Blogs

Over 1000 people participated in various activities at the World Environment Day celebrations organised by YUVA, and held around Allalasandra Lake area this morning.   Tree planting in Allalasandra lake area was done by Bengaluru MLC Mr.Narayanaswamy, BBMP Yelahanka zone Joint Commissioner Mr.Sarfaraz Khan, Ward 4 Corporator Mr.Satish, YUVA members, local citizens, students of Sheshadripuram College, Poorna Prajna School, MES and Govt PU college.   Students from Sheshadripuram College took out an awarness rally in Yelahanka New Town, on the plastic ban, waste segregation and water conservation. Saplings were distributed. Bhoomi Thayi Balaga entertained the public with songs about the environment and lakes.…

The Karnataka Lake ​Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) is on the look out for lake wardens, to work on a voluntary basis. The government order and other relevant information can be seen here.   The Karnataka Lake ​Conservation and Development Authority Act 2014 was constituted (vide Gazette Notification No.Samvyashae 07 Shasana 2012, Bangalore dated 07-Mar-2015) for Lake Conservation and Development. The Act finally came into force in March 2016, with the following mission:- To establish a strong system of well linked lakes and tanks free from organic and chemical pollutants, and- To intensify official concern and motivate community vigilance to the extent where pollution…

To all our friends, Puttenahalli Lake, May 2016 ​ For many of us, every day is Environment Day. Still, it feels good to see the whole world pause on 5th June every year and focus on raising awareness about environmental issues and concerns. From the World Environment Day website "This year's theme for WED – Go Wild for Life – encourages you to celebrate all those species under threat and take action of your own to help safeguard them for future generations. This can be about animals or plants that are threatened within your local area as well as at the…

Watch the birds, feed the ducks, get a sapling to plant, listen to environment-related songs, help in cleaning the lake surroundings, learn about managing your waste. All these and more at the World Environment Day celebrations at Allalasandra Lake, Yelahanka    

We often see vendors like this girl I spotted at the Kanakapura Road/ORR junction, selling large balloons. It could be a variety of (usually Chinese) products: windshield shades, mobile phone charger cords, earbuds, dusters.   Spare a thought for the hardships these people undergo. Obviously, they want to make an honest living, and not beg at the street corners. They get their goods from an agent, and have to pay him a large part of what they earn. In the process, they eke out a very slender living. Do, occasionally, buy from them; you can donate the item you bought…

When buildings come up in the catchment area of a lake, there's bound to be flooding during the rains. Two major residential projects, Bren Imperia and Shriram Chirping Woods are coming up on on the sensitive valley zone between Kasavanahalli and Kaikondrahalli lakes. Citizen Matters had written about what was happening in the area.  Residents ask govt to save Kaikondrahalli, Kasavanahalli lake wetlands Yet another construction threatens to dry up Kaikondrahalli lake How construction debris is letting sewage enter Kaikondrahalli lake Just a month ago, the National Green Tribunal had dismissed the petition against these projects. But the recent heavy rain…

In 2015, Whitefield Rising volunteers joined hands with Samridhdhi Trust to run a Bridge School for children of construction workers in Nallurahalli area of Whitefield. Rotary and various companies contributed to the cause. Meanwhile, many students who went through various bridge schools run by Samridhdhi Trust in Bengaluru have passed recently held board exam with flying colours.   The Bangalore Effective Education Task Force (BEETF) Annual Day is organised to celebrate the achievement of our students and BEETF for bridging the gap in education and admitting 500+ ultra-poor, out-of-school-children to mainstream formal schools in the year 2015-2016.  Date: 28th May 2016.Time: 10:45 am -…

Bangalore is growing at an unprecedented rate,and its sprawling expansions outpaces the public utility's ability to accommodate the skyrocketing demand for water and sanitation services. It is increasingly common for new residential communities to assume total management for their own water and sanitation services through the resident welfare associations. Most of these depend on borewells and tankers, which they sooner or later realise is not a sustainable option. Groundwater recharge, one of the forms of rainwater harvesting, can be instrumental in achieving long-term water security. By taking water out of over-stressed storm drains and replenishing them into shallow aquifers, groundwater…

BBMP health inspectors conducted a major drive against use of plastic on Whitefield Main Road (Hagadur ward) on Saturday 21-May-2016. Plastic material was seized from several shops in Forum Value Mall. The drive was led by BBMP officials Vinodh Govindappa and Prakash KN Gowda. They worked tirelessly from 11 am to 5 pm without a lunch break, seizing around 600 kg of plastic. Penalty of Rs. 1.84 lakh was levied. Despite a relentless campaign by Whitefield Rising volunteers in the last two months, starting with a traders and Corporator meeting near Forum Value Mall, and despite the mall's management giving notices,…

What is an Occupancy Certificate? A certificate of occupancy is a document issued by a local government agency or building department certifying a building’s compliance with applicable building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy. Obtaining an OC is a requirement under the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972. The law says one cannot legally move into a building unless the developer gets an occupancy certificate from the BBMP or BDA. The corporation can ask apartment owners to leave such illegally occupied flats or impose heavy penalties. Occupancy certificate is also required when the buyer applies for…