City: Bengaluru

One cool morning in February 2012, I drove up across town to Hesaraghatta Lake. As we approached the embankment, my excitement rose and I ran up the steps. They had told me it was big. What I had not realized was just how big this lake was. I could not see the edges on the far side. All 3000 acres of it used to brim with water, fed by the Arkavati River. That day, it was dry. Bone dry. For the first time in seven years there was no water in Hesaraghatta Lake. And, unfortunately, this was no exaggeration. Hesarghatta…

RWAs run by elected volunteers are subject to full fledged auditing to the last paisa. They are answerable to the house owners for every single expenditure incurred for the year. But BBMP that has budget outlays of hundreds of crores of rupees has done away with auditing for more than four decades now. Worse, BBMP has been reeling under fund crisis and scams. BBMP Councillors protest during the 2011 budget approval. File Pic: Navya P K Since the major report of February 2012, Indicted by CAG, strangled by state, Bengaluru Limps on, Citizen Matters did an exclusive inquiry into who…

This information was shared by the members of the newly-formed Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust. We are pleased to announce a new voluntary, non-profit trust - Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust (Regd). The Trust will help restore and rejuvenate the once pristine Sarakki Lake (also known as Jaraganahalli Lake) which has fallen prey to unprecedented encroachment, pollution by entry of untreated sewage from surrounding layouts, uncontrolled growth of water hyacinth and the consequent disappearance of birds and fishes. We want to spread awareness of the consequences if Sarakki Lake were to disappear, work with the agencies responsible for restoration and…

Yesterday, while chatting with a friend, I happened to mention the Millets Mela, now on at Lalbagh. His prompt response was “what is that?”. I wasn't surprised. In these days of white rice, brand name atta, imported cereal for children and milk additives that are packaged well and priced high, it is not surprising that millets don't have a market, even though a bajra roti or ragi malt in milk is as good if not better than more popular cereals. On the other hand, it is also surprising why they don't have a market, given their superior quality whether it…

An under-construction underpass near Kaadubeesanahalli junction on Outer Ring Road (ORR) caved in a portion of road on Wednesday, Apr 11, resulting in huge traffic jam on outer ring Road for hours. Though there were no injuries sustained by anybody, the vehicular movement on the road beside the underpass was stopped. Sudden entry of cars and motorcycles from the barred first part of the under construction underpass. Pic: Abhishek Angad Earlier, traffic was not hit because a narrow passage beside the under-construction site was open for traffic in addition to the already functioning two-way underpass on the other side. Soon,…

Karnataka Unit of Loksatta party organised a voters' registration campaign for the Bangalore Graduates' Constituency Elections (BGCE) on 12 April, 2012. Ashwin Mahesh is the Lok Satta candidate for the MLC seat.The event was called "Follow the Justice, Justice will follow" and was to help the citizens to register as a graduate voter. Activists and citizens along with Ashwin Mahesh and Justice Hegde. Pic: Abhishek Angad Around 100 citizens turned up for this event at the Shanti Nagar Bus-stand premises including Retired Justice Santosh Hegde and Ashwin Mahesh for the BGCE 2012. Both of them registered themselves with the Regional…

Along the road in front of my apartment is a tree that has sprouted lovely, delicate pink blooms. Big deal, you say? Lots of trees around town are festooned with these pink flowers now - but this one is special. Fifteen years ago, this tree did not exist. When the BMP (as it was then) put in a road divider, it left a narrow strip of earth, less than half a metre wide, inside the divider, and planted some bougainvillea and assorted saplings within the strip, protected by metal fencing. The saplings have grown, and this small tree is blooming,…

The pilot launch of the Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act 2011 (Sakala) in Jayanagar saw only 31 applications filed. The pilot was on between March 1st to March 31st at the Jayanagar Revenue office. Jayanagar Revenue Office where Sakala was piloted. Pic: Abhishek Angad The number 31, however contradicts the government figure of 72, 505 applications for the same period. The office covers four BBMP wards (168-171).An official on conditions of anonymity explained why the numbers were so low. "Here we have minimum three days to deliver services. People prefer availing Bangalore One services as their delivery model is…

The third edition of Namma Bengaluru Awards-2011 were presented to various citizens for their exemplary work at a sparkling ceremony in Basavanagudi National College Grounds on April 7, 2012.Out of 14,000 pre-nominations and 47 final nominations under 6 categories, the Namma Bengaluru Foundation awarded 8 winners. Each award carried a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and memento. Award winners with jury members and guests.Uday Vijayan of Beyond Carlton receiving the award under Citizens Category. Wilma Rodrigues, co-founder, SAHAAS.U. V Singh, Indian Forest Services officer for Public Official category-Group A.Kalaa Devrajan on behalf of Karunashraya under Groups and Organizations-Group A.Under public…

Normally, if you were to walk past the East West Center- The headquarters of the Bangalore School of Music- in R.T. Nagar, you would hear students rattling away at their pianos, violins and flutes. Now, the India National Youth Orchestra will stop you dead with the rich sounds escaping the center.They have been practising for a concert to be held on April 10th, ninety-five musicians will perform at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, conducted by maestro Vijay Upadhyaya. The event is presented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi- in collaboration…