Bangalore's built-up area grew by 584 p.c. between 1973 and 2010: study
A new study by the Indian Institute of Science on Bangalore's spiralling growth confirms what most residents probably already know: the city lost 66 per cent of its vegetation and 74 per cent of its water bodies in less than 40 years, even as its built-up area grew by 584 per cent.
Green cover lost
The city's famed tree cover, which once accounted for 72 per cent of its area (488 sq. km) in 1973, dropped to 21 per cent (145 sq. km) in 2010, reveals the research paper published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation.
Haphazard growth
Urban growth, especially in the last five years, has been “haphazard”, particularly on the outskirts of the city, says the paper.
The findings illustrate “the extent of influence of the drivers of urbanisation… Bangalore was the most sought-after destination for its climatic condition and the availability of various facilities (land availability, economy, political factors) compared to other cities”. Bangalore grew intensely in the northwest and southwest zones in 1992 due to industrialisation, and “this phenomenon intensified due to impetus to IT and BT sectors in SE and NE during post-2000”.
While the central core areas of Bangalore saw a compact growth, the outskirts have witnessed urban sprawl and are deprived of basic amenities, says the study.
Urban nightmare
“Unplanned concentrated growth in a region has telling influences on natural resources (disappearance of open spaces — parks and water bodies), traffic congestion, enhanced pollution levels and also changes in the local climate.”
The urban built-up area increased by 342.83 per cent during 1973-92, 129.56 per cent during 1992-99, 106.7 per cent during 1999–2002, 114.51 per cent during 2002–06 and 126.19 per cent from 2006 to 2010.
How it was done
The study used spatial techniques involving temporal remote sensing data and geographic information system with spatial metrics and is authored by Ramachandra T.V., Bharath H. Aithal and Durgappa D. Sanna of the Indian Institute of Science.
Keywords: Bangalore urban planning, urbanisation
To regain past glory of Bangalore as 'GARDEN CITY' the Forest/ BBMP/ BMC/Horticulture departments should join together and plant saplings equal to the population of present day Bangalore during the forthcoming rainy season.
It's not just haphazard, it's a very hazardous growth. Almost everyone break the council building norms in Bangalore. Almost everyone think of utilising every inch of the space to build house/commercial property including vertical space, almost all illegal. Most of the waterbodies are gone and still disappearing. Government should stop permission to new layouts and move the administrative departments to different districts of the state to decongest Bangalore. If urgent steps are not taken to preserve and promote water bodies and green belt areas, Bangalore will face serious problems in near future.
Bangalore, once the city of lakes and gardens has lost it completely. As a travel agent most of us keep the city, I mean the slum, off the tourist itinerary and only a fool would want to go and settle down there. Unplanned growth allowed by politicians of every hue, just for the vote, has razed this once beautiful town to the ground. But that has happened to most towns and cities, proof that the country is ruled by illiterates.
The article is timely and good. However, there are some glaring shortcomngs. There is no independent information on the trees of Bangalore and how many of them have been cut down in the name of development. Only some percentages are quoted. Mr.Lakshman Rau took the lead in greening Bangalore. After him, there has been nobody to care for the green cover. The reporter here has not spoken to the tree court, forest department or civic agencies for their opinion. I personally feel it is not completely right to rely on and quote only one source, more so a paper. The authors of the paper too have not been contacted. The article could have quoted officials of the forest department,Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and others. There is no independent confirmation to back the very few statisrtoics quoted here. We do not expect such slipshod articles in The Hindu. Though it is obviously not, it reads so much like "paid news" which The Hindu has always vehemently opposed. Please carry an indepth article
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