AN ECOLOGICAL EQUILIBRIUM

The first ever India Today Environment Conclave, held in Bengaluru, focused on some of the pressing green challenges facing Karnataka and the country, including climate change, man-animal conflict and the state capital's woes

- Ajay Sukumaran

Karnataka is home to 60 per cent of the Western Ghats but it is also the state with the second largest area of arid land in the country after Rajasthan. Thanks to this unique geography, it has always been susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, the state's minister for forests, environment and ecology Eshwar Khandre pointed out at the first India Today Environment Conclave held in Bengaluru on February 4.

The conclave, spanning a wide spectrum of themes from human-animal conflict to e-waste to climate change mitigation, was inaugurated by Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar who holds the two key portfolios of water resources and Bengaluru city development. Top on his agenda is a comprehensive plan to change the city's image as a metropolis struggling with traffic congestion and water shortages. Pointing out that Bengaluru, with a population of 14 million, is home to 11 million vehicles, Shivakumar said: "We plan to spend almost Rs 80,000-100,000 crore on urban development in Bengaluru." Apart from new flyovers and metro rail lines, the focus is also on augmenting the city's water supply network through the Cauvery 6th Stage scheme-which is currently in the drawing board stage-and finalising the location for a second greenfield airport for Bengaluru.