GENRE: LN

Citizen Matters is happy to announce that all our popular guidebooks, Living in Bengaluru 2.0, Buying, Investing and Renting Property in Bengaluru and Get To Know Bengaluru Better are now available for purchase as e-books on three different platforms, Newshunt, Rockstand and Kindle. The prices range from Rs 80 to Rs 125 (Note: Our partner platforms may discount prices from time to time). All three e-books are available for iOS and Android platforms, and can be downloaded from iTunes and Google Play respectively. To download any of these apps, please follow the links below. Newshunt: iTunes | Google Play Rockstand: iTunes | Google…

Namma Bengaluru Awards - 2014 winners. Pic: Namma Bengaluru Foundation It was yet again a time to celebrate the citizen heroes of Bengaluru. At a function held on March 14th 2015 at Shalini Grounds, Jayanagar, 5th Block to award Namma Bengaluru Awards, the spirit of citizenship and united Bengaluru soared high. The 6th Edition of Namma Bengaluru Awards had 14 categories in which people from multiple facilities were selected as heroes. Kathyayini Chamaraj, trustee of CIVIC, also writes for Citizen Matters received Namma Bengalurean of the year award, for her relentless pursuing of civic issues such as ward committee rules,…

Bellandur Buzz Issue # 31 Date: 13th March 2015. This fortnightly newsletter is published by the citizen group bellandur.forum@googlegroups.com Meeting with KSPCB Recently, a new apartment complex in Bellandur ward was suspected to be laying underground PVC pipes for its treated sewage which allegedly led to the newly rejuvenated Kasavanahalli lake. This sparked off a heated discussion about KSPCB norms and the lack of options faced by apartments for discharging their treated sewage. As per the current KSPCB rule, apartments more than 50 units are required to have a functioning Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). KSPCB imposes a zero discharge policy…

Most of the buildings in Bangalore have bye-law violations - some minor, others major. Pic: Shree D N Two days after the State government announcing the implementation of Akrama Sakrama scheme, there are all indications the issue will yet again face legal hurdles. Mangaluru-based Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development has already filed a fresh petition in the High Court of Karnataka questioning the implementation of Akrama Sakrama. Bengaluru-based Citizens Action Forum too has decided to file a separate petition. Vidya Dinker, Convener of Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, who is the main petitioner in the case dismissed on February 3rd,…

The three-member committee formed by the State government to look into the Restructuring of BBMP will hold a series of meetings with Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) and Non-government Organisations, community-based organisations, apartment owners’ associations and other citiens, to give their suggestions and inputs on the ongoing restructuring exercise. The government has formed the three member committee headed by former chief secretary B S Patil, with Siddaiah and V Ravichandar as its members. The committee has been entrusted with the task of studying the impact of restructuring BBMP and chalk out the ways in which the city can be governed more…

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that it has released Rs 118.15 crore out of the total pending amount of Rs 150 crore to be paid to the garbage contractors and the civic workers. The BBMP counsel assured that the remaining Rs 32 crore will be released soon after contractors submit the bills for the work done. The BBMP has come up with the statement after the High Court had slammed the Palike while hearing a batch of petitions on Solid Waste Management on February 13, 2015 for not releasing the due of…

It happens in every nook and corner of Bengaluru. Electronic City, Basavanagudi, Malleshwaram, Indiranagar. And your area too, possibly. This is the season of burning garbage in Bengaluru. Last year we wrote about it. This year is no different as these photos prove. A dog rests happily in the ash left after burning garbage, in Chikkanayakana Halli. Pic: SWMRT volunteers   What’s different about garbage this season? From January to April, Bengaluru witnesses scenes of burning garbage. mainly leaf litter. While trees profusely shed dry leaves this season, there are no local composting or disposal solutions for leaf litter. The…

Bellandur Buzz Issue # 30 Date: 26th February 2015. This fortnightly newsletter is published by the citizen group bellandur.forum@googlegroups.com Anti Plastic Campaign Sobha Jasmine recently implemented a successful anti-plastic campaign. On Jan 26th Jasmine's Eco-Committee presented a children's skit to expose the numerous hazards posed by plastic bags. Ward 174 Corporator Latha Murthy kicked off the campaign with a symbolic cutting of a plastic bag. The managing committee then approached local vendors and requested them to stop making deliveries in plastic bags. Security was told to keep a strict watch on vendors. There was a dramatic decrease in the number…

The state government has told the High Court that they will amend the Bengaluru Development Authority's Revised Master Plan-2015 Zonal Regulations to conform to the BDA's affidavit submitted recently to the court. The government’s counsel agreed before the Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy to make necessary changes within 10 days. Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) had filed a writ petition in the High Court questioning the changes made by the state government in the Zonal Regulations which were not in line with BDA's affidavit. BDA had said: Not me In the earlier…

The high decibel sound emanating from the fighter planes, the stunning aerial displays and the ballet of the moving aircrafts —all these have brightened up the Bengaluru skies, as the 10th edition of Aero India has entered its fourth day at Air Force Station in Yelahanka. After the successful completion of the previous nine editions, Asia’s premier air show Aero India-2015 has been organised in Bengaluru yet again. Scheduled from February 18th to 22nd, Aero India, which includes the aircraft show and an exhibition, has everything to offer for aviation enthusiasts. Demonstrations and mind blowing stunts by civil and military…