Articles by Akshatha M

Massive SEZ coming up on the catchment area between Agara and Bellandur lake. File pic. With the deadline only a week away for an eight-member Expert Committee to study Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project on Agara-Bellandur lake catchment area, the Committee has decided to submit an interim report on the project for the time being. The Expert Committee was formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as part of the litigation proceedings on the SEZ project by Mantri Tech Zone Pvt Ltd and another project by Core Mind Software and Services Ltd, on May 7th, 2015. ‘Yet to get details…

The BBMP Election office has issued a public notice on model code of conduct to be followed by candidates and political parties during the BBMP Election-2015 scheduled for August 22nd. The model code of conduct has come into effect from July 17th and will be in force till August 28th. The code of conduct is applicable to only those areas within the limits of BBMP. Model code of conduct will not prevent the continuation of already existing works, but new developmental works cannot be sanctioned. Some of the regulations include: ban on meetings chaired by ministers and MLAs, use of…

Volunteers, attendees and others join hands along the line representing the old border of the fort. Pic: Holly Thorpe As the clock struck 11 and the city was all set for sleep on Friday July 24th, a group of around 200 men and women gathered in front of the Tipu Sultan Fort gate at the otherwise busy KR Market road in Bengaluru. Clad in red, they braved the night and assembled at the centre of the market area to retrace some of Bengaluru’s lost history. This was the scene at the Heritage Party, organised with the tagline, “Let’s Paint the Kote…

A suspense thriller, Rangi Taranga hit the screens in Sandalwood on July 3rd 2015. The movie was rated 9.5/10 by the movie reviewing website IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and received highly positive reviews from those who watched it. Directed by debutant director Anup Bhandari, with cinematography by Lance Kaplan and William David, who have worked for many Hollywood movies, the cinema attracted the audience just through the word of mouth, in the absence of positive media reviews. However, the theatres in Bengaluru ousted the movie with the release of multi-language film Bahubali. The movie was not given enough shows, and…

The much awaited final report on Restructuring BBMP has been submitted to the government. The recommendations of the Committee which range from a three-tier system of governance to restructuring Bengaluru into five corporations to establishment of Greater Bengaluru Financial Commission and extension of Mayor’s term to five years, have been appreciated as well as criticised. Citizen Matters tried to pool the opinions of representatives from various political parties, urban experts and citizens on what they had to say about the Restructuring Committee report. One aspect that was talked about by majority of them was the formation of Greater Bengaluru Authority…

A few concerned citizens of Bengaluru who are well aware of the problems faced by laymen while purchasing a house in the city, have made it a point to draft their objections and suggestions to the amended Real Estate Bill 2013. Though they were not invited for the consultation programme organised by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, in the city on June 10th and 11th, they did not give up. These groups of citizens contacted the chairman of the Select Committee and requested if the Committee will allow them to submit their objections…

A brief summary of some news you might have missed out in the last few days. Applications for jobs, awards and other important stuff that happened in the capital city! Clear 50% or no salary increments BBMP Administrator Vijayabhaskar held a meeting of principals of all government schools and college in BBMP limits on July 6th 2015. He asked them to improve the pass percentage in the schools and colleges, by marking the low-scoring students and giving extra attention to them. If the trend of scoring below 50% continues, the administrator warned that the salary increments of the principals will…

The BBMP Restructuring Committee, in its final report, has recommended the splitting of BBMP into five corporations and integrating them under an umbrella institution called the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The Committee has also advocated for introducing a three-tier system in Bengaluru for efficient governance. The committee which was constituted by the State government to study and prepare a report on restructuring Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had submitted an interim report earlier. The Committee submitted its final report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday, July 13th 2015. The State government had formed the BBMP Restructuring Committee with retired IAS officer…

The homepage of old BBMP website that was filled with lot of information, has changed now with a new design. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) websitehas got a new appearance. The homepage which was earlier overloaded with information and links, has been made simpler and cleaner. All the links and information are categorised under the main menu making it easier for the users to search. The redesigned website was launched on the night of July 7th 2015. The work is still under progress. BBMP IT Advisor T Sheshadri who has worked on the website said the purpose of redesigning…

A typical scene from BBMP Council meets during afternoons. Pic: Shree D N It's a meeting that is supposed to discuss the development works that must happen in your ward, every month. Your own representative, who is a councillor, better-known as corporator, is supposed to attend it and participate in it on your behalf. What if you come to know that the one whom you chose to do this job did not even attend the meetings? Or if you come to know that the person faked his attendance and went elsewhere to do his other works? List of councillors having…