PRESS RELEASE

A press note from Environment Support Group (ESG) calls out citizens to ask Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) not to plan Bengaluru, in the wake of BDA notification of public hearing related to Revised Master Plan - 2031.   This small advertisement of extraordinary significance appeared in the papers a couple of weeks ago. It does not say much. Notice that no document or map is made available as a basis for debate and feedback. And if you review the BDA website, all you find about the 2031 Master plan is the minutes of a meeting soliciting consultants to prepare the…

Child sexual abuse. When one such incident came to light in July this year, in a popular Bangalore school, Bangalore simmered with anger. Quickly safety rules were issued. But sadly, it was only the beginning of a slew of similar horrific incidents on a daily basis. We have never felt so vulnerable. What can we do as parents? How can we turn this anger in to a productive energy with a purpose and direction?  Maithreyi Nadapana, a volunteer with Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness, called for a protest cum way-forward meet for the Parents of Bangalore, in Freedom Park on November…

Bannerghatta Biological Park is happy to announce the addition of three new species of animals into its inventory that is kept for the public display. These animals have been received from Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar in exchange for two pairs of lions from Bannerghatta Biological Park on November 5th 2014, through the Animal Exchange Program which was approved by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. Four Horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis) Three (One male, two females) The four-horned antelope or Chousingha, is a species of small antelope found in the open forest in India and Nepal. The most distinctive feature of…

Managing Director of BMTC, Dr Ekroop Caur travels on Bus Day. Pic: BMTC Providing efficient, reliable, safe and comfortable transport to the citizens of Bangalore city has been the sole motto of BMTC. In addition to this task, BMTC has initiated other important steps aimed at improved mobility and reduction in air pollution in the metropolis, through decongestion of traffic by marginalisation of personalised mode of transport, by observing Bus Day on the 4th of every month since February 2010. BMTC has so far successfully completed four years of Bus Day and is on the verge of completing the fifth…

Bangalore Little Theatre's (BLT) annual children production returns for the 8th time. Positioned as Community Theatre that is committed to social development in the largest sense, BLT has struck a long term partnership with the Association for the Mentally Challenged (AMC). One aspect of this partnership has been an annual flagship theatre production for the Bangalore public that also serves as a fundraiser for AMC. This year's theatre production is unusual (and very special) in many ways. It is an original script based on a well-known book by internationally renowned management expert, John Kotter, with the challenge of Climate Change as the backdrop.…

Noted Kannada film actress, Thara Anooradha launches the Namma Bengaluru Awards 2014. The 6th Edition of Namma Bengaluru Awards (NBA) was launched on October 31st 2014. An initiative of the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), the Namma Bengaluru Awards are meant to celebrate exceptional individuals and organisations – nominated by citizens for making Bengaluru a more sophisticated, humane and dignified city, truly one of the best governed cities! Namma Bengaluru Foundation CEO, Sridhar Pabbisetty said, “Namma Bengaluru has a glorious history of 477 years. It has been nurtured by many visionaries who have strived hard to make this city better. The Namma…

“A politician thinks of the next election while a statesman thinks of the next generation.” As Bangalore continues to grow both in size and numbers, there is a greater and dire need to ensure that the city’s infrastructure and public institutions are geared up to work effectively to ensure a better standard of living. In keeping with achieving these goals, Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) launched the B.PAC Civic Leadership Incubator Program (B.CLIP). B.CLIP aims to create a pool of informed citizens who have the ability to work on various issues important to the citizens of Bangalore and act as…

A performer in Dasara celebrations in Mysore. Pic: Raghavendra K S Prathibimba is a photography exhibition, scheduled to be held on the 58th Rajyotsava of Namma Karnataka, at Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore from October 31st to November 2nd. The exhibition is the culmination of the journey of six photographers from diverse backgrounds, who set out to have an intimate rendezvous with the state of Karnataka through their lenses. In an attempt to capture the myriad reflections of the grandeur of the state, their journeys took them from the explored to the unexplored jewels of Karnataka, framing the state that we live in and…

Beyond Carlton has launched India’s first mobile app on fire safety. The app encourages citizen participation in identifying fire safety violations and reporting the same for effective action by the Fire Department. The app aims to: • To help identify more violations that can be addressed by the authorities• To sensitize and co-­opt citizens to play a more dominant role in fire safety Fire Champ, the mobile application, launched by Beyond Carlton along with technical support from IChangeMyCity.com and involvement of Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services enables you to report any fire-­related measures not adhered to in a building around…

 Tree Felling in Kanataka is governed by the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. Section 8 (1) of the act states: With effect on and from the appointed day, notwithstanding any custom, usage, contract or law for the time being in force, no person shall fell any tree or cause any tree to be felled in any land, whether in his ownership or occupancy or otherwise, except with the previous permission of the Tree Officer Thus, whether the tree is in private land or government land, the permission of the Tree Officer is essential before a tree is cut. On what grounds can…