Articles by Sankar C G

When Dr S C Sharma, 45, resident of Jayanagar 4th Block filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force against a BBMP engineer who was allowing an illegal building to stand, he did not know that by sheer coincidence, engineers were going to revolt against BMTF police head Rajvir Sharma, an office of the rank of Assistant Director General of Police (ADGP).The particular illegal building was constructed in 1992.  The RTI record, which Citizen Matters has received from Sharma shows that BBMP (then BMP) has sanctioned a two storey building in 1992. But the owner has constructed a five…

The revamp and modernisation of Bangalore’s first and oldest shopping complex in Jayanagar got off the ground on August 4th. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar laid the foundation stone. Deputy Chief Ministers K S Eshwarappa and R Ashoka, Vijaya Kumar B N (BJP MLA, Jayanagar), BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda, Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy were also present. The much awaited project being inaugurated by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. Pic: Sankar C G The project has been under discussion for four years even as shop owners resisted, fearing loss of their livelihood.On the day of inauguration, N Narasimha Raju, vice-president of Traders Association…

In line with developments at New Delhi, where Team Anna declared they will get into politics, India Against Corruption group campaign in Bengaluru will call off its fast at 4pm, Friday August 4th. "The ten fasters will likely continue to fast till 4pm tomorrow, even though they do not have to", said Ashwin Mahesh, one of IAC's coordinators in the Hazare-led nationwide campaign against corruption. IAC Bengaluru is conducting the campaign at Freedom Park is to support Anna Hazare's fast at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi for the Lok Pal bill.In an noteworthy development, just hours before the Team Anna announcement…

The fate of the long-delayed housing project at Ejipura’s Economically Weaker Section (EWS) colony hangs on an affidavit filed by BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda on July 24th. The High Court had instructed BBMP on July 18th to submit the affidavit on its plan of action over the reconstruction of 1512 houses. BBMP Commissioner Shankar Linge Gowda coming out of the court after the hearing. Pic: Sankar C G The order came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by 12 original allottees of quarters at the EWS colony, who are no longer living there. They were residents of the previous…

Team ‘Learning to Fly’ won the Ultimate Frisbee National Club tournament Final at Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on July 8th, 2012, organised by Karnataka Ultimate Players Association. Of the 24 teams participating from all over the country ‘Falcons’ and ‘Learning to Fly’ reached the final. In a mind boggling one hour, both teams fought tooth and nail for a win. It looked like it will be a tie with the 7-7. But ‘Learning to Fly’ snatched the winning score at the final moment.  Both teams were from namma Bengaluru. Ultimate Frisbee National Club tournament Final at Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore…

Citizen Matters in association with ‘Second to none’ (220) is organising a ‘Reuse and Recycle mela’ this weekend at BTM Layout. 220 is an online community focused on the concept of Reduce-Recycle-Reduce waste. Flea market, last year. File pic The flea market on Sunday, July 15th, will provide a platform to buy second hand and upcycled articles. Upcycling refers to converting useless or waste into valuable products. There will be a bit of everything from used books, electronic items, clothes and home decor knick knacks. ‘Don't discard, reuse, don’t throw, recycle’ will be the buzz phrase this weekend. 11 am…

The monsoon rains are delayed this year. But by sheer coincidence, BBMP’s rainwater harvesting plans of last year remain unimplemented, almost as if the monsoons were granting their own extension to BBMP, ominously. What’s worse, a Citizen Matters inquiry revealed that the city’s accounts department declined to release funds due to the engineers’ lack of interest. Bengaluru faces a shortage of 410 MLD (megalitre water per day) of water. The average rainfall here is 923 mms within a geographical area of 800 sq kms.  It is in this context by seeing the potential of RWH, BBMP made implementation of rainwater…

It has been 11 years since doctors predicted that Saroja Puthran would survive for just three months. She was declared HIV positive. Her husband had died within two years of being infected by HIV. As a homemaker, completely dependent on her family, nothing could have prevented her from collapsing completely. But she fought the disease successfully and works for people infected with the same disease. “I will work for them till my death.” she said with a voice that is not discouraged with bad experience. Saroja Puthran at work. Pic: Sankar C G What do you think about the attitude…

BBMP has presented yet another inflated budget of Rs 9498.40 crore on June 28th, 2012. Like the two previous budgets, this time also activists and opposition parties criticised the budget as unrealistic. The budget has got more significance in the grounds of coming assembly election on May 2013. Budget session. Pic: Sankar C G As usual, infrastructure works have snatched a good portion in the current budget too, with around 2000 crore rupees allocated for major infrastructure works. BBMP’s initiative to provide basic infrastructure to 110 villages in outer Bangalore, received warm welcome from all sections. Rs 135 crore has…

In the last few years, a large part of the city's low lying areas were affected by flash floods, due to heavy and continuous rains. The RWA members of these areas have been trying hard to get BBMP and BWSSB to fix these issues. This year practically all roads have been dug up for either laying BWSSB pipes or for new flyovers. Will BBMP re-lay the roads in time? Digging at Bismillah Nagar, near BTM Layout. Pic: Abhishek Angad BBMP has taken up desilting the Storm Water Drains (SWD) in the four valleys - Koramangala, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Vrishabhavati, to…