GENRE: LN

Construction wastes and unwanted materials on pedestrian footpaths have been creating a hindrance to vehicular traffic and do not present a pretty picture of the city. BBMP had already made several requests to the public not to dispose of the construction material remains on footpaths and drains. Penalty was imposed when people were caught red-handed disposing the construction materials. But in spite of all this the bad practice has continued. Hence BBMP has identified about 20 unused quarry pits around the city where the people can leave construction waste. The following are the places identified: K.R Puram       - Haralooru…

Domestic workers protest. Pic: Navya P K An appeal from DWRCDear Sir/Madam, We are working closely with the Labour Department and will be collecting the data to enrol workers for RSBY health insurance. Our organisation is also part of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) task force on domestic workers at the centre and working on the draft policy for domestic workers. We request concerned Resident Welfare Associations for support and give us permission to collect the details, fill up the forms for the RSBY scheme. We have to complete our process by December 31st. -Geeta MenonDomestic Workers Rights Collective (DWRC)…

Starting with the holiday weekend of December 24th-25th, OfferGrid, a distribution network for service and product deals for publishers is powering local deals on Citizen Matters, Bangalore's interactive newsmagazine. Deals from over 17 categories ranging from health care and dance classes to dining and education are available for nearly 24 localities in Bengaluru, at the time of launch on December 24th. All major major localities such as Jayanagar, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Malleshwaram, etc, are covered. The deals are available for readers on the Citizen Matters home page, article pages, events pages and more. Launched in Q3 2011, OfferGrid Exchange is the…

Apartment associations in the city have got assurance from the state Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) that Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) norms for apartments will soon be re-defined. An informal group of residents from various apartments across Bangalore, have been in talks with the Board for over six months, many of them having faced issues with STP quality and adherence to regulations. Board Chairman A S Sadashivaiah said that the new processes will be finalised by March and will be implemented by June. Board will redefine aspects such as stringent checks before approving STPs, holding builders accountable for STP quality etc.…

About six hundred people gathered at Kuvempu park, Ranga Mandira, BTM Layout on 18 December, Sunday to participate in the 106th birth anniversary of Rashtra Kavi Kuvempu. He was the first Kannada litterateur to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award. His birthday falls on the 29 December. Samana Manaskara Vedike, BTM layout, 2nd Stage and Bhagavadgita Abhiyan State Committee Karnataka, jointly organised this event. Yakshagana performance Kuvempu park, BTM. Pic: C R Sridhar The evening began with a prayer and was followed with an enthralling display of the Yakshagana by the artistes of Sirsi-Siddapur Vrinda. Yakshagana is a popular form…

Residents of Raja Rajeshwari Nivas apartment complex in Bommanahalli, had decided to dig two borewells to sort out the seven-month long water problem. But when the work started on Monday, they were in for a rude shock. Some goons landed there with weapons demanding the work be stopped. They threatened the residents and broke the glass windows in order to convince them they don't need to dig the borewell. Bommanahalli is off Hosur Road just south of the Silkboard intersection.  Police constable stands vigil as the borwell digging continues Pic: Padmalatha Ravi. Residents allege that Mohan Reddy, a local water…

It is curtains up for the 4th Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) on December 15, 2011. About 175 feature films from around the world will visit the city over the eight-day event. They include 130 foreign films from 40 countries, 30 from Indian Cinema and 15 from Kannada Cinema. This year's country focus will be on Polish cinema, Egyptian cinema, Asian cinema, contemporary Indian cinema and contemporary Kannada Cinema.         Significantly, for the first time, Bengaluru's annual film event has finally received the attention it deserves, with the goal being to establish it amongst India's premier film festivals. This edition of…

Bengaluru is one of India's more vibrant hubs for startups. But this startup near Whitefield is a firm few people would have expected. A Hoskote farmer has launched his own grocery supermarket. H Krishna Murthy, 40, a farmer who goes by the name Krishna, opened his swanky outlet, A1 Fresh World (A1FW) at Kadugodi last month. Krishna hails from Kolathur village in Hosakote and runs an 18-acre farm. Not unlike the major players in this sector, A1FW carries everything from fresh vegetables, dry groceries, diary foods, confectionary, beverages, savouries and so for. Hoskote-based farmer Krishna Murthy, who opened a supermarket…

At the 7th edition of Samarthanam's Bailley Bengaluru walkathon on Saturday 10, December, nearly five thousand people participated. MLA B N Vijaykumar, and Byrasandra Corporator N Nagaraju, inaugurated the walkathon at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Stadium, Jayanagar. Dr Raksha Jayaram with her students. Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli In his brief speech MLA Vijayakumar, promised to make the stadium disabled friendly. Corporator Nagaraju, hoped to start a sports academy at the stadium that would match international standards. Others present on the occasion were restaurateur Sadananda Maiya, Raj Rajkumar, Director, T E Connectivity, Rev Fr Arul Raj Sampath, Parish Priest, Christha Prabhalaya Church,…

The winter chill of a December night did not deter over 8000 people geared up to run at the fifth edition of the Bengaluru International Midnight Marathon (BIMM) at Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization (KPTO), Whitefield on 10th December. Apart from runners from India, BIMM saw international particpation as 18 runners from Ethipoia, Kenya and a few other countries took part. The Ethiopians dominated the marathon as they won most of the events. In the closely-fought men's full marathon of 42.195 kms, Yeshewa Abate of Ethiopia pipped fellow-countryman Alemayehu Negash to the first place with a timing of 2 hours 28…