Articles by Shilpi Sahu

Volunteers from Kasa Muktha Bellandur presented a small token of appreciation to the invisible & often neglected workforce of our society by distiributing cloth bags & sweets to the Pourkarmikas by the volunteers at various muster points (Doddakaneli, Panathur Bridge and Sarjapura Total mall) on the occasion of Ganesha Festival. Every morning even before we have our first cuppa tea, all these workers are out there on the ground, sweeping streets, picking up our garbage & keeping our surroundings a little more cleaner (to be dirtied by the citizens once again - day after day!). We understand that a lot needs…

On the evening on May 12th, raw sewage gushed in from the eastern inlet for nearly 3 hours into Kaikondrahalli lake. With help from BBMP labourers provided by BBMP lakes Engineer Shilpa, and with many of the lake visitors and volunteers staying back at night to oversee the work, we could partially block the inlet. The blocking at the inlet was reinforced in the morning, but sewage continues to trickle in. With a JCB borrowed from Bren Construction, we tried to block the main source of the sewage inflow, but had to re-open it soon as the land owner and…

Kaikondrahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes have been in the news for disturbing reasons lately - the rampant real estate developments in the valley zone that may lead to drying up of the downstream lakes and massive flooding in the next rainy season. There is an ongoing petition to raise awareness on this issue. However, it is business as usual at the government offices. Authorities seem to have been quietly sanctioning one project after another. While there is Shriram Chirping Woods project that has been sanctioned in the valley zone, there is also Bren Imperia that has partly been built on the valley…

Constructions continue unabated in the wetland between Kaikondrahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes. Pic: Adity Roy Nair. Kaikondrahalli Lake located on Sarjapur Road is a 48-acre urban lung space and water reservoir in the water starved region of Bellandur, Bengaluru. It is also a thriving ecosystem with 50+ species of birds and reptiles. The lake stands as a shining example of the government and the local community working together to preserve an urban common. Kasavanahalli lake, spread over 80 acres, situated upstream was recently rejuvenated. However, this bio-diverse ecosystem is now under immediate threat due to constructions and buffer zone violations on its…

Outer Ring Road traffic on a usual weekday. Picture Courtesy: Mayur Channagere   The ORR stretch from Ibblur to Marathahalli is home to Ecospace, Embassy Tech Village, Prestige Tech park and Cessna Business Park. In addition we have a world class hospital, scores of commercial buildings, offices and approximately 50,000 residential units (and still growing). Several lakh square feet of space, both residential and commercial, is under construction. The Sarjapur road, adjoining ORR, houses Wipro corporate office - currently 10,000 employees. A new Techpark sprawling on 65 acres is coming up in Carmelaram, near Decathlon Sarjapur road. Many more residential…

Few updates about the current state of Kaikondrahalli lake: Clear example of buffer zone violation   Buffer zone violations – Numerous buildings have popped up around Kaikondrahalli Lake in the last couple of years. Almost all of them have buffer zone violations i.e they have been built over the 100 ft catchment area around the water body which must be left AS IT IS to allow for percolation of rain water into the ground. This area must follow the natural gentle sloping pattern to let excess rain water to flow into the lake during heavy rains to avoid flooding of…

Bellandur Ward candidates have started campaigning and reaching out to residents. Meanwhile residents had a discussion on the Bellandur Forum egroups and Facebook page, on what our needs are and what we want the winning candidate of the Bellandur Ward to address in her term.  This is the Citizen Manifesto that we came up with.  Governance Form a Ward Committee within a month: select 3 representatives from Bellandur apartment/layout RWAs - call out for applications by issuing public notice. Communication Have a public meeting at a fixed day, say first Saturday of the month to hear grievances and review execution. Liason with other agencies including traffic…

Bellandur Buzz… Issue # 39 Date: 3rd July 2015 This newsletter is brought to you by the citizen group bellandur-forum@googlegroups.com  Another reason to vote We all know how important it is to vote. We have cried ourseleves hoarse over the garbage situation, the potholes and the corruption in the ranks of the political class. But these are not good enough reasons to brave the Bangalore traffic on a lazy holiday.What if we give away free tickets to the newly awaited movie ‘the Minions’ to all voters if they make it to the voting station and cast their vote. Minion tickets…

Bellandur Buzz… Issue # 38 Date: 18th June 2015 This newsletter is brought to you by the citizen group bellandur-forum@googlegroups.com Local SWM champions feature in News 9 Mass illegal burning of garbage near Prakriya and Primus concerned some parents who then visited the area with a BBMP official only to discover to their shock that burnt garbage was being packaged as KCDC branded compost. Here is the coverage by News 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=espPDCwvve0   Happenings at Saul Kere: Clean up by the volunteers Kids enjoy activities by the lake World environment day was celebrated at Saul Kere on June 6 with…

Bellandur Buzz… Issue # 37 Date: 5th June 2015 This newsletter is brought to you by the citizen group bellandur-forum@googlegroups.com   Eventful Green weekend   Protest against Mantri and Coremind Projects Venue: Footpath next to Ayyappa temple on Sarjapur Road, opposite Agara lake Date: June 7th, Sunday Time: 9:30am – 11:30 am Please turn up in large numbers and show that you care about the biggest lake and the lifeline of Bengaluru. Sign the petition and read the history of the project at https://www.change.org/p/karnataka-govt-please-stop-agara-sez. Please bring your own water and hats. Parking next to Agara lake service road on ORR. Please take…