GENRE: In Focus

The BBMP budget was presented on 18 August, the discussions on budget went on for four days - from August 23-26. Some opposition leaders raised their points and asked for clarifications during the session. There were no official responses were given on the same day. The voting on the budget will be held on Saturday, September 3. BBMP budget discusion in progress. Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi Congress councillor M Nagaraj (Nandini Layout Ward 43), who was the opposition leader last yearAllocation is not equal for all wards; some have too many works proposed and others few. Many works proposed in…

Even as the Hazare movement has drawn thousands to Freedom Park every day since August 16th, Bangalore's MPs are camped in Delhi. While D B Chandre Gowda (BJP, Bangalore North) and Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha) reportedly visited Freedom Park recently, the other MPs have not been as ‘accessible'. D B Chandre Gowda, BJP MP, Bangalore North, speaking at Freedom Park, Bangalore. Pic: Yogesh Devraj. On Tuesday, D B Chandre Gowda (BJP, Bangalore North) and P C Mohan (BJP, Bangalore Central) spoke to Citizen Matters over telephone on the Lokpal issue and Hazare's ultimatum to the UPA government. Chandre Gowda is…

A commercial building located in between Fortis Hospital and Apollo Hospital along Bannerghatta road in Bengaluru is being demolished by the BBMP since August 19. The building, ‘Amalodhbhala Tower', is located in one part of a 2 acre 32 guntas government land which was encroached by the complex's owner, one Shantharaju. About half the demolition of 'Amalodhbala Tower' was complete by August 22. Pic: Navya P K. This encroachment was mentioned in the report of V Balasubramanian (IAS, Retd.), Chairman of the Task Force for Recovery and Protection of Public Lands, which was published in June. In addition to Shantharaju,…

In action replay of last year, BBMP has presented a massive budget outlay of Rs.9100 cr for the city on a base of unproven revenues and uncommitted grants. BBMP Council's budget session in progress on August 18th 2011. Pic: Navya P K. Last year BBMP's actual receipts were Rs 4930 cr lesser than the projected amount of Rs 8447 cr. This year, the gap may be bigger, with a seemingly impossible expectation of receipts of Rs 9112 cr. This, along with opening balance of Rs 85 cr, is expected to cover expenditure of Rs 9196 cr for 2011-12.Reading out the…

With rising petrol prices, electric bikes are fast becoming popular in the city. Those below 18 years are opting for low speed bikes, which have maximum speed of 25 km/hr. These bikes are not categorised as motor vehicles and hence do not need a driver's license, registration or insurance. Like any retail product, they can be purchased and used directly.Not yet 18 but can ride a bike Jayanagar-based Kushal Pabbi, 16, owns iStar, a 25 km/hr electric bike. A Ist PUC student in St Joseph's PU College in Richmond Road, he uses the bike mainly to travel to college and…

In its third day, the Bangalorean protest for Jan Lokpal at Freedom Park does not seem to be slowing down in the least. What began with large masses of students in support of Anna Hazare has now broadened into drawing Bangaloreans from several other walks of life. Thousands more gathered on Thursday August 18th, stepping up their demand for passing the Anna Hazare version of the Lokpal bill in Parliament. An overcast sky with dark clouds looming did not dampen the spirits. One of the most spirited moments of the day came when thousands sang ‘Vande Mataram' in unison. By…

The High Court case on Sankey Road's widening, which citizens had filed against BBMP and state government, will include BDA as a party. Five citizens and the residents' association Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative had jointly filed the PIL last month when BBMP cut 17 trees across Sankey road stretch.HC ordered a stay on BBMP's tree cutting at the time, when two of the 17 trees were still standing. Hundreds of trees are expected to be cut for road widening from Cauvery Circle to CNR Rao Circle, and subsequently till Yeshwanthpur flyover.The High Court bench headed by Justice N Kumar passed the…

BBMP has taken up road widening work up again and talk of TDR is afloat. But for the first time the agency is saying that if the people do not want TDR, financial compensation may be offered. K R Niranjan, BBMP Special Commissioner, says, "In core areas we can minimise road works by doing junction improvement etc. But in outer areas these works are necessary and land will be obtained through TDR; but if public do not accept TDRs we need to have reserve funds for acquisition."Road widening in outer areas is part of the ship load of projects worth…

The India Against Corruption group at Bangalore announced the results of the 'referendum' on the Lokpal Bill from the Chikkaballpur and Bangalore South parliamentary constituencies. The results indicated a clear majority for strengthening the Lokpal. Ninety-three per cent of people in Chikkaballapur and eighty-six per cent of South Bangalore constituency want the Prime Minister to come under the ambit of Lokpal. Ninety-five per cent of people in Chikkaballapur and ninety-three per cent in Bangalore also want Lokpal to cover central government and state government through Lokayuktas.A total of 85,000 questionnaires had been distributed in Chikkaballapur and Bangalore South, over the…

A government task force report says that the Apollo Hospital on Bannerghatta road is built on encroached land, hence illegal. The report was authored by V Balasubramanian, Chairman of state government's Task Force for Recovery and Protection of Public Lands. A copy of the report is with Citizen Matters. Pages 17-22 of the report are devoted to this case. Who does the land belong to?According to the report, the five acres, where the hospital is located now (opposite IIM-B), was originally granted by government to a certain NRI docor, A M Nisar Syed in 1991. Syed had applied for the…