CITIZEN JOURNALISM

In spite of the new rules introduced by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to address the issue of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Bangalore continues to be plagued by the problem of uncollected waste in the neighbourhoods. The rules instruct the citizens to segregate waste, but they do not deal with the burgeoning quantities of solid waste generated. More rich you are, more waste you produce! A research carried out by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in the field of behavioural economics has shown that the per capita generation of MSW is directly proportional to affluence and consumption patterns of…

Citizen Matters had published an article on the death of Meghala, a girl aged six and weighing 12 kg, at D J Halli. This article throws light on the extent of malnutrition in Karnataka and how various recommendations to combat the same were ignored by the government, resulting in a death that could have otherwise been prevented. Meghala's death and the subsequent reaction in the media and political corridors is reminiscent of the furore after the death of five-year-old Anjaneya from Raichur in late 2011. Anjaneya was diagnosed as being severely malnourished in 2010 and yet, thanks in no small…

A few months ago, I was going through the ‘Bangalore District Gazetteer.’ The 'oldness' and the 'dustiness' of the Gazetteer just seemed to add to the authenticity of a ‘gazetteer.’ The stories were mostly likeable, bringing in a sense of wonder and revealing a past that I did not know. I looked for ‘markets’ and ‘bazaars’ on its index page. I’m sharing here some excerpts from it. The ones that I found most interesting were the ones with names of localities in the city that we know today but are so completely transformed from the old days. For instance, it…

Maraa invites you to Blue Print of a Park Imaginarium this Sunday, Aug 18th | Cubbon Park Bandstand 3 pm - 6 pm. We invite artists of all age groups to come and paint, sketch, draw their imagination for a park. Maraa in collaboration with other groups in Bangalore will be submitting a joint proposal to consider revitalising Cubbon Park with better access, and for diverse uses. The sketches made at the event will be submitted to the department as well. Call for participation to the Public How many times have we been in an open space, and imagined what could have…

Kanaka Champa tree with its seeds Pic: Usha Hariprasad Walking amid heritage trees can give you a sense of history and a deep connection towards nature. The fascinating facts revolving around these leafy guardians, the deep bonds between trees and the winged birds, animals and other creatures can whisk you away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The two-hour walk organised by Hasiru-Usiru on 10 August at Hebbal Lake proved to be an eye-opener in every sense. At the onset, the walkers were introduced to a giant fig tree which showcased the delicate balance existing between the fig tree and…

Dahlia of a rare colour. Pic: Vanila BalajiYellow Daisy Pic:Vanila BalajiMore yellow Daisies Pic: Vanila BalajiRed Dahlia Pic: Vanila BalajiPurple Aster Pic: Vanila BalajiPink Rose Pic: Vanila BalajiPink Dahlia Pic: Vanila BalajiOrange Cock's Comb Pic: Vanila BalajiA Dahlia of hybrid variety Pic: Vanila BalajiTeam of flowers! Pic: Vanila BalajiBee enjoying nector Pic: Vanila Balaji‹ › $(document).ready(function(){ $('.carousel .carousel-inner .item').first().attr('class', 'active item');}); If you haven't visited the show, you have only two days left! Click here for more details.

The residents of Borewell Road in Whitefield are a worried lot. This once-peaceful, residential stretch is being targeted for road widening - for the second time in six years! This will result in many old homes and new apartments being demolished. Six years ago, the compound walls of homes were illegally razed and the road was widened on either side by 8 ft. All this, while the authorities claimed helpless to intervene and stop this act. Residents had to re-build their walls and repair their homes at their own expense. Now, six years later, this spectre has resurrected, to haunt…

My journey with gardening started about three years ago, when I brought home the Kambha from Daily Dump and started composting my kitchen waste. The feeling of empowerment that I got from doing my bit soon translated to a conscious decision to move towards organic foods. This then led to starting my own kitchen garden that first began with five containers of tomato and brinjal plants. Brinjal grown in kitchen garden I cannot quite describe the feeling of joy from a first harvest, but I can assure you that once you experience it you will be hooked to growing your…

I was taking my cycle to the ‘Fitness Through Travel’ to get it lubed properly for the race on Sunday. As I passed the playground near 19th Main (BTM Layout), I noticed a young woman in filthy clothes lying unconscious near the grills of the ground. A lot of young men were playing in the ground, paying no attention to her. Everyone was just glancing at her and moving away with the assumption that she was drunk. I too started moving away, but then I noticed dried blood around her foot. I felt bad, went near her and woke her…

Apartment associations that received their water bills for June 2013 were in for a shock. Their water bills were two to three times more than what they had been paying! Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had increased the charges for bulk consumers as per a notification in the Karnataka Gazette dated 23rd May 2013, but most apartment association representatives and residents were not aware of either the new charges, or of the impact of the amendment in tariff, till they received the bills.  According to the new tariff rules, for Bulk Domestic Consumers i.e. High-rise/Multistoried Buildings/ Apartments/ Central and…