• Bengaluru is about to get a modern abattoir near Ramanagara. HC has dismissed a plea from residents that opposed the proposed slaughterhouse for animals. This is expected to minimise pollution and waste disposal issues.
• Electronic City has got many new direct buses from other parts of the city, routed through NICE Road. BMTC has started women-only buses between Central Silk Board and Electronics City during peak hours, which could be extended to other routes based on feedback.
• BBMP’s vigilance committee has found a massive garbage scam, where the loss to BBMP was pegged at a massive Rs 631 crore.
• Two people, including a college student, lost their lives last Thursday when a speeding water tanker on Kempapura Junction, Airport Road, mowed into a group of pedestrians crossing the road. The driver of the tanker has been arrested. College students protested the next day at the accident spot demanding for a pedestrian skywalk. The next day, a BBMP garbage truck knocked down a two-wheeler, near Marathahalli, causing the death of a woman on the two-wheeler.
• A Bengaluru cop has been suspended after a video of him assaulting an ex-serviceman who had moved a barricade to let an ambulance go through, went viral.
• A 53-year-old Swine Flu patient who was in ICU died during a power cut at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases.
• Bengaluru has been ranked as the world’s cheapest city to live in, according to the Worldwide Cost of Living Report 2015 compiled by the Economic Intelligence Unit. The survey compares the cost of living between 133 cities using New York as the base city.

With the State government announcing the implementation of Akrama Sakrama, citizens are ready with new petitions in the High Court to oppose it. The State government, expecting this, has filed a caveat in all three benches of the High Court, to stop the Court from issuing a stay without hearing the State government’s submissions.
Read: Citizens and State to lock horns in court over Akrama Sakrama
Also read: Unaddressed issues in Akrama Sakrama that are likely to create yet another mess

Series of consultations with citizens by BBMP Restructuring Committee on dividing and restructuring the city will be held from March 9th to March 13th. This is most important, be there to give your view. Check the schedule here.

BBMP releases Rs 118 crores to pay the pending garbage bills. Read more here.

Rs 200 crore of refundable deposits has been lying with the KSPCB. If your apartment has not collected it after completing the construction of STP, now is the time: KSPCB extends consent period for industries and plants to five years.

Whenever a new road project is initiated in Bengaluru, roads and footpaths are dug up, and both commuters and pedestrians are inconvenienced. Bhargavi S Rao wonders if there is a solution to this. Read: It’s all dust, smoke and bad roads.

The Railway Budget has not allocated any money for much-desired Commuter Rail for Bengaluru. Sathya Sankaran says that it is a result of inaction by the State government. Read: What the Siddu govt should have done to bring Commuter Rail.

Across the city, one is witness to piles of burning garbage, mostly leaf litter. What makes it all the more harmful is that sometimes plastic is burnt along with the leaves. Read: Doctors say inhaling smoke from burning garbage can cause cancer.

Nawaz, 4-year-old boy living in DJ Halli passed away from pneumonia, compounded by malnutrition and cerebral palsy. He weighed only 9.8 kg at the time of his death. Read: Who should be held responsible for Nawaz’ death?

US-based International Journalists’ Network has featured Citizen Matters in their website. A small excerpt:

When Citizen Matters started, few other news outlets covered these problems until one issue gained momentum – road-widening. When residents began to see markers on their homes – 3, 5 or 10 meters – Citizen Matters looked into the issue, only to find that the government planned on widening roads to improve the traffic flow in Bangalore — but no one had asked the property owners. The government responded and said property owners would receive transferrable development rights.

Read the full article here: Citizen Matters: A successful model for a citizen journalism news site

• Delight your senses to Sammohanam, a unique jugalbandi featuring Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam, singing for Bharatanatyam dancer Malavika Sarukkai on March 6th and 8th.
• Gasté in India 1905-1910,a photo exhibition featuring the people and the magic of India at the turn of the twentieth century., is on show at Alliance Francaise starting March 6th up to March 27th.
• Learn about the origins of one of India’s favourite foods, biryani, and get to sample six different varieties of it at the Frazer Town Biryani Walk on March 7th.
• Watch What’s up with Indian parents, a satire on the influence of Indian parents on the different stages of a man’s life at Alliance Francaise on March 7th.
• Head to Gallery Skye for Who must write these lines?, an exhibition by contemporary artist Sudarshan Shetty. The exhibition is on from March 7th to April 30th.
• Celebrate International Women’s Day with The Vagina Monologues. Three shows are being held at af Alliance Francaise at 2 pm, 5 pm and 7.30 pm.
• Watch the film screening of La Piroque, a story about a group of fisherman who undertake the treacherous crossing of the Atlantic to Spain, at Alliance Francaise on March 11th.

If you like to support our independent coverage on the important issues of our time, do consider making a contribution to Oorvani Foundation – click here. Drop us a mail on foundation@oorvani.in If you need more details.

Here’s how you can interact with your fellow citizens and our editorial team.

• Send us your articles! We run both citizen journalism and professionally authored stories, commentary and posts.
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Have a happy weekend!
Until next week,
Shree D N
Associate Editor
Citizen Matters

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