City: Bengaluru

Most Indian cities have a distinct historic past, rooted in the natural, social, economic and cultural contexts of different times. A strong relationship with nature and its processes is the most significant aspect of these cities’ development and survival. Landscape Foundation, India initiated the pilot study of the city of Delhi (Delhi – Hills, Forests and a River, 2017) in this context. This was followed by the study of Pune (The City of Hills and Rivers, 2018). This year, the study of Bengaluru was undertaken. The research, in each case, is produced in English and the regional language, as to…

Bengaluru's drinking water highly polluted Most Bengalureans are consuming highly contaminated water due to pathogens in BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) supply, borewells and sumps, according to a study by the Ramaiah Advanced Testing Laboratory (RATL). Besides, heavy metals and toxic chemicals have contaminated groundwater, the study found. RATL analysed water samples from BWSSB taps, borewells and sumps from 100 residential areas for over a year. One-third of these samples showed traces of E. coli bacteria, which can lead to bloody diarrhoea and even kidney failure. All 80 samples collected from BWSSB taps showed some form of contamination…

Elected on a Congress ticket from Yeshvanthapura in the Karnataka Assembly polls 2018, MLA S T Somashekar was among the 17 legislators disqualified by former Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, under the anti-defection law. Since Supreme Court allowed these MLAs to contest the bypolls, Somashekar is now contesting as the BJP candidate from Yeshvanthapura. Know your candidates Twelve candidates are contesting from Yeshvanthapura constituency. The nominations of two other candidates had been rejected. Following are the major candidates: P Nagaraj Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and one dependant Educational qualification: SSLC (discontinued) Profession: Self-employed Pending criminal cases: Nil Net worth…

On December 5th, by-elections will be held in four assembly constituencies in Bengaluru - Yeshwanthpur, KR Puram, Mahalakshmi Layout and Shivajinagar. In the first three of these, disqualified MLAs are returning as candidates, albeit from a different party. Former Congress MLAs S T Somshekar and Basavaraj Byrathi, and former JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah, are now contesting as BJP candidates. They are coming back to you one and half years after you elected them. I wish I could tell you what development plan they have for your constituency. But I just couldn’t find anything on it except political statements. Yes, these…

The MLA seat in Mahalakshmi Layout constituency had become vacant after K Gopalaiah, the Janata Dal (Secular) MLA here, resigned to join the BJP. This had been a rude shock to the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance, which had considered this a 'safe' seat in Bengaluru. K Gopalaiah had wrested the constituency from INC in 2013 and won again in 2018. This by-election, he's contesting from the constituency as the BJP candidate. Know your candidates Twelve candidates are contesting from Mahalakshmi Layout constituency. Three other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and three others' were rejected. Following are the major candidates: M Shivaraju…

The MLA of KR Puram constituency, Basavaraj Byrathi, had resigned from the Congress party this July, after 'Operation Kamala 2.0'. He was said to be a loyalist of the Siddaramaiah faction, but apparently resigned as he had been denied a minister's post in the INC-JD(S) government. He is now contesting as the BJP candidate from the constituency. Know your candidates Thirteen candidates are contesting from KR Puram constituency in the bypolls. Two other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and two others' were rejected. Here are the major candidates: M Narayanaswamy Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and three dependants Educational qualification:…

Constituency Shivajinagar Constituency K R Puram Constituency Mahalakshmi Layout Constituency Yeshvanthapura Constituency Data Find your constituency Search by EPIC card details How to vote Find your polling station Explainers What you can do when politicians try to influence votes with freebies What is your MLA allowed to spend local area development funds on? Illegal banners and buntings during elections: what can you do about it? https://citizenmatters.in/karnataka-legislative-assembly-mla-roles-responsibility-24290 https://citizenmatters.in/bangalore-101-december-2019-byelection-yeshwanthpur-mahalakshmi-layout-shivaji-nagar-kr-puram-constituencies-disqualified-mlas-39069 Voter guide: All you need to know before you cast your vote https://citizenmatters.in/all-you-need-to-know-before-casting-your-vote-this-lok-sabha-elections-11190/embed In countdown to 2019, here’s all you wanted to know about EVMs https://citizenmatters.in/electronic-voting-machines-evm-vvpat-controversy-politics-elections-2019-9649/embed

The Shivajinagar seat had become vacant after incumbent MLA Roshan Baig was suspended from the Indian National Congress this year for 'anti-party' statements and activities. Baig, a seven-time legislator, was charged with slamming state leaders as well as being involved in the multi-crore IMA scam. Know your candidates Nineteen candidates are contesting from Shivaji Nagar constituency in the bypolls. Seven other candidates had withdrawn their nominations, and three others were rejected. Following are the major candidates: Rizwan Arshad Party: Indian National Congress Family: Spouse and two dependants Educational qualification: B Com Profession: Business, MLC (Member of Legislative Council) Online: Facebook…

63-year-old Kamalamma (name changed) was peacefully walking with her husband at 5.30 am in a quiet locality in Bengaluru. Little did she know that fate had a terrible plan for her. Two youngsters on a bike sped past them, close enough to brush against her. Her life changed forever! She fell down, hit her head against the curb, and has been bed-ridden for the last 10 years. My dear friend lost her 17-year-old son in a road accident, when he and a friend set off on a bike to wish their friends on a new-year eve. Both of them had…

For those of us who have lived in London, there is one thing we'd absolutely agree - it won't take you more than a couple of days to understand the public transport system. The flow of information is seamless, and there's no blindspot that leaves you in a lurch on either a crowded Regent Street or a quieter lane in Wimbeldon. Visible signboards about how to go forward - whether you use tubes or buses - are all around. Bus stands are never more than 400 yards from a tube station. The public transport service in London is also consistently…