The once-verdant "Garden City" of Bengaluru has morphed into a concrete dystopia, its soul suffocated under relentless urbanization. Where 262 lakes once glistened, barely 18 remain, while the city's green canopy has withered from 68% to 23% coverage. Only by embracing nature-based solutions to threats like flooding — through rain gardens, bioswales, permeable surfaces — can we resurrect Bengaluru's former glory.
Bengaluru, India's silicon heartland, lies humbled beneath 130mm of rain — the second-highest deluge in a decade. But the city's recurring woes can be handled better with improved urban planning and more involved governance from the administration. Focusing on basics like rejuvenating Bengaluru's water bodies and actioning suggestions from grassroot populations could go a long way in tackling potential weather threats.