<p class="bodytext">A group of youngsters, from different walks of life, has come together to conserve and restore water bodies, and surrounding ecosystems in Bengaluru and other cities in India. </p>.<p class="bodytext">BlueDot, led by Harsha Tej, was initiated this January. His love for nature inspired him to set up the organisation. “I was raised in Bengaluru and I have witnessed the deterioration of the green cover and water table over the years. We want to plant more trees to contribute to the green cover and increase the groundwater level,” he explains. </p>.<p class="bodytext">In early March, the group planted 1,000-plus native trees in Tatanagar, near Hebbal. “We recently helped restore a mangrove in Tamil Nadu for flood mitigation, and would like to continue such restoration alongside the coastal areas in Karnataka,” says Tej. The 30-year-old hopes to have more plantation and restoration drives in the future. The group is also working on measures to boost the city’s groundwater level by creating rainwater recharge pits. “Sixty percent of the city’s water comes from the Cauvery, the rest from groundwater. Thus recharging groundwater levels is a necessity,” he explains. </p>.0 shadows, 100% wonder: Bengaluru celebrates mind-bending solar phenomenon .<p class="bodytext">Additionally, they plan to host regular cleanup drives of lakes and surrounding areas. “We’ll conduct drives every two weeks. We hope to host plogging events to make such initiatives fun for all,” he adds. Aside from such activities, the group wants to educate children and adults living in areas around Bengaluru such as Ramnagar, Kolar and Channapatna, about the importance of wildlife conservation, human-animal conflict, treating snake bites, and sustainable farming, among other topics. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Celebrities like actors Samyukta Hornad, Diganth, Aindrita Ray and Ragini Prajwal, and rapper Karthik Gubbi, have been supporting the organisation’s initiatives. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The group’s core team comprises 12 members, who include marketing consultants, structural engineers, startup employees, professionals from the construction and landscaping industry, and artists. The group currently also has interns and is open to signing on volunteers. </p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic"><em>Visit bluedot.ngo on Instagram.</em></span></p>
<p class="bodytext">A group of youngsters, from different walks of life, has come together to conserve and restore water bodies, and surrounding ecosystems in Bengaluru and other cities in India. </p>.<p class="bodytext">BlueDot, led by Harsha Tej, was initiated this January. His love for nature inspired him to set up the organisation. “I was raised in Bengaluru and I have witnessed the deterioration of the green cover and water table over the years. We want to plant more trees to contribute to the green cover and increase the groundwater level,” he explains. </p>.<p class="bodytext">In early March, the group planted 1,000-plus native trees in Tatanagar, near Hebbal. “We recently helped restore a mangrove in Tamil Nadu for flood mitigation, and would like to continue such restoration alongside the coastal areas in Karnataka,” says Tej. The 30-year-old hopes to have more plantation and restoration drives in the future. The group is also working on measures to boost the city’s groundwater level by creating rainwater recharge pits. “Sixty percent of the city’s water comes from the Cauvery, the rest from groundwater. Thus recharging groundwater levels is a necessity,” he explains. </p>.0 shadows, 100% wonder: Bengaluru celebrates mind-bending solar phenomenon .<p class="bodytext">Additionally, they plan to host regular cleanup drives of lakes and surrounding areas. “We’ll conduct drives every two weeks. We hope to host plogging events to make such initiatives fun for all,” he adds. Aside from such activities, the group wants to educate children and adults living in areas around Bengaluru such as Ramnagar, Kolar and Channapatna, about the importance of wildlife conservation, human-animal conflict, treating snake bites, and sustainable farming, among other topics. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Celebrities like actors Samyukta Hornad, Diganth, Aindrita Ray and Ragini Prajwal, and rapper Karthik Gubbi, have been supporting the organisation’s initiatives. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The group’s core team comprises 12 members, who include marketing consultants, structural engineers, startup employees, professionals from the construction and landscaping industry, and artists. The group currently also has interns and is open to signing on volunteers. </p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic"><em>Visit bluedot.ngo on Instagram.</em></span></p>