GENRE: LN

The recently concluded two-day national seminar on Organic Terrace Gardening at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Alumni Association Convention Centre, Hebbal was in all respects a great meeting point and a good start to a process that seeks to become a nation-wide movement. One of the primary objectives of organising such a seminar was to ensure that organic terrace gardening spreads as a movement across the country, rather than merely as a hobby or passion for a select few. There was also a need felt to bring together like-minded practitioners, individuals and institutions on a common platform and use…

The construction of a subway at the busy KR Market has been delayed by almost two years now. Local officials in the BBMP, BWSSB and the contractors carrying out the work, are passing the buck, blaming one another. Currently, work on the site has been held up due to a massive sewage pipe that needs to be removed. The subway construction near KR Market started way back in September 2006. Pic: Prabhu Mallikarjunan The Rs 6 crores project started in September 2006 and was scheduled to be completed in January 2009. Seventeen months have passed since, without much progress. The…

Special grants, ward-wise for each corporator Ward 172 - Rs 100 lakhs. Ward 176 - Rs 100 lakhs. Ward 177 - Rs 200 lakhs. Ward 178 - Rs 300 lakhs. Ward project plans Allocation for works as mentioned in draft annual BBMP budget: Madiwala (Ward 172) Purchase of equipments to Madiwala Hospital - Rs 1 crore Construction of dhobi ghat at Madiwala Machideva quarters - Rs 1 crore Additional loops to Central Silk Board Flyover - Rs 25 lakh BTM Layout (Ward 176) Development of parks - Rs 3.9 crores (this includes allocation for parks in Ejipura and Koramangala too)…

It's been a happening fortnight at the movies in Bangalore. The fourth Indo-German Film Festival ran between August 20th and 26th at Lavanya Theatre in Ulsoor, drawing a niche audience from across the city. Amongst the top German films screened were  A Year Ago in Winter, Jerichow, Storm, John Rabe, Soul Kitchen, Whisky with Vodka and Lila Lila. The Indian films in the festival panorama included Kanasembo Kudureyaneri, Vimukti, Kanchivaram, Bioscope, Paltadacho Munis, Gabhricha Paus, Harishchandrache Factory and Ek Cup Chya. Next in line were a couple of much-awaited new releases at the cinemas over the weekend. Bollywood had the…

It only took 13-year-old Aditya's bragging about how quick and efficient he was at the newly acquired skill of tying flowers, for the girls in his group to take it upon themselves to beat him at his game. What started as a fun contest, turned into a fierce battle with each camp pelting flowers at each other. Your reporter, lips pursed in concentration, attempting to learn to tie flowers from ten-year-olds, was caught in the crossfire. A participant at the workshop making a Ganesha idol using clay. Pic: Siri Srinivas This was the workshop organised by the Environment Support Group(ESG)…

Over a period of four days, BBMP corporators were given an opportunity to debate and discuss the draft budget that was presented before the council on August 30th. While for the most part the Congress and JD(S) maintained that the budget is "bogus", BJP corporators hailed it to be "bombaat". Unfortunately, what could have been a critical dissection and analysis of the proposed Rs 8488 crore budget, turned out to be, for the large part, like a regular monthly meeting, where ward woes were presented. Leader of the Opposition M Nagaraj makes a point on August 30th when the BBMP…

On Sunday August 29th , the Kannada translation of Prof. S N Balagangadhara's book, "The Heathen in his Blindness"...Asia, West and the Dynamic of Religion (1994) was released at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in Chamarajpet. The book titled 'Smriti, Vismriti: Bhaarateeya Samskruti', translated by scholar-historian Dr Rajaram Hegde, was released by writer-journalist Ravi Belegere. Published by Akshara Prakashana, the book is priced at Rs 415. An introduction to the book was presented by Prof. Sivarama Krishnan, retired Sociology Professor, Bangalore University. Centre for the Study of Local Cultures (CSLC), Kuvempu University organised the event with support from Nagasri Book House,…

The XSEED Preschool, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, celebrated a children's carnival on Saturday, August 28th at their school premises. The carnival was primarily aimed at creating an awareness in the young minds the importance of going green. The preschool emphasizes appreciating and protecting the environment through the principles of the 3 R’s –Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.  To put these into practice, the school has a vegetable garden, a vermicompost  pit and a bird bath.XSEED Preschool was formally inaugurated by Manjul Gupta, parent of the first student of the school followed by the lighting of the lamp by parents and Dr. Harini…

Nearly two and a half years after work began, there may finally be light at the tunnel, or in this case, an underpass. Construction on the JP Nagar 15th cross Ring Road in south Bengaluru is scheduled to be completed by the third week of September. Signs of completion have emerged as work entered the 30th month. Pic: Venkatesan Perumal. Highly placed sources in the BBMP have confirmed this to Citizen Matters but refused to comment on when the underpass itself will be inaugurated thereafter. The BBMP official says that work left to be completed includes painting, lighting, laying of…

Rakhi tales from the market places in Jayanagar At Jayanagar 4th block, Subhramanyam, the owner of a dainty store is disheartened with the turnout for Raksha Bandhan. "I haven't made many sales this year. There is a lot of variety and price ranges, but the turnout in the market is too less somehow." Pic: Sneha Koilada. When asked for the possible reasons for the disappointing sales, he opines, "There could be any number of reasons. The overall turnout in the market itself is dropping of course. But it could also be that the interest in Rakhi itself is waning. Girls…