bangalore journal

At any time of the day, you will see more people than birds at our Puttenahalli Lake. There are the brisk morning or evening walkers, strollers, people who use the track as a short cut to go from or to Puttenahalli, the time pass guys who sit singly or in a group at the gazebo, two wheelers, though their number is reducing gradually. Well, we are constantly standing in their path and sending them back. That’s what I did today with a motorbike rider and a cyclist - much to the startled horror of three students from Kumaran School who…

Property values in the city are set to rise with hike in guidance value. Guidance values are expected to go up by 30-100% this year (minimum of 30% within core areas and maximum of 100% in outskirts); rates would go up by more than 200% in outer areas like those near Peripheral Ring Road, since the market rates here have rocketed since the last revision. The previous hikes were in 2007, 2005, 2004 and 2002. During the 2007 hike, the value of residential, commercial and industrial properties were hiked by 50%, 60% and 25% on average.Officials at the Department of…

A new bus stop was inaugurated near the Sarakki Market on 22nd June. Residents of 1st Phase, JP Nagar (Shakambari Nagar ward) can soon hope to be better connected to the rest of Bangalore. The spacious bus stand for the residents of 1st Phase JP Nagar. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi. B Somashekhar, councillor of ward 179 said that three new bus routes will be introduced to provide for better connectivity. "There will be three buses to Majestic, two to Shivajinagar and one to KR Market." The area now has two buses (route 2A) plying to Kempegowda Bus Terminal.Also present at the…

Started in 2002 by Udaya Acharya, Café Acharya’s serves traditional South Indian snacks and meals. The place is popular for its masala dosas, kesari bhaath, idli vada and other savories. The place is frequented by people wanting a take away as well as those catching a quick bite before rushing to work. Cafe Acharya near Sarakki signal, J P Nagar 1st Phase. Pic: Uma Swamy. Backed by 25 years in the hotel industry, Udaya, a native of Hubli, says that they use fresh vegetables and good quality ingredients, while keeping the rates of dishes within the reach of his middle…

Last Friday, 12 green activists protesting the tree cutting on Sankey road were arrested. Though the most of the trees were not saved, it sure brought back memories from two decades ago of a similar, but successful protest in 1991. A group of young men including Vinay Baindur, Mahesh Kumar, Sudhir Jayaram and Gururaja Budhya, were able to prevent a number of trees in Malleswaram from being felled. These young men petitioned the Governor, to save the trees. Three of them were detained by the police . Many in this group have gone on to play a major role in…

The two-day festival will have an eclectic mix of artistes both local and national. Residents of north-east Bengaluru will be treated to a classical music extravaganza with Whitefield Music Festival kicking off is first edition this Saturday, 9th July. The two day event, spread over the weekend will see a wide variety of performances from artistes at Jagriti Theatre in Whitefield. The event is being organised by Whitefield Music Circle, a group formed by residents of Whitefield. The concerts will be held between 4 - 8pm. Manoj Pai, one of the members says, "we felt that this side of the…

On 23rd June, early in the morning, Ward 179 (Shakambari Nagar) MLA B N Vijay Kumar, BBMP councillor for the ward, B Somashekhar with a group of some 15 people including engineers from BBMP, BWSSB and other civic agencies visited residents door to door. The ‘padayatre’, as it was termed was in its fourth day. They had earlier visited Jayanagar 5th block, 8th block and Shakambari Nagar 7th main previously. A resident talks about his grievances with the MLA, Councillor B Somashekhar is also present. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi. “Ella channagidiya antha vicharskond hogakk bandidivi” (We have come to ask if…

The urge to meet people we admire does cross our minds occasionally. By a small probability and quirk of fate when such a meeting does happen then happiness knows no bounds. I finally got a chance to meet one of my favourite writers Amitav Ghosh. Coincidentally, I was in the midst of enjoying ‘The Hungry Tide', lost in the jungles of Sunderbans. Being a voracious reader, Ghosh's writings have satiated me with the fictional world that he spins out with such eloquence. On learning about the book launch of Ghosh's critically acclaimed ‘River of Smoke' from the Ibis Trilogy, I…

The Sankey Road trees might have survived longer had the Mayor Sharadamma Ramanjaneya initiated a meeting of the Tree Authority of which she is the convener. But Shardamma is not aware of the Tree Authority for Bangalore. The authority is supposed to hear the public's complaints on tree felling. Citizens and organisations can appeal decisions by forest department officials such as the BBMP Tree Officer, permitting or disallowing cutting of trees in the city. One of the trees BBMP cut during the midnight operation on June 30th-July 1st. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi. The top forest official in BBMP limits, Deputy Conservator…

Ever wondered about the moda makers (traditional cane stools with woven jute rope seats) that you may have seen every now and then on empty plots or under the shade of a large tree? Modas sold on pavements. Pic: Uma Swamy Most of them have come from Rajasthan bringing the material for making moodas with them. They return to their village after they sell off the modas and chairs made by them. The modas and the high backed chairs are made out of the hay (phus), sticks (moojh) and rope of the Seta tree. A small moda, sold for about…