Civic

Leo Saldanha is a full-time Coordinator of Bangalore-based Environment Support Group. He is an expert in the areas of Environmental Law and Policy, Decentralisation, Urban Planning and a variety of Human Rights and Development-related issues, working across many sectors for over a decade. He is a keen campaigner on critical environmental and social justice issues and has guided several campaigns demanding evolution of progressive laws and effective action. He has supported various distressed communities to secure justice through public interest litigations and advocacy efforts. He has argued as party in person several public interest litigations, many of which have resulted…

■ The government should put an end to all forms of mining. We should protect these resources and not make profit by selling them.■ All government primary schools must be developed into efficient centres of learning where every kid can go. If possible all the children in the neighbourhood must be encouraged to go to these government schools.■ The government institutions must work with undeterred commitment towards education and health. These two things matter the most to the poor and underprivileged.■ There should be no room for any form of corruption. The State government should not mirror the situation of…

Recently unearthed details about the concessional agreement between the BBMP and Maverick Holdings show that the BBMP intends to hand over additional land to the firm but the BBMP is yet to inform its residents about it. Maverick Holdings is constructing a commercial complex as well as 1,512 low income homes at the site previously occupied by tin sheds housing low-income housing allottees, their tenants and squatters. But now the land previously allocated to pourakarmikas is also being handed over to Maverick Holdings. In response to an RTI query, B T Ramesh, Chief Engineer of the BBMP, replied that apart…

My friend Sravana Dasary posted this: That's a great way to document the fact that her family's voted! Each of us needs to vote, to take an active part in our own governance...to ensure that the nasties and the goons don't reign over us. So...what does YOUR finger say? Have you voted? I hope you have! ⊕

The Greek word Oligarchy means 'Government of a few rich people for their own advantage'. It was coined by the philosopher Aristotle 2300 years ago (he also coined the word Democracy). An Oligarch is a very rich businessman or businesswoman with a great deal of political influence. For convenience, we'll shorten the word to Olly.Karnataka politics has traditionally been funded by various lobbies of Ollys like the liquor lobby, the mining lobby, real estate lobby, and the contractors' lobby (in urban bodies elections). When a politician needs money to fight an election, an Olly funds him, and the Olly in…

A recent High Court verdict has brought relief and hope to residents of several Sobha Developers-constructed gated apartment communities in Bengaluru. One of them is the Sobha Amethyst community in the Kadugodi-Kannamangala area north of Whitefield. Their layout has two civic amenity (CA) sites, and one of them is near the entrance. Because of present BDA rules, residents were worried that the authority could lease out this CA site to commercial interests that may disturb their community. So the owners' association decided to apply to lease the CA site back from the BDA, to keep it in their control. And…

Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also reach us through Twitter or Facebook! Bengaluru This Week Get our free weekly newsletter. Name Email Bengaluru This Week archives. Bengaluru's Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy is contesting the assembly election this time from Shanthinagar. Murthy has been a corporator thrice, and had been the city's Mayor till April this year.Murthy gave this interview to Citizen Matters at a hotel in Domlur last week, where he was holding a meeting with BJP activists on his campaign strategy. Murthy was quick…

The last time the Janata Dal (Secular) came to power in Karnataka was in February 2006, when the JD(S) withdrew its support to the Dharam Singh government to join hands with the BJP. While the two political heavyweights, H D Kumaraswamy and B S Yeddyurappa, agreed on the 20-20 formula to occupy the Chief Minister's post, things didn't go as planned. Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also reach us through Twitter or Facebook! Bengaluru This Week Get our free weekly newsletter. Name Email Bengaluru This…

The Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), has come out with a comparison of the manifestos of major parties in the state, specifically with reference to Bangalore city. The comparison in tabular format also comprises it own recommendation on the issues. The parties under consideration include the Janata Dal -Secular (JD-(S), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress (INC), Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and Loksatta party.   The various points in the manifestos have been categorised under broad issues like ‘Governance', ‘Infrastructure', ‘Waste Management', ‘Law & Order', ‘Economy', ‘Health & Housing', ‘Education' and ‘Miscellaneous'. Governance For better governance, the JD(S) is proposing an…

After many attempts to reach him, Citizen Matters finally caught up with Deputy Chief Minister and Padmanabhnagar MLA R Ashoka on a Padyatra in Shastri Nagar in Yediyur ward. Surrounded by a horde of screaming supporters and amidst shaking hands, waving at his supporters Ashoka answered the questions put to him. R Ashoka campaigning in his constituency. Pic: Sriram V Here are the excerpts:  What are the problems facing your constituency?The constituency before I became MLA had severe drainage issues. There were no playgrounds here and even those that were there were not in a good state. The constituency also has…