City: Bengaluru

Cycling has been quite a bit in the news lately, thanks to the activities of several individuals and organisations trying their best to popularise cycling. I often cycle to work - so I though I would write about my experience and perhaps dispel some of the myths associated with cycle commuting. Ramesh Sreekantan, a cycling enthusiast. I live in Malleshwaram and work in Kengeri. So it's a distance of about 15 to 20 kms, depending on the route. The route I take is down Chord Road to Nayandahalli main road and in to the University campus. I usually return via…

One or two years ago, the trees right opposite my house were alive with birds - Red-Whiskered Bulbuls,white-Cheeked Barbets, Purple-Rumped Sunbirds, Mynas, Koels and Pale-Billed Flowerpeckers. It was a sense of hapiness to see them in the morning, flitting from one branch to the other - especially the Bulbul pair, and the Mynas. Now, in 2013, they have all gone. Disappeared. Only a few Mynas and the occasional Koel show up. Rarely do I hear those beautiful calls of the birds I loved the most; the city's most common avian residents. Are these birds heading for the same fate as…

While the government and the BBMP seem to be boasting of making Bangalore garbage-free under Kasamukta Bengaluru, the ground reality is far different. Though there seems to be slight there is slight improvement in some areas, most areas in Bangalore remain neglected. Garbage - dry, wet, organic, inorganic, medical, degradable, non-degradable - everything can be seen littered across the city. The garbage mounds in the landfills never stop increasing. On an average, a ward generates 2-3 tons of dry waste, per day. And if locals are to be believed, around 80% of this waste is thrown in the landfills. Waste…

A new rule to link Aadhaar Card and Bank Account with the gas connection is on the way. Consumers in Bengaluru are being sent messages regarding this, though the government has not completed the process of issuing the cards for a large number of citizens. Also, as the acceptance of Aadhar is still pending in the supreme court, how can this be implemented? Direct Subsidy Transfer scheme has not been implemented so far in Karnataka anywhere, though many deadlines have been given.                                      - EditorAlso read: How to link Aadhaar card to bank account. At present the…

A city which was known for its gardens is now just a city of dust.  I have a few issues to raise and want to know the thoughts around it from my fellow Bengalurians. I'm also looking for the platforms where such isuues could be raised. 1. Road Tax: Karnataka is a state which charges high road tax for any vehicle compared to another states. However, in past six years, I have not seen proper maintenance of roads in Bangalore, specifically south Bangalore. Where is this money going, is there any account? 2. No demarcation of stop lines or zebra…

“People just don’t care! There is no sense of civic responsibility. People just want the waste out of their houses”. This I heard from almost every informant I talked to. In this article, I want to share some of my findings during the past two and a half month I have been here in Bengaluru. I came to India for the first time in 2008 and found the country enchanting but also overwhelming. I wanted to come back again and so I did - three times more since then. This time I am here to do a research for my…

The Department of Urban Development of the Government of Karnataka has published the draft rules for the Constitution of the Metropolitan Planning Committee for the Bangalore Metropolitan Region and invited comments from the general public on these rules. These are my comments, following a detailed consideration of the provisions of these rules. Overview of the proposed MPC structure Draft rule 3 speaks of the constitution of the Committee. The State government nominees are: The Chief Minister Minister for urban development Chairperson, BDA Principal secretary to government Urban Development One representative of the Government of India (National Capital Region and Planning…

A clean up drive turned out to be a wake up drive, for shop keepers as well as BBMP, on Saturday, November 23, 2013 . As many as 26 shops at Johnson's market received notices for not having trade licenses  or for not displaying it. Health inspector Amarappa, Medical Officer of Health Sanghamitra and Additional Commissioner Yatish Kumar responsible for Solid Waste Management and Health carried out the inspection of trade licenses and waste disposal at Johnson's market on Hosur Road. There are many vendors in Johnson's Market who violate the rules. Pic: Nikita Malusare As you enter Johnson market…

Having spent the last couple of months speaking to the residents of Sadashivanagar, convincing them to begin segregating their garbage, I once again joined the pourakarmikas on their Saturday dry-waste collection drive to note what impact my efforts had on apathetic residents, and to adjudge how much more I would have to do to help realise the dream of 100% collection.  The pourakarmikas – who by now had grown accustomed to my company – greeted me with smiles and waves. They informed me that the drive would start a few minutes late due to the early-morning rain which had dampened…

This draft notification is dated November 07, 2013, and published in the Gazette dated November 14, 2013. Technically the notification can have objections till November 29, 2013. URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARIAT NOTIFICATIONNo. UDD 356 MNJ 2005(P), Bangalore, dated: 07.11.2013 The draft of the Bangalore Metropolitan Planning Committee Rules, 2013 which the Government of Karnataka proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 503B read with section 421 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1977), is hereby published as required by sub-section (1) of section 421 of the said Act, for the information of…