Astral Foundation Plants 10,000 Trees on the World Environment Day
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The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Collaborative mangrove restoration initiative launched on Netravathi riverbank
Vana Charitable Trust, in association with Syngene Biocon Foundation, Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) and other government departments, launched the mangroves restoration initiative along the ecologically significant Netravathi riverbank in Mangaluru. The project aims to restore the degraded mangrove ecosystem, enhance biodiversity, improve carbon capture and protect the coastline. Over the next five years, the initiative aims to rehabilitate 54 acres of mangroves through community participation by engaging students and fishers as 'Mangrove Guardians'. Advanced monitoring using GIS mapping, drone surveillance and biodiversity tracking would be deployed for enhanced protection. Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Ravi Chandra Naik, District Urban Development Cell Project Director G. Santosh Kumar, College of Fisheries Dean H.N. Anjanayeyappa and others were present at the venue in Adam Kudru, off Netravathi Bridge. 40,000 saplings Speaking on the occasion, Jeeth Milan Roche from Vana Charitable Trust said the organisers have planned to plant at least 40,000 saplings belonging to three species of mangroves this year. So far, close to 24,500 mangrove saplings have been planted, and the balance will be planted by the end of August. The organisers had a total target of planting 50,000 saplings, including 10,000 saplings of native varieties of Western Ghat for the year. The native varieties have been planted in and around Pilikula, Vamajoor, Pachchanadi dumping yard and surrounding areas, he said. CFAL, in a statement, said its project, the Amara initiative, launched on World Environment Day on June 5, aimed at planting 30,000 trees in 60 wards of Mangaluru and enhancing green cover in the city to 30% by 2040. The initiative seeks to create a cooler, cleaner, greener and more resilient city.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
40k trees, mangroves planted under Amara Drive
Mangaluru: The Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) drive, a "plant and adopt a tree" initiative launched on World Environment Day, has already added nearly 40,000 plants to the city's landscape, including 11,000 trees and shrubs and around 30,000 mangroves. The plantation drive is still in progress, and the aim is to reach 50,000 by the end of this month. Led by the district administration, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Karnataka forest department, and CFAL Research Centre, Amara aims to restore the city's green cover, revive public participation, and serve as a model for urban reforestation across India. The campaign is led by Vijay Moras, CFAL trustee, and Prof Smitha Hegde, director of research, along with the CFAL and ELC staff, students, and teams. "It is citizen-driven and welcomes anyone who has planted trees to declare it and earn a certificate from the Mangaluru City Corporation," said Prof Smitha Hegde. She noted that many plantings may not yet have been reported or audited. The initiative was inspired by Tree Count Survey 2023, which revealed that only 6.2% of Mangaluru's public spaces are covered by greenery. Amara's long-term goal is to raise this to 30% by 2040, planting and maintaining 1.5 lakh trees across 60 wards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Beautiful Hairstyles For Women Over 30 Undo To ensure accountability, each sapling is geo-tagged and monitored for species, location, growth, and health. Native and adaptive species, including ficus, mango, jackfruit, and neem, dominate the planting list, with contributions from schools, NGOs, civic groups, and local businesses. The success of the campaign has caught the attention of Mysuru, which is set to launch its own tree count, and the Andhra Pradesh govt, which has approached the team to replicate the model, said Prof Smitha. Mangrove plantations, sponsored by Syngene CSR through Biocon Foundation and Vana Charitable Trust, are being undertaken near the Adam Kudru, Netravathi River bridge, where a valedictory ceremony of the drive will be held on Thursday. Former DC Mullai Muhilan, MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik, and former additional DC Santhosh Kumar, DCF Antony Mariyapa and RFO Rajesh have contributed towards the drive's success. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Business Standard
12-08-2025
- Business Standard
The Art of Living's Powerful Water Warriors Are Rewriting India's Future
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], August 12: India, the land where rivers once sang through the seasons, is now grappling with a hard truth: water scarcity is no longer a distant threat - it's here. From villages to districts, swathes of the country are grappling with dangerously low groundwater levels. Rivers that once flowed year round are reduced to trickles or memories. Floods and droughts now alternate like a grim cycle, damaging crops, displacing communities, and threatening food security. Even with the monsoons sweeping across the land, only 20% of our water needs are met by rainfall and surface water. The remaining 80% - for drinking, cooking, farming - comes from beneath our feet: groundwater. But for over two decades now, India's aquifers have been draining faster than they can refill. So where do we go from here? A Vision Rooted in Nature, Powered by People Under the guidance of spiritual leader and humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living Social Projects has stepped up with not just hope - but action. Action that is deeply rooted in ecology, powered by community, and backed by cutting-edge science. The organisation's mission is bold: to make India water-positive. And the results, even in just a few years, are nothing short of transformational. With 72 rivers/streams and tributaries rejuvenated and 1,05,050+ groundwater recharge structures built across 8 states - including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh - this is no small scale effort. It's a nationwide movement, and it's changing lives. What's the Secret? Tailored, Scalable, Local Solutions Every drop of water saved starts with understanding the land. That's why The Art of Living's Water Conservation team is made up of experts - retired ISRO scientists, hydrologists, geologists, civil engineers, and IT professionals - who have spent years studying the terrain. Using geo-informatics, GIS mapping, and remote sensing, they design region-specific models that treat both the area and the drainage lines. The strategy is simple yet powerful: slow down the rainwater, let it sink, not run away. Recharge structures like check dams, contour trenches, and recharge pits help retain water, increase soil moisture, prevent erosion, and refill aquifers naturally. The base flow of rivers is sustained, turning seasonal streams into perennial ones. And the impact? Across multiple states, groundwater levels have seen dramatic improvement. In Vellore, Tamil Nadu, for instance, the water table rose by 12 feet - verified by the state's Water Supply and Drainage Board. JalTara: A Game Changer in Farmers' Fields Perhaps the most groundbreaking initiative is JalTara, a flagship project of The Art of Living Social Projects. The idea is ingeniously simple: dig a small recharge pit at the lowest point of each farm plot and flank it with two fruit-bearing trees. This pit acts like a natural funnel - directing rainwater past the impermeable topsoil and deep into the aquifers. In just six months, JalTara can turn struggling farms into thriving fields. Sulabai Chavhal, a farmer from Jalna, Maharashtra, is just one among thousands of success stories. "Earlier, I barely harvested a single bag of grains," he says. "Now, my godown is full." Ramchandra Mandale, a farmer from Shirur, shares a similar transformation. He recalls that a population of 3,000 had to manage with only one barrel of water per week until The Art of Living Social Projects intervened. The stats also speak volumes: Water tables are up by 14 feet, crop yields up by 42%, waterlogging down by 100%, farmer income up by 120%, year-round employment up by 88%. With a 100% success rate, JalTara is now set to scale up to 5 lakh structures across 1 lakh villages in the next five years. Not Just Water, Hope is Flowing Back This isn't just about water. It's about restoring balance - to nature, to rural economies, to people's lives. When water returns, so does biodiversity, fertility, and livelihood. Farmers grow more. Women walk less. Children attend school. Communities thrive. Contributing significantly to this revival is The Art of Living's 4R approach - a holistic model addressing water challenges from every angle. 'Reduce' empowers youth through the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP), equipping them to raise awareness and inspire communities to reduce water waste through mindful usage. 'Reuse' taps into Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to treat wastewater for daily and agricultural needs. 'Recharge' uses terrain-sensitive water structures to replenish groundwater, while 'Recycle' employs natural methods like bioremediation and phytoremediation to restore polluted water bodies. Together, these four strategies form a replicable, scalable solution to India's water crisis. Achievements are current till August 2025, the count continues: 1,74,52+ Crores worth of water conserved 3,45,00,000+ People empowered 72 Rivers/streams and tributaries being rejuvenated across 8 States 1,05,050+ Recharge structures constructed 2,90,64,668+ Cubic metres desilted 7,00,000+ Trees planted along river basins in River Rejuvenation Projects As Dr. K. Satyagopal, former Chairman of Tamil Nadu Water Resources Corporation, puts it: "The Art of Living's ability to mobilise communities - especially women - has been the cornerstone of its success. It shows what can happen when the government and citizens work hand-in-hand." And that may be the most powerful takeaway: this isn't just one organisation doing good work. It's a blueprint - scalable, science-backed, and people-powered - for every village, district, and state. The results are already visible: as the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reports, several once "critical" regions now have "safe" water levels thanks to these interventions. Yet the journey is far from over. India's water future still hangs in the balance - but with committed action and community-led leadership, The Art of Living Social Projects has shown us not just what's possible, but what's already underway. The Art of Living, a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organisation founded in 1981 by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The organisation works closely with the Government of India and Corporate Entities to relieve the country from water scarcity through various water conservation projects. Follow:
