Articles by News Desk

The lake of thousand birds has died a slow death over the years. How many more years before it is restored? Pic courtesy: SLAIT Sarakki Lake in JP Nagar was a home for Savira Hakki (thousand birds) in the bygone days. Not only have the thousand birds vanished, but also the pristine water body is completely destroyed due to years of neglect, apathy and greed of the land sharks. Is there any hope left in protecting this precious water body? To avert the impending environmental disaster from the daily garbage dumping, stench of the filled in sewage water fully covered…

Any old Bangalorean would be surprised to see the way Whitefield has grown beyond imagination. However, the infrastructure in the area hasn't seen so much improvement. If you thought nobody bothers about this, you are wrong. Whitefield residents want to make a difference by asking the government agencies about what they want. They have already requested a stop for more trains that pass Whitefield railway station. Bruhat Whitefield Residential Community Association (BWRCA) members have submitted a memorandum to the Railway Divisional manager, in this regard. P S Narayanan, the Vice-president of Nitesh Forest Hills Apartment Owners Welfare Association, took the…

What is KASA MUKTHA? The Karnataka Chief Minister launched the initiative in 22 Wards on July 24, 2013 to solve Bangalore's 'garbage problem'. He promised a Kasa Muktha (Garbage-Free) Bengaluru in 6 months (by Jan 24, 2014). The 'garbage problem' is being addressed at 3 levels:a) Segregation of garbage – by the citizenb) Processing of segregated garbage – by the BBMPc) Elimination of BLACK SPOTS (or open garbage dumps) Why focus on BLACK SPOTS? This citizen-driven pilot focused only on eliminating Black Spots. The BLACK SPOT problem is not just a garbage problem – it affects public health, sanitation, pedestrian…

The Lalbagh Flower Show in Bengaluru needs no introduction really, but the January 2014 edition of the show is rather special. The flower show, currently in its 199th edition, is just one short of completing its bicentennial. That’s not all; this edition also marks the 50th year of the Horticulture Department. Over 200 varieties of flowers and vegetables are on display. The showcase also features huge floral structures in the shape of mushrooms, bananas, coconuts and more. With props that act as the eyes and lips, these structures make for a quirky spectacle. There is also a huge 18 foot…

The finals of the Bala Janaagraha civic festival is going to be conducted at Devraj Urs Auditorium, Millers Tank Bund Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, on Saturday, January 18, 2014. A press note from Bala Janaagraha team gives more details: Bala Janaagraha is a uniquely designed, carefully thought out civic education program conducted for Grade VIII students of government, aided and private schools in Bangalore. Our vision is to transform today’s children into active citizens of tomorrow. The curriculum is different from the standard civic lessons taught in schools. In the curriculum designed by Bala Janaagraha the student becomes the primary…

People in Bengaluru can now heave a sigh of relief. According to draft rule notification of Akrama Sakrama, all buildings which are completed and have occupation certificate or PID Numbers issued shall be eligible for regularisation under these rules. Even other buildings are eligible, subjected to certain conditions. Akrama Sakrama application (application for regularisation of unauthorized developments) consists Part-I, Part-II and Part-III. Part-I: For the regularisation of plot in an un-authorised sub-divided land / layout. Part-II: For regularising the land use violations. Part-III: For the regularisation of unlawful buildings. Submit the completed application form with the documents required within three…

It is almost a year since the EWS Quarters slum was demolished and the residents ruthlessly thrown away from their homes. In spite of various protests and struggles against this inhuman slum demolition by slum dwellers, Dalit, Left, Student, Community based and other organisations for a year now, there hasn’t been a single response from the government on this issue. Even the new Congress government hasn’t responded to the five memorandums to the CM that the Forum against EWS Land Grab has submitted on this issue. The government in its callousness has not even bothered to hold talks on this issue and…

URBAN DEVEOPMENT DEPARTMENT SECRETARIATNOTIFICATION - INo.UDD 666 MyAPRa 2013' Bangalore, Dated: 31-12-2013The draft of the Karnataka Town and country Planning (Regulaflon of unauthorized development or constructions) Rules 2013, which the Government of Karnatata proposes to make in excercie of the powers conferred under section 76FF and read with section 74 of the Karnataka Town and Country planning Act, 1961 [Karnataka Act 11 of 1963) is hereby published as required under subsection (1) of section 74 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft will…

It's time to let go of your favourite horn that you chose to fit your vehicle with. Wonder why? The Supreme Court of India, in its judgment dated December 10, 2013, on the petition SLP (Civil) 25237/2010, has banned the multi-tone horns in vehicles. The last date for removal of this is January 10, 2014. Bangalore Traffic Police, in accordance with the obeyance of law, has issued a notice regarding this. A pamphlet that is issued by the Police Inspector of Indiranagar Traffic Police station says that all kinds of air pressure horns, musical horns, reverse horns, hooters, trumpets and…