Governance

On a hot Saturday in April, BBMP demonstrated its responsive side. Earlier that morning when my husband told me about a dead ox body opposite our building at Benson Town, I thought he was joking. A little later, I was shocked when I actually noticed the ox lying along the roadside. Brushing aside questions of "Who, why, when and how", I presumed that one of our proactive neighbours would have reported the issue. But when I rang the BBMP's 24 hour helpline (22221188 and 22660000) around 10.15 am to check, I realised that no complaint had been lodged. Curious children…

With taps running dry and citizens left crying hoarse for want of water, the state government and Bangalore city council have gone into damage-control mode. Mayor S K Nataraj recently announced that borewells will be drilled in each assembly constituency and water will be supplied through tankers. A borewell being drilled in Yamalur in North Bangalore, by Maanasa Drillers and Borewells. Pic: Vaishnavi Vittal According to BWSSB's Public Relations Officer (PRO) A N Prahlada Rao, starting last Sunday, the water board will be drilling two borewells a day in each division of the city (North, South, East, West). Rao says…

With the new city council taking over and the Mayor being elected, it is now time for Bengalureans to look forward to the budget that will be presented to the Council in the next fortnight. While focusing on issues like infrastructure, it appears this time round the budget will also allocate money towards one of Bangalore's pressing concerns - water. In an interview with Citizen Matters, recently-appointed BBMP Special Commissioner K A Niranjan explains the workings of the administration in tandem with the council while gearing up for the budget. He throws light on the much discussed financial condition of…

For the past few weeks, fire safety in Bengaluru has come under the scanner. With high-rises dotting the city's skyline, it isn't clear whether all these buildings are compliant of fire safety norms laid out by the city administration. Rules for highrise buildings in Bangalore are stringent. Builders must follow norms for setbacks, elevators, inhouse fire safety equipment, service ducts, electricity supply, exit routes, a published fire safety plan and more. See our fire safety norms article for more.  One of the key factors that decides whether compliance is required is the height of the building itself - the height…

In response to an RTI application filed by Citizen Matters, the BDA has listed out the 364 allottees who were given BDA sites under G-category during 2007-08 and 2008-09. Karnataka law allows BDA plot allocations on the fast track (no need to wait in a queue) to ‘eminent’ individuals under a rule called G-category.Incidentally, in the RTI application, Citizen Matters had specifically asked 'for particulars for eminence' for all people who were allocated these sites. In the BDA's reply, the entire question of what was 'eminent' about the allottees was ducked. Instead the BDA sent a list of 364 allottees.…

S K Umesh, Inspector of JP Nagar Police Station, informs that JP Nagar Police Station will serve as the pilot for a new communication system that helps the station officials communicate with constables on the beat. This software is being developed by Honeywell Software. S K Umesh. Pic: Chetan Boray The communication software will allow the officials to know the precise location of beat constables and therefore assign the right person quickly and efficiently when a crime incident is reported. The system will also provide a website for each division that can be used by citizens to lodge complaints and…

After three years of no city council, the city finally saw the day when its 198 newly-elected corporators took oath to office. The city also welcomed its first citizens, Mayor S K Nataraj and Deputy Mayor N Dayanand, both of who were elected unopposed. There were mixed emotions in the air. While nervous first-time corporators quietly waded their way to their seats, the experienced lot seemed to be in a lighter mood. Few Congress MLAs turned up to lend their support to their party corporators. City BJP MLAs and ministers came in larger numbers, breaking into bouts of laughter amongst…

Since the formation of Bruhat Bengaluru in January 2007, the BBMP's first ever council session took place on April 23rd. All 198 corporators were sworn in and the city got a new mayor and deputy mayor. The session itself was rather eventful with both bouquets and brickbats thrown about.See the pictures in a special Citizen Matters slideshow. While most came dressed in their best, Ashwath Y N, Corporator of Kempegowda ward (Ward 1) took it a step further. He came riding on a horse and dressed as Kempegowda himself. Pic: Vaishnavi VittalThe council building decked up for the first session…

BBMP has started accepting payments for 2010-11 BBMP property tax, at BBMP Help centres and Bangalore One centres; one can also obtain the forms there. Payment has to be by cheque or DD in the name of the Commissioner, BBMP. ONLINE PAYMENTSOnline payment of property tax can be done at here. BBMP allows you to pay online for the year 2009-10, if 2008-09 details are available online You can pay online for 2010-11, if 2008-09 and 2009-10 details are available online. If your property details have not been uploaded, however you have paid and have the receipts, you will have…

It has been two months since Bengaluru witnessed the fire at Carlton towers. Nine lives were lost. Then came the fire at Gold towers on Residency Road and another in a godown in Peenya. Just four months into 2010 and the fire department has attended to over 900 fire-related calls.All this and there is still no system in place to periodically check for fire safety violations in high-rise buildings in the city. While officials of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) are toothless as they do not have powers to reinspect Bengaluru's buildings after issuing the Occupancy Certificate,…