Governance

Will living in Bengaluru ever be a cup of tea? Or coffee, if you will? Book launch Saturday, 4th August 2012, at 5 pm, Reliance Timeout, Mantri Mall, Malleswaram. R K Misra, member ABIDe, will release the book. Vatsala Dhananjay, well known lawyer, will talk about things to keep in mind while buying property in the city. In the past decade or two, Bengaluru has grown from a quiet, pleasant place to a vibrant and bustling city. Lakhs of new homes have been created, and millions of citizens from all over India have become part of the city's growing economy.…

In line with developments at New Delhi, where Team Anna declared they will get into politics, India Against Corruption group campaign in Bengaluru will call off its fast at 4pm, Friday August 4th. "The ten fasters will likely continue to fast till 4pm tomorrow, even though they do not have to", said Ashwin Mahesh, one of IAC's coordinators in the Hazare-led nationwide campaign against corruption. IAC Bengaluru is conducting the campaign at Freedom Park is to support Anna Hazare's fast at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi for the Lok Pal bill.In an noteworthy development, just hours before the Team Anna announcement…

Earlier in May 2012, the Outer Ring Road between Marathahalli and Kadubeesanahalli gridlocked following a heavy downpour and the flooding of the underpass, one section (south going) of which was completed. The BDA Chief Engineer TN Chikkarayappa says, “We will collect fines from the contractors for all the violations once the work is completed.” Work in progress at the Kadubeesanahalli underpass. Pic: Anisha Nair The Rs 39.8 crores project contracted to Simplex Infrastructure Ltd., has been delayed. The deadline for completion of the underpass work was July this year. It has been extended to August now. The work will be…

The fate of the long-delayed housing project at Ejipura’s Economically Weaker Section (EWS) colony hangs on an affidavit filed by BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda on July 24th. The High Court had instructed BBMP on July 18th to submit the affidavit on its plan of action over the reconstruction of 1512 houses. BBMP Commissioner Shankar Linge Gowda coming out of the court after the hearing. Pic: Sankar C G The order came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by 12 original allottees of quarters at the EWS colony, who are no longer living there. They were residents of the previous…

The High Court on July 25, 2012, disposed off the PIL by ordering a final stay on the Sirsi-Agara flyover construction work till the time the CM appointed committee submits their report. Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar ordered the stay. Flyover work - water tank junction. Pic: Anisha Nair The BDA counsel submitted that the Chief Minister has already formed a committee to study this project and take into account the citizens’ grievances. According to HC order, the Government will also have to issue an advertisement in papers inviting the public, to attend the hearing and voice…

In the last two months two people were attacked in South Bangalore. The first incident took place in BTM layout 1st stage where a woman was attacked by an intoxicated person and the recent attack in Jayanagar 4th T block by a man, suspected to be mentally unsound. In both cases, lodging FIRs was an uphill task. Family members of both the victims are concerned the way the cases were handled and fear that these incidents might repeat in the near future.On 18th July midnight, Suman’s (name changed upon request) family in Jayanagar woke up to loud screams of her…

One of the three stone cutting units ordered to shut down in April is still functioning. While KSPCB says BESCOM has been asked to cut power supply, BESCOM officials say they haven’t received any written order in this regard. This stone cutting unit is located in the Bank of Baroda colony in JP Nagar 7th Phase. KSPCB had earlier ordered all the units to shut down by 30th April. Stone cutting unit. Pic: Yograj S Mudalgi Sadiq Ahmed, Senior Environmental Officer, KSPCB reiterates that the action has been taken. He says, “We have ordered the BESCOM officials to cut the…

Around 800 BBMP computer operators have not been getting their salaries on time and haven’t seen their pay cheques for the last few months. 400 employees from this sector have now formed a employees union and protested in front of the BBMP office on July 10th. They submitted a memorandum to N Jayaram, BBMP Additional Commissioner (Administration).Currently, this workers' union is trying to form zonal committees and take up more localised issues. The workforce which drives most of the BBMP’s computerised operations are the contract labourers, handled by government companies of the likes of KEONICS (Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation…

Bangalore will be the first city to pilot a project to allow Driving License applicants to consent to pledging their organs, at the time of license application. An initiative of Gift Your Organ Foundation (GYOF), the pilot will start on July 24th, at Electronic City RTO and will expand to other RTOs across the city and state in due course. GYOF, setup with a vision of ensuring there are no deaths in India due to shortage of organ donors, has been working with the Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Transport, Government of Karnataka for the past few months.…

Karnataka’s newest Chief Minister is Jagadish Shivappa Shettar. Shettar is 56 and the state’s MLA from Hubli. Jagadish Shettar. Pic: bjpkarnataka.org Shettar earned a B Com in 1977 from Jagadguru Gangadhara Commerce College, Hubli and LLB from JSS Sakri Law College in 1980. His wife is Shilpa Shettar and they have two sons, Prashanth and Sankalp. In his 2008 filings before the election commission, Shettar and Shilpa disclosed their assets as follows. Assets Jagadish Shettar Shilpa Shettar Cash Rs 2,12,000 Rs 55,000 Bank balance Rs 2,70,321 Rs 2,34,458 Shares Rs 1,69,720 Rs 5,000 NSC/LIC Rs 1,85,000 Rs 4,25,000 Vehicle(Tata Indigo)…