‘NGT buffer zone will raze 95% of the city’
National Green Tribunal’s order of adherence to buffer zones for lakes and drains will see 95% of Bengaluru razed, as most buildings are in the vicinity of lakes and tertiary drains, said Uday Holla, Advocate General of Karnataka, in a written submission at the Supreme Court last week. Earlier the Supreme Court had also expressed reservations on the rights of the National Green Tribunal, a statutory body, to change the 30-metre buffer zone around lakes in Bengaluru to 75 metres. Citizen Matters had earlier written about the problem in detail.
Source: Deccan Herald
19 conditions for suburban rail
The State has put out a list of 19 conditions the fulfillment of which is necessary before the suburban rail project is approved. A distance of 4-5 km between each station as opposed to 1-2 km proposed, and leasing out both state and centre’s lands for Rs. 1 per acre, as well as objection to higher FSI along the railway track as opposed to the railway stations are in the list.
19 conditions laid down by the Karnataka government. Courtesy: The New Indian Express
Sweeping machines for city
34 mechanical sweeping machines will be deployed by March 2019 to clean city roads, said BBMP recently. Eight machines were already in use for each zone, 17 more will be rented and another 17 bought. Each machine costs 70 lakh.
Source: Deccan Herald
Free wifi in Bengaluru
The BBMP will be providing free WiFi services at 3,500 spots across Bengaluru within four months. It will be free for the first 30 minutes, after which commercial rates will be charged according to the rates set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The internet speed is 100 mbps and one can upload or download up to 1 gb a day, according to Govindarajanagar corporator Umesh Shetty.
Source: The New Indian Express | The Deccan Herald | The Hindu
Water woes not expected this summer
The BWSSB is confident that Bengalureans will not have to worry about water this summer, as the 2018 monsoons have filled the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs, despite water levels in reservoirs elsewhere painting a scary picture. The BWSSB has also announced that it has succeeded in reducing the Unaccounted For Water (UFW) levels from 48 to 37 percent. The 164 crore project that began in 2013 aimed at reducing the water losses in the city to 16% and focussed on repairing old pipelines and removing any unauthorised connections.
Source: The New Indian Express
Govt-run breast milk bank
A government-run breast milk bank is also being set up at Vanivilas Women and Children Hospital in the city. Dr Geetha Shivamurthy, Medical Superintendent of Vanivilas hospital said that it was set up due to the demand they have for additional milk for preterm babies.
Source: The New Indian Express
Laptops to be given to SC/ST student scorers
SC/ST students in government schools will be given laptops if they secure first class marks during their SSLC examinations. Currently, laptops are being given to the first three toppers from each district. It will now be extended to students who achieve at least 60 percent. This move was made to encourage students to go for higher studies.
Source: The New Indian Express
Businesses protest BBMP closure drive
With the BBMP renewing its drive against business establishments in various localities over alleged zonal regulation violations, residents and owners of such commercial establishments held a press conference recently to give their side of the story. According to the association, many shops have existed for nearly 30 to 40 years without issues and now being asked to vacate while pubs, which pose a problem for residents, continue to operate.
Source: The Hindu
More Vayu Vajra buses, fog at the Airport
Six routes will be added to the Vayu Vajra bus routes, due to its rising popularity, particularly among women who find it safer to travel via buses than cabs. Currently, 99 buses operate 686 trips to and from Kempegowda International Airport.
Fog doesn’t clear up even at 10 am in Bengaluru. Pic: Shree D N
Kempegowda International Airport had to suspend its flights twice on Thursday last week due to the thick fog. An official release said that 44 departing flights had a delayed take-off while 18 incoming flights had a delayed landing. Four flights had to be diverted – two cargo flights from Blue Dart and one from IndiGo were sent to Chennai and another IndiGo flight was diverted to Hyderabad.
Source: The New Indian Express
(Compiled by Rahna Jacob)
The SC should pass a judicious order taken into consideration the struggles of the middle class which have bought sites as per the law at the time. Where should all these middle class site owners whose sites come under the new buffer zone regulations? Victorious armies used to plunder , loot, kill the men folk and children and rape the women of the cities conquered…..this NGT order has done all that just by the stroke of a pen !