Governance

In the last one week, I have had the opportunity to observe the use of information technology in governance.  Does information technology  make life simpler or more complicated for the common or garden variety user?  I share two disparate stories here.Let me talk about the pleasanter experience first.   I applied for a tatkal renewal of my passport online sitting at home.  Uploading the application was easy. Using this registration number, with some difficulty (more on this later),  I got an online appointment for a visit to the passport office at  Devarachikkanahalli.  After my interview on the appointed date,  I was…

BBMP's plan to clear encroachments and de-silt Storm Water Drains (SWDs) and install Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) in big properties, will launch soon, say officials. The Commissioner's action plan, intended to combat flooding during monsoon, is supposed to get completed within 2-3 months. The works are de-centralised - EEs in each zone are responsible for doing this in areas under their jurisdiction. Officials should submit a daily action plan to the Commissioner and update him of each day's work, says documents from the Commissioner's office. If accidents continue during monsoon despite these actions, the concerned officials will be held responsible,…

The famed Jayanagar Shopping Complex in Jayanagar 4th block is soon to undergo a makeover. While BBMP and BDA have been making plans for renovating the complex, shopkeepers here have been kept out of the loop. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the renovation project is almost complete, but it does not mention rehabilitation of shopkeepers. Many shopkeepers are not aware of the renovation plan either. While some are opposed to the project, others believe that they will be rehabilitated. The project costing Rs 115 crores, is expected to be complete in 18 months. Mani, a shop owner, has been…

On Friday, April 29, by 10 am, BBMP Council had decided its next Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Sharadamma Ramanjaneya (45) and S Harish (42) were the only candidates who had filed their nominations. BJP activists were in a celebratory mood soon after. But the events that followed showed the constraints that the new Mayor will likely face. Sharadamma and Harish were nominated this year as the Mayor's post was reserved for SC-woman and Deputy Mayor's post for Backward Class A category.  'Minister will be consulted' Mayor Sharadamma and Deputy Mayor Harish at a press conference after they officially took charge…

Shettihalli Corporator Sharadamma Ramanjaneya is Bengaluru's new mayor. Pic: Navya P K. Shettihalli Corporator Sharadamma Ramanjaneya and Nagapura Corporator S Harish are now Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Bangalore in 2011-12. Elections held on Friday April 29th were smooth as the ruling party had already reached a consensus and no additional nominations were filed. When asked about her plans for the city, Sharadamma said, "The city will be beautified. Managing garbage and managing storm water drains to prevent flooding during rains, will be priorities. Welfare measures will be introduced for women, disabled and other minorities." Sharadamma flanked by BJP women…

Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP) has answered a long pending question in citizen's minds on its newly launched Facebook page.  BTP has started engaging the English-educated citizenry of Bengaluru on Facebook. BTP's maiden Facebook post today raised and answered this question: Why don't police shift bus stations away from junctions? Bangalore Traffic Police on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 9:26amA: Firstly, installation or removal bus shelters does not come under the perview of traffic police.  Unfortunately, each of the bus shelter is a revenue spinner through advertisements for the agency which installs these.But we have taken initiatives to shift this bus…

In the Cauvery Phase II, stage IV project, 500 MLD (million litres per day) will be supplied to the entire city. This will be divided among ten reservoirs, which will supply water to areas surrounding them. The project is expected to be complete in March 2012. Reservoir construction work is in progress and about 50% of pipeline work is complete, say BWSSB officials. Reservoirs are being built in GKVK campus in Vidyaranyapura (which will be allocated 151 MLD), Hegenahalli reservoir near Peenya (98 MLD), Jambu Savari Gudda in JP Nagar (27 MLD), Central Jail in Bilekahalli ward (43 MLD), Hoodi,…

"Consuming this product, especially early in the morning, may be injurious to your health" - we don't have this warning printed at the top of the front page of our daily newspaper. But they should. Because reading newspaper does make one's blood pressure shoot up. This scam or that rip of, all accusing or implicating VIPs who are supposed to be our leaders, administrators and adjudicators. Involving not just lakhs but hundreds of crores, even lakhs of crores. A day care centre's roof collapse  killing children, a substandard construction causing death, contaminated water causing illness, a woeful, criminal  lack of…

India Against Corruption's Bengaluru campaign announced today that Anna Hazare will be visiting Bangalore in the first week of May. Prithvi Reddy, one of the co-ordinators said this at an IAC-organised solidarity gathering outside LokAyukta Justice Santosh Hegde's home. Hegde is a member of the central government's Lokpal bill drafting committee. Around 160 people attended, the IAC said. Gathering of support for Justice Santosh Hegde outside his home on April 22nd morning. Pic: India Against Corruption, Bengaluru. Justice Santosh Hegde had started considering quitting the committee, TV reports broadcast late last night had said. IAC volunteers responded quickly through SMS,…

In the last ten years, Bangalore (urban) district's population density has increased by about 147%, according to provisional data from the Census 2011. While the population density - number of people per sq km for the district - was 2,985 in 2001, now it is 4,378. Compare this with Dakshin Kannada, the second most densely populated district. DK's population density is only 457, about one-tenth that of Bangalore. Though population density has increased to a small extent in almost all districts, the average population density for the state itself is only 319. Kodagu has the lowest population density at 135.…