Bellandur

Today's a day of acknowledging our dependence on our tools and equipment. Vehicles are cleaned and decorated with banana leaves, sandalwood paste and kumkum. The fire engines in the station at Sarjapur Road, were duly spruced and worshipped. Indeed they are life saving 'Ayudhas'. Fire engine. Pic: Meera K. ⊕

Kaikondrahalli lake has been restored to its current condition after great efforts and regular clean up campaigns. Now it is undergoing the 2nd phase of renovation in which various works have been undertaken by the BBMP. However, since the past few months, a nearby apartment complex construction activity has been harming the lake. Not only an eyesore to the serene surroundings, the builder (SJR) has been letting in untreated sewage into the lake. This is mainly due to poor amenities provided to the construction workers - lack of proper toilets and no soak pits. All the sewage has been flowing…

Many Bellandur residents have been enthused by the anti-corruption campaign. They are organising small and large local rallies, candle light vigils and protests.It started earlier this week itself - Aug 16th saw a human chain and singing of the National Anthem on ORR.One of the organisers of a protest on 19th August, Geetha Arvind, shared this on our federation mailing group, "Started at around 9am with one person and kept growing with time and by 11am there were more than 60-70 people... Cab drivers joined, auto drivers joined... Many junta from softzone companies were present". Another march from Iblur Junction…

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…

Those of us living along the periphery of the town are a blessed lot - a couple of kilometers from home brings us to a very pretty, quiet, unrushed and refreshing countryside.   Its all those things - pretty, quiet, unrushed and refreshing - at least in part, because of the lack of traffic around there, so let's keep it like that. Instead, pick up a cycle and ride! We're in a city with really pleasant mornings, global warming notwithstanding. Especially now, with the summer behind us, early mornings and gentle showers are a great way to start a weekend.…

Ten apartments in Bellandur area have recently received show cause notices from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for flouting STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) norms. The apartments, all of which were built by Sobha developers, are Sobha Carnation, Mayflower, Daisy, Jasmine, Dahlia, Lavender, Quartz, Aquamarine, Hibiscus and Primrose. They received notices in April. Pollution Control Board authorities say that there is no specific drive to check on apartment STPs, but that surprise checks would continue. "Regional Officers (ROs) inspect apartments periodically and also if they receive complaints from the public. In this case, we came to know about these…

With the drainage lines from Ambalipura clogged, sewage has backed up near the Ambalipura Lake. Residents and members of Forward150 federation are trying to get the authorities to act, but no response till date.  Sewage overflows, adjacent to the lake. Here is the text of the letter we are sending to the Commisioner, BBMP ~~~ To, The Commissioner, BBMP, Bangalore. From, Residents living around Lower Ambalipura lake, and Federation of Resident welfare Associations of Ward 15, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore. Sub: Sewerage contamination of recently restored Lower Ambalipura Lake We, the concerned residents living around the Lower Ambalipura Lake, near Iblur…

The weather, friendly people and great coffee at any random darshini - these are the reasons I proffer to folks when they ask for the secret that Bangalore became, and continues to stay, home for us. To that list, add the fast spreading delights from the small little Nondescript "Hot-chips" Shop (the NHS) in practically every neighbourhood. It goes amazingly well with Bisibele bath, sandwiches, burgers, regular dal-rice or just a cricket match on the telly. Packets disappear in a jiffy, and you really cannot stop at one. Cholesterol, fat and other such demons are momentarily swept under handily available…

In Support of Chikka Bapu (Anna Hazare) for Jan Lokpal bill thousands turned up at Freedom Park, Bangalore on 8-Apr evening. All TV channels lined up to cover the hunger strike that is going on for past 4 days.People came up with different placards, banners, posters to show how much they hate corruption. All must have been the sufferers of corruption in their lives.I heard a story from the public at Freedom Park ... one of the members factory was gutted in a fire when he is taking part in hunger strike at Freedom Park. Fire officials asked 20k for…

After starting to use BMTC buses, one of our federation members, Jayvant Anantpur, wrote a nice article why we should still use BMTC instead of our personal vehicles in Bangalore. Read on... I agree that we should try to use BMTC as much as possible. I have been trying to do that for one year now and have successfully figured out how to commute by BMTC from Bellandur gate to IISc (between Malleshwaram & Yeshwantpur).I won't say the bus rides are very smooth etc but when compared to driving my car or going by auto/taxi, I think going by BMTC…