Bengaluru: The Sunday evening saw some outstanding citizens of the city getting honoured for their distinguished contribution at the ninth edition of the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF).
Rukmini Krishnaswamy, Director, The Spastics Society, was awarded as the Namma Bengalurian of the year while Vidhya Y, co-founder, Vision Empower, was awarded as the rising star of the year for her contribution towards building technology for visually impaired students, so that they can pursue Science and Mathematics.
The 2017 NBF award winner and lead scientist at Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Dr TV Ramachandra took the opportunity to lay bare the startling facts regarding the impending threat of ecological disaster the city faces.
"In 19 century we have had 1,452 water bodies with 80% greenery and a temperature as low as 14 degrees. With rapid urbanisation the temperature has soared up to 38 degrees and the city is left with only 198 water bodies," Dr Ramachandra pointed out.
Reminding the glory of the city, Uday Kumar, who is on a mission to preserve city's history said," We have Mesolithic ruins all over the city and every locality of the city tells a history of 1,000 years."
Amidst huge applause, Dipika Bajpai, Deputy Conservator of Forest was accorded as the government official of the year award. D Roopa Moudgil, IPS was also one of the nominees, but she refused to take part in the event leading to a controversy. Friends of Lake, Project Vrukhsha Foundation, Save Pattendur Agrahara Lake and Save Kaggadasapura Lake were felicitated for their efforts to rejuvenate lakes across the city.
