From Garden City To Concrete Jungle: 93% Of Bengaluru Now Built-Up

Bengaluru's ongoing struggles with infrastructure have garnered significant attention. This year, the city faces a severe water crisis, a recurring challenge attributed to rapid urbanization, the loss of blue-green infrastructure (like water bodies and vegetation), and erratic weather patterns.

The 'garden city' moniker begs the question: How much greenery does Bengaluru truly have left? A new study from IISc suggests, not much.

Using the Bangalore Information System (BuiS) and Bangalore Lakes Information System (BLIS), researchers painted a grim picture of unplanned urbanization's impact. Mapping the city's transformation over five decades, they made startling discoveries.

Bengaluru's built-up area has expanded by 1055% since 1973, from 8% to 93.3% in 2023, leading to an 88% loss of vegetation. Currently, the city has only 1.5 million trees for a population of 9.5 million, equating to one tree for every seven people. Professor TV Ramachandra of IISc's Centre for Ecological Sciences notes this is insufficient even for daily respiratory carbon sequestration.

This loss of green cover contributes to rising air pollution and temperatures. Reduced water bodies exacerbate Bengaluru's water issues, with the water spread area shrinking from 2,324 hectares in 1973 to just 696 hectares in 2023 due to uncontrolled urbanization. Most remaining water bodies are encroached upon and polluted, impacting groundwater recharge.

BuIS provides a vital tool for researchers and policymakers, offering insights into Bengaluru's ecological health and highlighting ecologically sensitive areas.

IISc researchers stress the perils of unplanned urbanization, warning of a cascade effect leading to pollution, resource inequity, traffic congestion, and increased fossil fuel reliance.

Bengaluru's plight should serve as a cautionary tale for other rapidly expanding cities. Prioritizing sustainable development and environmental protection is crucial for a healthy and livable future.