Articles by Satheesh A

As part of the Solid Waste Management PIL, the High Court asked BBMP to setup the ward committees to help monitor SWM contracts etc.The question of ward committees came up in the case when talking about decentralisation and audits on waste management, says Ajesh Kumar Shankar, lawyer for the petitioner. “Currently no one knows about who clears the waste in a street in a ward, how much is billed for it, who gets paid etc. There is a requirement that an NGO or RWA in the area should sign the bill; contractors get away by ‘creating’ some groups who sign…

We'd taken our birder friend from Kerala to the Kaikondanahalli Lake. We were greeted by the spot-billed ducks and purple moorhens. And at twilight a big flock of Lesser Whistling Ducks took off (about 200); the sight and sound of a big whistling flock is quite a sensation. It was fairly dark when we reached the swamp area. "Sandpipers" and a friend pointed to activity in the swamp. "Sandpipers" quicky turned to "ringed plover? Painted Snipe!". We could hardly believe our luck. We did try our luck at shooting them too (Snipers, we are not!). We saw at least 3…

Bellandur residents have got RTI responses from BDA on status of three projects - flyovers at Bellandur and Devarabeesanahalli junctions, and an underpass at Kadubeesanahalli junction. The two flyover projects, which took off in September 2009, were supposed to be complete by the end of 2010. BDA later extended the deadline by another year, to December 2011. Work on Kadubeesanahalli underpass was to be complete by June 2011. But all three projects are still going on. Here is an RTI response from the BDA in December 2011 on status of the project, penalty imposition, project monitoring etc. According to this,…

Today's a day of acknowledging our dependence on our tools and equipment. Vehicles are cleaned and decorated with banana leaves, sandalwood paste and kumkum. The fire engines in the station at Sarjapur Road, were duly spruced and worshipped. Indeed they are life saving 'Ayudhas'. Fire engine. Pic: Meera K. ⊕

As you all know, the local community has been working very hard on rejuvenating Kaikondrahalli lake - it has come a long way from the days it was a garbage dump to an acclaimed water body that has been appreciated by one and all.  Our community has been very active on this front. The last two days have been traumatic for us.Just when our complaints about SJR Watermark constructions’ letting in sewage and worker sheds encroaching were having some effects, this new problem has risen.This weekend, BBMP decided to replace the old broken fence on the main bund facing Sarjapur road.…

Kaikondrahalli lake has been restored to its current condition after great efforts and regular clean up campaigns. Now it is undergoing the 2nd phase of renovation in which various works have been undertaken by the BBMP. However, since the past few months, a nearby apartment complex construction activity has been harming the lake. Not only an eyesore to the serene surroundings, the builder (SJR) has been letting in untreated sewage into the lake. This is mainly due to poor amenities provided to the construction workers - lack of proper toilets and no soak pits. All the sewage has been flowing…

The Outer Ring Road Companies Association has advised commuters to avoid the Outer Ring Road at Bellandur and Intel junctions in the coming week. In addition to the flyover work at Devarabisanahalli and Kadubisanahalli, there is also pipe laying work by BWSSB and GAIL. BDA is working on asphalting the stretch. The ORRCA team had earlier met Minister Suresh Kumar to discuss ways of reducing the inconvenience for commuters.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ⊕

Update from Priya Ramasubban, one of our active residents, working on improving Kaikondrahalli Lake. As most of you who frequent the lake would have noticed, we now have security guards in place and lots of deweeding and maintanence work going on.  Phase II of BBMP’s work – i.e. leveling the pathways, creating a separate cycling path, putting up the new fence and gates; creating play spaces and exercise spaces; etc. – has started last week and we are hoping the contractors will finish the work by the end of the year. The lake post-rejuvenation shows vast expanse of water. Pic: Sohel…

BBMP has shared this info on property tax collections in our revenue zone. Of the remaining Property Tax to be collected from Mahadevapura zone, 24 crores was collected in March 2011. As of 31st March 2011, 56.43 crores of property tax is yet to be collected. Of which 20.82 crores were collected by the end of June 2011. (Golf link Software Challaghatta - 8 crores, Bhagmane tech park, Garudacharpalya - 1.56 cores)More than one lakh property owners are yet to pay tax amounting to 24.02 crores. This shall be collected within the next 3 months.SignedK N DevarajuJoint Commisioner,BBMP, Mahadevapura ZoneDt…

Mahadevapura MLA Aravind limbavali is organising a job mela for Mahadevapura residents on July 9th and 10th. Applications can be forwarded to the Personal Secretary to the MLA in his office at  Mahadevapura junction or Contact Vanisri Pradeep at 9448493497.Enclosed application form. Madhevpura Job Fair REG_FORM⊕