City: Bengaluru

BBMP has passed a new rule that unless segregated, garbage will not be picked up from Apartments and Homes. Does this instill any fear in the residents of Bangalore? Or will they be happy to throw their garbage at the first available open area? Recent studies show that Bangalore generates 3500 tons of garbage on a daily basis and approximately Rs 135 crores are spent to dump this waste into the various landfills on the outskirts of the city. As a result, the landfills are choked, our environment is being polluted, and contamination is evident in everything from the soil,…

Even as the Hazare movement has drawn thousands to Freedom Park every day since August 16th, Bangalore's MPs are camped in Delhi. While D B Chandre Gowda (BJP, Bangalore North) and Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha) reportedly visited Freedom Park recently, the other MPs have not been as ‘accessible'. D B Chandre Gowda, BJP MP, Bangalore North, speaking at Freedom Park, Bangalore. Pic: Yogesh Devraj. On Tuesday, D B Chandre Gowda (BJP, Bangalore North) and P C Mohan (BJP, Bangalore Central) spoke to Citizen Matters over telephone on the Lokpal issue and Hazare's ultimatum to the UPA government. Chandre Gowda is…

This Sunday - Aug 28th, Bengaluru joins other Indian cities in the movement initiated by Kitchen Gardener's International to create awareness and promote ‘grow and eat organic vegetables' in your own homes. Garden City Farmers Trust, Bengaluru along with media partner Citizen Matters, brings you 'Oota from your thota' where you can learn about organic kitchen gardening. Biodiversity Conservation Indian Limited (BCIL), a Bangalore based company that is a pioneer in the construction of green building projects in the country is sponsoring the event. The participants and invitees at 'Oota from your thota' includes a well balanced mix of practitioners, vendors,…

Those of us who have had green around our homes must have had perennial Money plants tucked in collectible pretty bottles (which could never been thrown away) or even pots that had the creeper trailing on the wall or balcony.  They were sunned once in a while or may never have seen the sun but yet they gave out new leaves and looked healthy.  If you now go to a nursery and ask for indoor plants you will be shown a wide range to choose from.   Indoor potted  plants thrive in the shade and beautify our homes and give us…

A commercial building located in between Fortis Hospital and Apollo Hospital along Bannerghatta road in Bengaluru is being demolished by the BBMP since August 19. The building, ‘Amalodhbhala Tower', is located in one part of a 2 acre 32 guntas government land which was encroached by the complex's owner, one Shantharaju. About half the demolition of 'Amalodhbala Tower' was complete by August 22. Pic: Navya P K. This encroachment was mentioned in the report of V Balasubramanian (IAS, Retd.), Chairman of the Task Force for Recovery and Protection of Public Lands, which was published in June. In addition to Shantharaju,…

On the sixth day of the IAC protest at Freedom Park, more than five thousand people gathered to show their support. Thousands signing the banner supporting Anna Hazare. Pic: Padmalatha Ravi Master Hirannaiah, a theatre personality, known for his ability to deliver scathing views on politics, did not dissappoint. Dr Devi Shetty who gave a brief speech got a rousing welcome from those gathered. Hundreds of organisations pledged their support. Many of the particpants were joining in for the first time. A businessman, Anup, in his mid-thirties, said 'I was holding back because, I have paid a lot of bribe…

Far away from the booming crowds of Freedom Park, the protest for Jan Lokpal turned several notes melodious on Saturday, 20th August. An all-night concert was organised by Kumaresh, one half of the sibling violinist  duo, Ganesh-Kumaresh to express their support for Anna Hazare's protest. Over 40 musicians performed at the 106 year old Gayana Samaj on K R Road in Basavanagudi, one of the oldest cultural organisations in the country. The concert went on from 6 pm in the evening till the wee hours of the next morning. Over 100 people attended the concert. Varijashree Venugopal, of 'Antardhwani', playing…

In action replay of last year, BBMP has presented a massive budget outlay of Rs.9100 cr for the city on a base of unproven revenues and uncommitted grants. BBMP Council's budget session in progress on August 18th 2011. Pic: Navya P K. Last year BBMP's actual receipts were Rs 4930 cr lesser than the projected amount of Rs 8447 cr. This year, the gap may be bigger, with a seemingly impossible expectation of receipts of Rs 9112 cr. This, along with opening balance of Rs 85 cr, is expected to cover expenditure of Rs 9196 cr for 2011-12.Reading out the…

When I knew that Ranga Shankara was premiering a play under their AHA! banner, which promotes theatre for children, I was very keen to attend the first show, and I did so, on the 11th of August, 2011. AHA! is Ranga Shankara's Theatre for Children programme in association with Britannia Industries Ltd., "Dhaam Dhoom Suntaragaali", in Kannada, is a play based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, adapted by T Vaidehi. It  is directed by directed by Jeevan Ram Sulya and is in association with the troupe "Natana" of Mysore. Designed especially for children, the play takes children on a wonderful journey…

With rising petrol prices, electric bikes are fast becoming popular in the city. Those below 18 years are opting for low speed bikes, which have maximum speed of 25 km/hr. These bikes are not categorised as motor vehicles and hence do not need a driver's license, registration or insurance. Like any retail product, they can be purchased and used directly.Not yet 18 but can ride a bike Jayanagar-based Kushal Pabbi, 16, owns iStar, a 25 km/hr electric bike. A Ist PUC student in St Joseph's PU College in Richmond Road, he uses the bike mainly to travel to college and…