BBMP

After a long tussle with the state government, Rajvir P Sharma of BMTF (Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force) won, when his transfer order was revoked last week. State government had ordered his transfer on August 14th, after he chargesheeted many BBMP officers. Rajvir P Sharma won the case in CAT on September 7th. Pic Sankar C G Sharma had filed a case asking for his transfer to be revoked, at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), a court that looks into service disputes of government officials. On September 7th, CAT ordered in favour of Sharma, saying that he could complete his tenure…

BBMP spends hundreds of crores annually on projects like road widening and flyovers, while allocating very low amounts for education, health, welfare etc. Dalit Bahujan Movement (DBM), a city-based group for SC/ST welfare, has been demanding useful schemes and funds for the community. Venkatesh M, an activist formerly with  state-level Dalit organisations, formed DBM in 2007 with the specific aim of getting government funding and schemes for SC/STs. It was in late 1970s that the central government initiated separate funding for SC/STs. Government announced the Special Component Plan (SCP) for SCs and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for STs. Under SCP/TSP,…

The deadline for clearing the garbage set by the newly appointed BBMP commissioner Rajneesh Goel ended on September 3rd, 2012.  But where is the garbage going, considering only Mandoor landfill is operational right now? Garbage being piled up in Madiwala market. Pic: Sankar C G Mayor D Venkatesha Murthy said, “We spoke with Mandoor villagers and they have agreed to dump the waste in Mandor landfill.”  He expects Mavallipura villagers to agree for dumping the waste in the landfill there. BBMP plans to hold a meeting shortly.Though BBMP has given a green signal to dump garbage at Mandoor landfill, the…

The uncleared garbage in the city is raising the stink. Residents are unhappy, government departments are pointing fingers at each other, those living near landfills are protesting; but the city still does not have a comprehensive solid waste management policy. Mavallipura landfill. Pic: Sankar C G The policy is being drafted for over a year now. Last September, a BBMP official told Citizen Matters that the policy will go for Council approval shortly. One year on, there is no draft policy in sight and not very surprisingly, the same statement is being repeated. “The policy that we have framed will…

The scene is almost identical each time. Whenever anyone sees me at the lake -- and if they know that I am part of the team responsible for the lake being rejuvenated the way it is -- they come to thank me first and then quickly proceed to offer me advice on the BBMP and the government. “Don’t trust them”… “they are a bunch of crooks,”… “Don’t get further involved with the government.” Fencing around kaikondrahalli lake. Pic: Shilpi Sahu I tell these people that this lake could not have and would not have been rejuvenated the way it has,…

Shashi Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer, BBMP, filed an FIR against a Chandramouli Reddy on August 4th, for illegally dumping the silt and debris on survey no. 69/1, Haralukunte, 15th B Main, 21st cross of Sector III, HSR layout. Silt and debris being dumped in an open site. Pic: Anisha Nair Kumar says, “Earlier, when the residents complained, we went and filed a complaint in the police station. But the same dumping event happened again and that’s when I went and filed an FIR against the accused.” When the residents went and asked Reddy to stop dumping, he responded with abusive…

Given the current garbage situation in Bangalore, it is interesting to take note of the future generation’s perspectives on the same. Around 2,000 civic club members from CMCA (Children's Movement for Civic Awareness) voiced their opinion on the whole issue and students from 50 schools signed and submitted a memorandum to Shankarlinge Gowda, the then commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), on August 3rd. CMCA civic club children handing over the memorandum to the then BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda. Pic: CMCA A few of the schools that took part in the drive are Sacred Heart Girls High School, Army…

Heavy downpour on last Thursday evening resulted in water clogging in many areas including Garvebhavi Palya area in Hongasandra. Residents complained that the overflowing storm water drain resulted in water getting into their houses.  Swampy stretch. Pic: Abhishek Angad Prakash R, a resident of this area says the stormwater drain is almost full with debris. He says, “whenever it rains continuously for two hours, water gets on the street and sometimes enter into the houses.”The impossible stretch to cover  In Garvebhavi Palya, a stretch which has VRL transport’s office at its one end, seems to be dug out and road…

Jayanagar based N Mukund, Joint Secretary of Citizens Action Forum, sent us a hard hitting letter on the city’s garbage mess. This year, BBMP has raised the garbage cess it is collecting as part of property tax. It came a day before the latest nightmare at the Mavallipura landfill, which was about to unfold. Mukund is challenging BBMP to explain what it has done with the garbage cess collected with the property tax last year and questions the body’s decision to raise the cess this year.  “As citizens, we wish to know how the steps taken by BBMP for the…

On August 24th 2012, the Karnataka High Court, in a major verdict, has instructed Maverick Holdings, a construction company, to build 1512 flats in 24 months for the original allottees at the economically weaker section (EWS) colony in Ejjipura. A group of allottees from the original 1512 beneficiaries waiting outside the High Court for the verdict. Pic: Sankar C G. The decision came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by 13 original allottees of the flats to be built at the EWS colony. The original allottees went to High Court after facing the prospect of unauthorised settlers at the…