Blogs

A few days ago I noticed that the streetlights and new LED streetlamps on 15th Cross, Malleshwaram, were not working properly. I thought I should complain and I did so on several fronts. 1. I complained to the BBMP Assistant Officer for Malleshwaram by email and `WhatsApp' 2. I wrote to the MLA - Ashwath Narayan 3. I also filed a complaint on 'malleshwaram.sahaaya.in' I got a call from someone a few days later but it so happened that the LED lights were working at that point. The streetlights were still not working. A few days later, on Monday, June…

A summary of some key "Bangalore lake" news Encroachments – eviction and regularisation Encroachments on government land, including lakes, shot into front page news with the demolition drive at Sarakki Lake in JP Nagar 7th Phase, in April 2015. Eviction drives and attempted drives have been happening in Bangalore on and off. For example, in September 2014, Venkatarayana Lake was cleared of some illegal structures, and in January 2015 HRBR Layout residents received eviction notices as their homes were on lake beds. In both these cases, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) was a common factor, being the reason for the…

Anamika * has six cellphones, all the latest smartphone models. Bharat * has a refrigerator and a television set in his bedroom. So what, you wonder. Many of us already do. Anamika is barely six. Bharat is nine. And no they do not have famous or celeb parents. They are not on YouTube (yet), they do not have Instagram accounts dedicated to their lives (just wait a couple of years). They are simply highly privileged children living in your neighbourhood. These two children are what we call the new normal. They are being brought up in enormous wealth and affluence.…

A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm: Henrik Ibsen Here's proof that the good folks of Whitefield are ever ready to take the helm.  There are several children in the Whitefield area who require help. Help raise money for young Deepan, who needs funds to support his medical treatment. Read how the community came together to ensure two young boys could pursue their studies. Also see how far the road work in Whitefield has progressed and by when you can expect completion. Finally, with BBMP elections around the corner,  do ensure that you…

When a musician receives an award, it's a recognition for his or her contribution to the art form. Cultural organizations across the world institute awards to recognize outstanding talents in the field. I've listed a few below that are considered top awards in the music world.  Sangita Kalanidhi award is the most prestigious award given to a Carnatic musician every year by the Music Academy in Chennai. The award consists of a gold medal and a birudu (badge resembling a medal). This year's recipient is vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam Here is a snippet from a concert of Sanjay Subrahmanyam at Cleveland,…

This write up has been compiled from emails received from Shubha Ramachandran of BIOME Over the past one year, ACWADAM, BIOME, WIPRO and MAPUNITY have been working on a project to map the AQUIFERS in the area around Sarjapura Road (8 MicroWatersheds spread across 33 sqkm in South East Bangalore which is completely dependent on ground water). They have also worked to see if they can revive and protect the 15 lakes in the watershed. People from the area have shared stories and data of their wells, borewells and STPs.  The approach to gather, share and interpret data has been participatory, involving varied stakeholders like borewell diggers, tanker operators, Citizen Groups, Government Agencies etc.…

Bellandur Buzz… Issue # 38 Date: 18th June 2015 This newsletter is brought to you by the citizen group bellandur-forum@googlegroups.com Local SWM champions feature in News 9 Mass illegal burning of garbage near Prakriya and Primus concerned some parents who then visited the area with a BBMP official only to discover to their shock that burnt garbage was being packaged as KCDC branded compost. Here is the coverage by News 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=espPDCwvve0   Happenings at Saul Kere: Clean up by the volunteers Kids enjoy activities by the lake World environment day was celebrated at Saul Kere on June 6 with…

Pic: Sheeja Cassius   Potholes - I got you under my skin!! When you are tired of sobbing, you sing! The worst pothole on varthur gunjur stretch had me and my pillion in. Ironically we were on our way to collect an IGCSE report card (International)! To save the road of an empty fuel guzzler and wasted carbon footprint, I stick to a mobike when we are two... I trailed behind a couple cars... Maybe three feet away? But that wasn't enough to steer me away from this nasty one as I swerved to avoid and skid straight in. The…

Thanks to the rain and the treated water, the level has gone up at the lake. Unfortunately though, the notoriously difficult to control alligator weed is also growing lushly. We hope when the level increases even more, the weeds will be submerged and rot. Well, we may be unhappy about the weed spreading but the birds are very happy about it. The number of birds frequently the lake has increased.    For the past few months, Madhurima Das, a "resident birder" from the neighbourhood has been regularly doing a weekend census of the birds at the lake, and taking pictures…

PNLIT turns five today.    Thanks to our donors, volunteers, staff, vendors, media, government authorities and everyone else who extended support to us in various capacities, the journey has been very fulfilling.   Puttenahalli Lake continues to be PNLIT's primary focus and we are happy with the positive difference that 'five years' has made.           The green of the trees, grass and other plants (weeds included) cannot be missed. Flowers, fruit and fish ensure that birds, butterflies and other life forms are able to sustain. More than 70 different species of birds have been spotted at the lake…