Civic

Last week the consultants tasked with preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the BRTS invited us to a meeting. A few of us from FOMRRA (Federation of OMR Resident Associations), representing citizens living and using OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road), went to the meeting. The show started with some short films on the "successfully implemented projects" in Pune, Amdavad, Hubli-Dharwad and others. As the consultation started more than an hour late, they breezed through a PowerPoint presentation. However, we, who follow the mass transit planning and development studies associated with OMR, found that most of the data presented was based…

563 new dengue cases in four days The number of dengue cases in the city shot up by 12 percent over just four days, this week. From the start of 2019, till Sunday, 4443 cases had been recorded in the city. But by Wednesday, the number rose to 5006, said officials. That is, 563 new cases were registered in just four days. BBMP East zone is worst affected, with 1937 cases since January. Bengaluru South zone comes next with 786 cases, followed by Mahadevapura with 760 cases. Dasarahalli Zone has recorded the lowest number, with 116 cases. Among wards, Hoysalanagar…

September may finally see water crisis resolution With the Mettur dam fast filling up and discharge likely to increase in a few days, the Veeranam tank is expected to receive inflows in 10 days. Heavy rains in the adjoining states of Andhra and Karnataka have also brought respite to the water-starved city, creating a steady increase in the water levels at the reservoirs. Krishna water supply from the Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh will help boost the storage in the city reservoirs. Chennai currently is managing with drinking water supply of 525 million litres on alternate days. The city is…

"What is the budget allocated to my ward? How many roads will get relaid this year in my area? This waterbody in my ward needs to be desilted, can we add it to the works" I could rightfully ask these questions and give my suggestions for my area said Charu, Raji, Meera, Sakthi and Jothi, the members of Voice of People. But how? As we celebrated this August 15th, our 73rd Independence day, maybe it is time we got into the spirit of what independence truly is. We are continuing in this journey as passive bystanders, appalled at the quality…

Picture a Chennai where buses are the fastest and most regular means of transport for short distances. Where bus stops are seamlessly aligned and you won't ever have to run after a bus that has overshot its designated stop or has come to a halt a good few metres before the stop. You don't ever have to haggle with the conductor over small change, because you can purchase your ticket prior to boarding. Wouldn't you automatically opt for a bus in such a scenario, instead of stressing yourself out at the driver's wheel in the midst of crazy traffic? Well,…

What makes governmental arrogance worse – media ignorance or just plain indifference? I refer to the claim, made through a press statement, that new-generation MTC and other Tamil Nadu transport corporation buses will provide access to persons with disabilities. Global good practice on universal access requires low floor buses, designated wheelchair spaces in the bus, and minimal effort for disabled users. This contraption from MTC is a reflogged idea from the time A P Shah was in the Madras High Court and ordered MTC to come up with some form of disability access. The truth is, they didn’t, and couldn’t care…

Every year, August 12th is celebrated as the International Day of the Youth. With the development narrative in our country centred on economic growth - and not on social welfare or political participation - the urban youth are busy trying to be financially independent. They are often disengaged from civic issues and the needs of the people around them. But is this always the case? Last month, I attended a sale of reused and recycled materials organised by the online community Second to None, which attempts to reduce waste in the city. But the highlight of my day was meeting…

Besides showcasing the architectural expertise and aesthetics of their time, temple tanks also play an extremely important role as water storage systems in Chennai. Chennai has 39 temple tanks (excluding the suburban area) according to a study conducted in 2008.  As the rains arrived, a few temple tanks in the city were filled to the brim with water, thus helping in groundwater recharge while offering a spectacular view for devotees. "Most temples were designed to include tanks, an indigenous way of ensuring water management as part of religion and ritual. These tanks were dug by the benefactors and philanthropists," said…

Have you ever organised a party, and discovered that you have a lot of extra food at the end of it? And did you hate seeing that food go to waste? There are organisations in Bengaluru that collect excess food or dry rations, and redistribute it to those in need. Some of these organisations are purely run by volunteer efforts. If you want to donate food or volunteer for the cause, here are some organisations that may interest you. The Robin Hood Army (RHA) collects excess food from restaurants, parties and other events, and redistributes it. Founded in Delhi in…

Flood alert in Bengaluru  On Friday, state government's Urban Development Department (UDD) issued a ‘flood alert’ to the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike). The department gave flood warnings in 80 localities across the city, especially low-lying areas. This includes major commercial centres like Manyata Techpark, Mantri Mall, Silk Board Junction, Yeshwantpur TTMC, JC Road and Koramangala 4th Block Global Village. The letter from UDD said that the latest forecast indicated heavy rainfall across Bengaluru. And hence BBMP should coordinate with other departments immediately, and alert officials about the likelihood of accidents. BBMP has identified 182 vulnerable spots in the city's…