring Committee, Supreme Court and former Chief Conservator Of Forests, LDA, Dr T.V Ramachandra from the Center for Ecological Sciences IISC and an expert member of the National Wetland Committee, Professor Rajeev Gowda, ex Member of Parliament, academician and part of the BBMP restructuring committee, Smaran Shetty, environmental lawyer and partner with the Catalyst Law, Mukunda Namagondlu, Founding Member Of Bangalore Praja Vedike and a civic activist and Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner of lakes, BBMP. 

The session was moderated by Vasanti Hariprakash, Podcaster and founder of Pickle Media. The session was titled “Namma Kere” (our lake). 

Mukunda Namgondlu stated that the emphasis has to be placed on retention of water and how the lakes should be integrated into the ecosystem and water system of Bengaluru. T.V Ramachandra talked about how the physical and chemical integrity of the lake should be the priority and not the construction of concrete jogging parts around the same. Rajeev Gowda reiterated that the Siddaramaiah government has demonstrated the political will required to tackle the issue of lake conservation. 

A lively question answer session also took place as part of the event.