GENRE: LN

The famed Jayanagar Shopping Complex in Jayanagar 4th block is soon to undergo a makeover. While BBMP and BDA have been making plans for renovating the complex, shopkeepers here have been kept out of the loop. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the renovation project is almost complete, but it does not mention rehabilitation of shopkeepers. Many shopkeepers are not aware of the renovation plan either. While some are opposed to the project, others believe that they will be rehabilitated. The project costing Rs 115 crores, is expected to be complete in 18 months. Mani, a shop owner, has been…

The Richards Town Residents Association (RTRA) invited all the residents of Richards Town to join hands in cleaning up Richards Park, one of the most prominent landmarks of the area. Young and old (the oldest being 86 years old) gathered on a Sunday morning armed with gloves, brooms and garbage bags to clean the park and lead by example. Richards Park was set up in the late 1800's to decongest the South Parade Area. Named after Richard, a British Civil Services Officer, the park is the highest point of Richards Town. This beautiful park with a bandstand where the British…

Citizen Action Forum, a federation of RWAs met S Suresh Kumar, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and BWSSB and P S Ramamurthy, Chairman, BWSSB along with team of chief engineers.The meeting held in BWSSB central office Cauvery Bhavan, and we discussed rain water harvesting (RWH) and water supply problems.CAF President N S Mukunda explained practical solutions to water problems. RWH in houses can yield only 2% of water requirement of Bangalore. So RWH should be done in all public (government buildings and 1400 parks in Bangalore. He requested the government not to make RWH mandatory for all, because some…

I am a resident of BEML Layout, Rajarajeshwari nagar, 7th cross, 9th main, 3rd stage . BWSSB laid the new drainage pipes two months ago. But no on has bothered to bring the road back to normalcy. The drain pipes are just closed with loose soil and even extra soil present on the road is not removed. Vehicles plying on the road get stuck in the loose mud often. Elderly and children find it difficult to walk and have often had falls. When it rains, the road is all slushy. Pic: Anand R 9th main looks like a dirt track.…

Bangalore footballers are going to be a happy lot soon. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has honoured the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) with an Astroturf. City's football stadium in Ashok Nagar, is only one of three cities in India with astroturf surfaces, the other two being Kolkata and Mumbai. Those surfaces were also funded by FIFA. "FIFA has recognised KSFA's contribution towards football," says Amjad Khan, Deputy General Secretary of the KSFA and a former coach at the international level. "We have to make good use of the Astroturf and maintain it well, now that we have…

There's something about living in this city for a long time that makes it impossible to not be a loud and brash bigot. There is a wordless demand that you don't simply love this city but be a little proud, a little overbearing, and become an insufferable little mobile advertisement for your part of town. It is with the same sentiment that we took part in Hunt For The Past - INTACHís Heritage Hunt held in the Basavanagudi area last week. The event was an sms-powered treasure hunt that took one to different parts of the old South Bangalore area,…

Shettihalli Corporator Sharadamma Ramanjaneya is Bengaluru's new mayor. Pic: Navya P K. Shettihalli Corporator Sharadamma Ramanjaneya and Nagapura Corporator S Harish are now Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Bangalore in 2011-12. Elections held on Friday April 29th were smooth as the ruling party had already reached a consensus and no additional nominations were filed. When asked about her plans for the city, Sharadamma said, "The city will be beautified. Managing garbage and managing storm water drains to prevent flooding during rains, will be priorities. Welfare measures will be introduced for women, disabled and other minorities." Sharadamma flanked by BJP women…

Seven months after their first ‘Gandhigiri' protest, residents of Sachidananda Nagara layout in Rajarajeshwari Nagar held a second protest at the BBMP Commissioner's office on 25th April for the same reason - non-issuance of Khatas. In September last year, a group formed by residents named Sachidananda Nagara Nyayapara Andolana (SNNA) had presented roses to the Commissioner saying that they should be provided khatas without having to give bribes. But despite an order from the Commissioner in November, only 120 residents have got khatas so far. There are nearly 800 residents in the layout. Another set of 120 khata applications have…

It has taken just about 2 months to flood National Games Village (NGV) after the initial protest on 25th February from the residents for opening up the storm water drains. The trauma has just started with the first few summer showers. We had water overflow from the drains reach areas near the centre court in Tungabhadra, NGV on 22 April. Water overflowing from open drains into the residential area. Pic: Meera Rajesh There was no way to cross between the towers without stepping into the dirty water from the drain! BBMP had earlier taken an on the spot decision to…

Jayanthi Venkatachalam, a homemaker in her late 40s, resident of Jeevanbheema Nagar got the roof of her house painted white recently.  Her husband, S V Venkatachalam, a scientist at ISRO, heard of painting roofs white as a method to keep buildings cool from a friend and decided to try it. She says, the rising mercury made life unbearable for her family as a fan was just not enough to provide relief.  Jayanthi says they did not go for air-conditioners or air-coolers because of the cost in terms of buying one and also monthly electricity bills incurred in running them. Although…