Historically known as Sudavadi, Hosur has grown into a key residential and industrial hub due to its strategic location near Bengaluru and its favourable climate. Rapid urbanisation is reshaping the city’s land use, with expanding infrastructure putting pressure on natural resources. This growth has come at an environmental cost declining green cover, rising urban heat, changing lake ecosystems, and increasing concerns of encroachment on open and ecologically sensitive lands.

Under the #BlueGreen initiative, E.F.I, in collaboration with the Hosur Municipal Corporation, has taken up the restoration of an abandoned land parcel along the 100ft Road in Appavu Nagar,south of Chandramkudi Lake. Once a stretch filled with plastic waste, invasive weeds, construction debris, scrap, and encroachment pressures, the land has now been cleaned, cleared, and secured.

Today, it is transforming into a thriving micro-forest with over 4,000 native saplings restoring ecological balance and offering a green lung for a rapidly growing city. As the natural gradient of the land descends towards the lake, all surface runoff during rainfall flows through this parcel into the downstream waterbody.

This BlueGreen complex integrates the “green” through dense native tree cover and the “blue” through the creation of sponge ponds within the plantation site. These ponds capture rainwater, enable groundwater recharge and help raise the local water table reducing heat stress and enhancing climate resilience. Together, this forms a sustainable BlueGreen urban solution for a rapidly urbanizing Hosur. Scroll down to explore the full restoration journey.

This entire stretch of land was divided into four zones based on size and site conditions, with each zone systematically cleared of garbage, scrap, and construction debris, and fenced to protect and secure the land. The soil was then levelled, with excess earth redistributed to areas lacking proper topsoil correcting undulations and creating a uniform plantation bed. This was further conditioned to support healthy plant growth, followed by the planting of diverse native species suited to the local ecology. With structured planning and phased restoration, the site is now transitioning into a dense micro-forest enhancing biodiversity, supporting groundwater recharge, and creating a resilient green space within the rapidly urbanizing landscape of Hosur.

To ensure long-term survival and growth, borewell systems were established across all zones, integrated with drip irrigation for efficient and consistent watering. A dedicated gardener has also been appointed to monitor and maintain the site daily, ensuring the saplings are nurtured through their critical early growth stages.

Before Condition

Work In Progress

We also invited young nation builders from the surrounding areas and actively involved them through plantation drives, nature walks, and interactive sessions sensitizing them to the importance of conserving nature, urban afforestation, and addressing the urban heat island effect, habitat fragmentation and more.

If you are in and around Hosur, Vaanga Let’s Volunteer

Volunteer for Hosur & Her Environment with E.F.I.