City: Bengaluru

St Joseph's College of Arts and Science, has become the first in the city to be completely powered by solar energy. In order to meet all its energy requirements, the college has a solar power plant, comprising of 432 solar panels, which provide electricity to power all the facilities. These panels produce a 100 kilo watts of power and were installed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.6 crore. The solar power plant has been operational since May this year. The person who initiated the project in the college is former Principal Fr Ambrose Pinto, who resigned this April. Explaining…

'Second to none' is a group of volunteers who are trying to practice and encourage everyone to practice a life of reuse, recycle, reduce waste and replenish resources. We aim to do this by sharing recycling ideas, discussing ways to reduce consumption of harmful materials and encourage buying used goods instead of new. The activities and discussions could occur through this blog, on our Facebook page and through events like the periodic flea markets that we plan to organise. Sneak peek into the items on sale this weekend. Pic Courtesy: Second to none We're creating this space for people to…

Two major government functionaries will leave office shortly. One is Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The second is Justice Santosh Hegde of the Lokayukta. BSY is being forced out by the BJP top brass to contain political fallout of Karnataka's massive mining scam in the ongoing BJP-Cong tug of war on who is more corrupt. A defiant BSY is not going to be happy. (Hopefully the Reddy brothers will be asked to quit, too.) No more bouquets. File Pic: BSY calls BJP's L K Advani in New Delhi in September 2010. Press department, GOK. But when Santosh Hegde demits…

Residents of a few Sobha apartments in Bellandur have challenged the imposition of annual fees on apartments that operate STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants). According to rules of the state pollution control board (KSPCB), apartments that own STPs have to pay an annual CFO (Consent for Operation) fee.STPs are mandatory for apartments with area more than 20,000 sq mt in non-UGD areas. These apartments are treated on par with the most polluting industries, categorised as ‘Red' industries (Orange and green are the less polluting industries). The CFO fees for these industries depend on the capital investment in the project. Depending on…

The Karnataka state government's deadlines to launch mega transport projects continue to be paper statements of intent. Namma Metro's persistent delay is now virtually taken for granted. In the meantime, despite the deadline of 2013-14, Bangalore's Rs.6700 crores High Speed Rail Link (HSRL between city centre and the airport) is still stuck at the preliminary stage. A concessionaire, the firm that will fund, build and operate the PPP, is yet to be selected through tender process; construction will start only after the concessionaire awards tenders to other parties. Currently, only prequalification of concessionaires is completed. Prequalification is the process of…

A recent report by state government's Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) has exposed several problems with BMTC's massive Traffic and Transit Management Centre (TTMC) project. TTMCs are jargon for the swanky new terminals BMTC is building around the city, 45 in all, of which 10 are completed. The cost of these 10 terminals is over Rs 450 cr. DULT comes under the Urban Development Department (UDD) of the state government. For instance, only 15 buses can park in the Banashankari terminal at a time, giving each bus only 31 seconds in the bay during peak hours. This is considered…

There was quite a news in all the papers regarding the new feeder routes launched by BMTC last month-but unknown to many, there were lot more unannounced routes that were too introduced. Some of the recently introduced routes are as follows:Volvo 500KG: Gottigere-JD Mara-Jayadeva-BTM-Agara-Marathahalli-ITPLVolvo 500DF: Hebbal-Kalyan Nagar-KR Puram-Hoodi-Vydehi Hospital-ITPLVolvo 600B: Byrasandra-Jayanagar(4th and 9th block)-BTM-silk board-Bommanhalli-Electronic city-Attibelle AC Marcopolo 343K: Majestic-Corporation-Jayanagar-BTM-Silk board-Begur Vishwapriya Layout410E: HSR Layout-Silk board-Banashankari-Kathriguppe-Nayandahalli-Vijayanagar-sunakdgatte-Jalahalli Cross340T: Agara-Silk Board-BTM-Jayanagar-South End-Corporation-Majestic364E (Reintroduced): Devarachikkanhalli-JP Nagar 3rd phase-East End-Jayanagar-Shantinagar-Shivajinagar-Mekhri Circle-Bhoopsandra366MA: Kaggalipura-Bannerghatta circle-Gottigere-J.P.Nagar 3rd phase-Jayanagar-South End- KR Market372H: Nisarga Layout-Bannerghatta circle-Gottigere-Jambusavari Dinne- Puutenhalli-JP Nagar 15th cross-Jayanagar TTMC500DA: Yelahanka-Hebbal-KR Puram-Marathahalli-Silk board-Bommanahalli-Electronic City Wipro500DC: Hebbal-KR Puram-Marathahalli-Silk…

Non-compliance is being captured live in Bangalore by netizens logging on the traffic police's facebook pages. Grab from BTP's Facebook page, pics posted by citizens.   Another grab from BTP's facebook page.   And another...   For more photos posted by citizens on Bangalore Traffic Police's Facebook page, go here ⊕

Having known Sarita Kotagiri for the past few years, I have reached a conclusion that philanthropists do not necessarily have to be celebrities or famous personalities. Anyone who really cares for others can always find opportunities to help in many different ways. All that one needs is a big heart. Sarita Kotagiri. Pic courtesy: Trupti Godbole Sarita Kotagiri is a home maker in her late 30s. This pharmacy post graduate, a top scorer in from Al Ameen College of Pharmacy has been helping innumerable people in all walks of life. A busy homemaker like many women in the city, Sarita…

There has been some issues regarding understanding BMTC routes, the main reason being too many routes in the system - Here is a gist of some common BMTC routes Kanakapura road: 211-217 going atleast upto Jaraganahalli/Yechanahalli (G-5 corporation to Kaggalipura) (215C,D,E,H,M,Y,CA via Jayanagar 4th block and J.P.Nagar 1st phase) Mysore Road: 218-234 going atleast upto Rajarajeshwari nagar gate(G-6 Shantinagar bus stand to Kengeri Satellite Town) (222D,M via Banashankari and Uttarahalli) Between Mysore road and Magadi road: 235-239 will go atleast to chandra layout via MCTC Magadi road: 240-249 series go atleast to Sunkadgatte(248 via Vijayanagar to sunkadgatte)(G-7 Majestic to Gollarahatti)…