Governance

The residents of Bank of Baroda Colony in JP Nagar VII Phase can now sleep peacefully, the three stone cutting units have finally shut down.  I would like to sincerely thank all those who supported this cause and a special thanks to Meera (Co-founder Citizen Matters) and Abhishek (journalist from Citizen Matters) for their continued and invaluable support in this cause - Rahul Rai The three units had been functioning from 1988. After continuous follow ups with KSPCB officials, for over a year, the residents of Brigade Palm Springs, an apartment complex behind stone cutting units have won the battle.…

Shashi Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer, BBMP, filed an FIR against a Chandramouli Reddy on August 4th, for illegally dumping the silt and debris on survey no. 69/1, Haralukunte, 15th B Main, 21st cross of Sector III, HSR layout. Silt and debris being dumped in an open site. Pic: Anisha Nair Kumar says, “Earlier, when the residents complained, we went and filed a complaint in the police station. But the same dumping event happened again and that’s when I went and filed an FIR against the accused.” When the residents went and asked Reddy to stop dumping, he responded with abusive…

BWSSB is all set for a 90 MLD (Million litres per day) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Amanikane in Thubarahalli near Marathahalli. BWSSB officials claim this project is to stop channelising sewage water to Bellandur Lake and this in turn will preserve the lake. Untreated sewage water into Bellandur Lake. Pic: Sankar C G However, a Citizen Matters investigation has revealed that the proposed STP is not going to save Bellandur lake. Amanikane is 10 kms away from Bellandur Lake. The sewage water coming from Bangalore has to go through Bellandur lake before it reaches the site where the Amanikane…

Dear Sri Ananth Kumarji Greetings You have been pursuing to name BIAL as Kempe Gowda International Airport for his contribution to the city, which is a good move. It is unfortunate that the central government is delaying.We are all aware of contribution of Sir M Visvesvaraya's to the development of industry and infrastructure in Bangalore. He was responsible for designing Jayanagar and many other localities which are very planned by his vision and innovation.Since the Bangalore Metro was conceived during Atalji's government under your leadership as Union Urban Development Minister, as voters of Bangalore South Parliamentary constituency we request you…

Heavy downpour on last Thursday evening resulted in water clogging in many areas including Garvebhavi Palya area in Hongasandra. Residents complained that the overflowing storm water drain resulted in water getting into their houses.  Swampy stretch. Pic: Abhishek Angad Prakash R, a resident of this area says the stormwater drain is almost full with debris. He says, “whenever it rains continuously for two hours, water gets on the street and sometimes enter into the houses.”The impossible stretch to cover  In Garvebhavi Palya, a stretch which has VRL transport’s office at its one end, seems to be dug out and road…

It is seven days since the mass exodus of residents of North Eastern states from different parts of India including Bangalore, started. Though the number of people leaving has reduced, it is estimated that around 24,000 have fled. What was the reason for the panic, while there have been numerous assurances from all quarters that this is a safe city?Thousands of people from Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh flock to places like Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai every year in search of better education and employment opportunities. While they have easy access to colleges and…

On August 24th 2012, the Karnataka High Court, in a major verdict, has instructed Maverick Holdings, a construction company, to build 1512 flats in 24 months for the original allottees at the economically weaker section (EWS) colony in Ejjipura. A group of allottees from the original 1512 beneficiaries waiting outside the High Court for the verdict. Pic: Sankar C G. The decision came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by 13 original allottees of the flats to be built at the EWS colony. The original allottees went to High Court after facing the prospect of unauthorised settlers at the…

A determined Rajvir P Sharma is not ready to quit the battle. Last week, two days, after Karnataka's Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) shot out his transfer order, he was able to get a stay from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). CAT stayed the transfer order for 14 days in view of the application given by Rajvir Sharma against the stay order. "The petitioner Rajvir Sharma and M Nagarajan, standing counsel of state government, respondents from government side will have to be in the CAT court for the hearing on August 30th 2012. I have no more comment,"…

Even as police confirmed making the first arrests in Bengaluru for rumour-mongering, city businesses depending on staff from the Northeast have been affected since the panic-driven exodus began on Wednesday.  V S D'Souza, DCP (Intelligence) confirmed around midnight August 17th that two people were arrested earlier in the evening for threatening rumors. D'Souza however declined comment on whether the arrested were from any sectarian organisation or community.  Meanwhile, restaurants, retail chains and spas have been hit according to some business owners in the city. Philip Deepak, owner of Popsies restaurant in Koramangala who employed 12 Northeast service staff says that…

On August 10th, 2012, an elderly couple’s decomposed bodies were found in JP Nagar 1st phase, who were murdered three days earlier. July 4th, 60-year-old Lakshmidevamma’s head was bludgeoned to death at her house on 5th Cross, Prakashnagar. Continuing this there have been several other cases of abuse, assault or murder in city against elderly people. Sonia Narang, DCP, Bangalore -South. Pic courtesy: DCP Office IPS officer Sonia Narang, Deputy Commissioner of Police(South)-Bangalore, is known for her tough stance against crime spoke to Citizen Matters  about ways to keep elderly safe at home. Excerpts:Can you suggest some basic steps for…