Bengaluru Engineer's Eco-Crusade Revives City's Green Cover, Wins National Acclaim

In 2025, Kapil Sharma, a Bengaluru-based engineer, continues his decade-long crusade to revive the city's dwindling green cover and waterbodies. Sharma, who moved to Bengaluru from Raipur in 2001 to pursue engineering, fell in love with the city's tree-lined streets. However, he soon noticed rapid urban development leading to the cutting down of many trees, which deeply bothered him.

Determined to act, Sharma began visiting government offices to understand his role as a concerned citizen. In 2007, he started planting saplings on weekends, and this collective effort eventually became the foundation for his non-profit organization, SayTrees. Over the years, SayTrees has planted more than 10 million trees across urban and rural areas, including fruit trees, in partnership with over 20,000 farmers.

Water conservation also became a priority for Sharma after he observed Bengaluru struggling during dry seasons. Starting with one lake, SayTrees has now rejuvenated 50 lakes nationwide, adding a water-holding capacity of around five billion litres. The organization has also pioneered the creation of over 150 Miyawaki forests, dense and self-sustaining mini-forests, in urban areas to support biodiversity and green cover.

Sharma's efforts have now gained national recognition, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting his work in a recent Mann Ki Baat address. While Sharma now operates from the U.S., he continues to promote the initiative globally, raising awareness and support, while his co-founder Devkant manages on-ground activities in India.