In the midst of Bengaluru’s growing urbanization, a powerful wave of green has emerged. Employees from automotive retail tech company Tekion swapped their desks for shovels, planting over 1,000 saplings near Hebbal Lake in a bold effort to counter the city’s escalating environmental crisis. Partnering with the Blue Dot Foundation under their CSR banner, Tekion has launched an urban forest project designed to combat the city’s “heat islands” and shrinking green spaces.
This collaborative initiative saw the planting of native tree species, including Arjuna, Myrobalan, Sea Hibiscus, Magnolia, and Mahogany, among others. Jay Vijayan, Founder and CEO of Tekion, marked the start of the project by planting bamboo saplings, emphasizing the need to reverse Bengaluru’s disappearing green cover. “We’re not just planting trees; we’re investing in the city’s future,” said Aravind Gowda, Senior Director of Communications at Tekion. The company is committed to nurturing the saplings for the next three years to ensure their growth and survival.
Harsha Tej, Director of Blue Dot, highlighted the collective responsibility to protect and expand green spaces. The project aims to create an urban sanctuary for local flora and fauna, a thriving habitat for birds and animals. Environmental advocate Samyukta Hornad and trail-running icon Ashwini Ganapathy Bhat also participated, underscoring the importance of community involvement in environmental conservation.
“Urban forests are not a luxury; they’re a necessity,” Harsha emphasized. Each sapling planted is a promise for a cooler, greener, and more sustainable future for Bengaluru.
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