Bengaluru's Jakkur to test bamboo for lake revival

The bamboo city project in Jakkur, led by Neelam Manjunath of CGBMT and Manasaram Architects, proposes planting one bamboo per resident and using 30% bamboo in construction to make Bengaluru carbon-neutral by 2035.

CGBMT signed an MoU with Bengaluru North corporation, and Rs 1.6 crore was released in June for plantation, soil preparation, and maintenance for a year.

Jakkur has around 28,000 residents and identified 47 sites covering 5,09,705 sqm for bamboo planting, including vacant plots, roadsides, parks, stormwater drains, and lake surroundings.

The area already has 2,000 bamboo plants; another 26,000 will be planted, with harvest expected after five years, aiming to generate livelihoods beyond carbon credits.

Jakkur serves as a ward-level model; insights will guide ward-by-ward planning in other parts of Bengaluru towards the city's long-term carbon-neutral and regenerative goal.