Bengaluru this week February 25th 2016 CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city! March (and end of financial year!) is nearing and we need to gear up for our next fundraising drive. But before that, we would like to hear from you - what do you think of our work -- does this journalism supported by Oorvani Foundation matter to you? What can we improve on? Write to us at edit@citizenmatters.in! This week’s highlight: Are you getting cheated by your LPG dealer? How much are you paying for your LPG cylinder? Pic:…
Read moreOpen Streets (OMG) is being held today, February 21st, on M.G. Road, Bengaluru. Celebrating Bengaluru OMG aims to revive the long-lost charm of the 'Boulevard of Bengaluru City'. Traffic will be restricted between Anil Kumble Circle and the Brigade Road junction on MG Road between 9 am and 9 pm, opening the streets for festivities that celebrate the city of Bengaluru in all its traffic-free glory. BMTC and BMRCL have extended their bus and metro services respectively, to encourage people to use public transport when commuting to the event. Special arrangements for free and secure parking for bicycles have also…
Read moreBengaluru this week February 19th 2016 CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city! The important story of the week - on how there are no rules or regulations for water tankers that most apartments, especially those outside the core city area, are dependent on. Nobody monitors whether the water tankers are safe enough. What water are we drinking? Some good news after that shocker – plastic ban trending across the city. Koramangala, HSR Layout, Sanjay Nagar - who is next? We track the various citizen-led single-use plastic bans. And The Green Ogre…
Read moreThe Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) tracked the ambient air and noise quality in Bengaluru before and during the Invest Karnataka 2016, Global Investor Meet. Here are their findings. Status of Ambient Air Quality To know the impact of the Global Investor Meet (GIM) 2016 on ambient air quality in Bengaluru, air quality monitoring was carried out at 12 locations round the clock before and during GIM 2016, using manual and continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations. Name of the Station RSPM µg/m3 before GIM RSPM µg/m3 during GIM % of RSPM I/D CAAQMS SG Halli 115.6 85.5 26.0…
Read moreSrinivasa Mahal, Winner of the 2015 award in the Private (Residential) category. Pic: INTACH INTACH has invited nominations from you for the Second Annual INTACH Heritage Awards, given to Bengaluru's heritage buildings. Citizens can nominate the heritage buildings that they think deserve an award -- the beautiful ones that make you sigh, the charming ones that you think gave Bengaluru its unique charm, the hoary old ones that tell stories of our past. These awards help to showcase Bengaluru's heritage, and to keep heritage in the public eye, so do take a moment to nominate a building! Awards will be given…
Read moreKarnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) conducted an interaction programme on e-waste management in Peenya Industrial Area, in association with M/s.Auma India Pvt Ltd. A press note from KSPCB says that the programme was organised in order to create an awareness, among the industrial stakeholders, to practice reuse, recycling and recovering of e-waste, without damaging the environment. 80 participants from various industries of Peenya Industrial Area participated in the event. Lakshman, Chairman of KSPCB inagurated the event and delivered an inaugural address. He explained that all advancement in information technology and communications’ has stimulated the economy and improved the living…
Read moreBengaluru this week February 11th 2016 CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city! Mobility is our theme for the week; we have several articles covering various aspects of commuting in Bengaluru, from why BMTC and BMRCL should not be allowed to monopolise, to shuttle aggregator ZipGo’s ongoing tussle with the Transport Department. Also, in light of the recent incident at Vibgyor school in Whitefield, we tell you what precautions you can take and what you should do when you come into contact with wildlife in the city. All this and more… This…
Read moreWe have seen a multitude of opinions about Bengaluru’s transport — from introducing commuter rail, to allowing private players to creating a proper Unified Transport Authority to Bengaluru's city transport issues. Each argument has its own merit, but it is for the government to act in responsible, planned manner, to provide efficient transport solutions. Have your say, with a quick survey. And share your views on the matter with the government, by taking action, with the views that you support. Ask the govt to allow private shuttle aggregators The Government and BMTC feel that ZipGo will rob BMTC’s business, because…
Read more