Residents show their green thumbs to tweetathon on #MyGreenHabit

January 12, 2021January 23, 2019 by RW News Network

From January 13 to 18, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, invited residents to tweet about their green habits to inspire the others. With the theme of ‘My Green habit’, there were many residents who shared their daily routines. One of them happened to be Pinky Chandran, a resident of Teacher’s Colony and the co-founder of a community radio station in Bangalore. To know more about her many accomplishments, read our detailed profile on her HERE.

Coming back to the Swach Sarvekshan campaign, this is what Pinky shared on Twitter: “MyGreenHabit #1: Composting at home. As an individual, I think it is extremely important to reduce valuable resources going into the dumpyard/landfill. I am using the HoneyBee composter. My Green Habit #2: Flower collection from the streets. This makes for excellent compost. My #3 habit is to grow my kitchen garden. Eat healthy, eat seasonal food. Opt for a farmers market. I also carry my own bottle, coffee mug, plate, spoon, straw and cloth bag, container, while traveling within the city or outside. Similarly, takeaways is my own dabba. That’s not all. I also make my own natural cleaners – Orange and lemon peels along with soapnut and salt. It’s healthy, safe, and guilt free.”

Dentist Bhairavi Joshi shared her habit: “I cycle to work and carry a cloth bag everywhere. I use compost at home, and use steel glasses and suction tips in my clinic. My best was to collect all the bottles of Valsad Marathon and turn them into dustbins.”

HRD professional Amit Madan had this to say: “For weekend shopping, I carry at least half a dozen cloth/ jute bags and refuse plastic bags offered by grocery stores, fruit & vegetable vendors! I also carry spare cloth/jute bag on a daily basis while leaving for office!”

Palak is recycling pens in the same manner: “I haven’t been throwing pens once they’re finished ever since I started using pens. I get them refilled. It started because some pens were too pretty to throw, but later I realised how it was actually eco-friendly.” In addition, she keeps three different sets of dustbins for various types of garbage. “It is not only important to throw garbage into the bin, but to throw the garbage in the correct bin so that garbage disposal is done efficiently!”

Tulika Shukla reuses plastic bottles and how! This picture says it all.

Residents show their green thumbs to tweetathon on #MyGreenHabit 1

And who better than composting queen Vani Murthy, an urban farmer, to have the last word on this: “Composting needs no excuses, space can hardly be a constraint. In my small balcony I have so many Composting systems. Both aerobic and anaerobic.” And how can we forget the series of green campaigns by the ministry on green habits?

https://youtu.be/UaJw3HZfORA

Controversial ‘secondary collection point’ on ORR to be relocated

January 12, 2021January 22, 2019 by RW News Network

The issue of secondary collection point (SCP) on the service road of Outer Ring Road reached a flash point the other day. The amount of garbage removed from the service road that is home to Mantri Sarovar apartments went on to show the extent to which the drains are regularly being clogged by garbage, sludge … Read more

Diners step out of restaurants to find valuables stolen from car

January 12, 2021January 22, 2019 by RW News Network

Diners step out of restaurants to find valuables stolen from car 3 — 27th Main and 17th Cross witnessed two thefts last Sunday

Last Sunday, two diners in HSR lost valuables worth thousands of rupees when they parked their car and went to dine at restaurants nearby.

FIRST INCIDENT

Thirty-two-year-old Rajat Bhat, a resident of Purva Fairmont apartments on 24th Main in Sector 2 lost items worth Rs 50,000 when he went out to eat at a restaurant near Pepperfry Studio. On January 20, at around 8.30pm, he parked his car opposite Pepperfry Studio on 17th Cross in Sector 2 and stepped out to eat at a nearby restaurant. When he came back at 10pm, the rear passenger window was broken and his laptop and wallet containing ID cards, bank cards and jewellery, all the items being worth Rs 50,000.

SECOND INCIDENT

Nitin Tom Paul, a 27-year-old resident of Huskur was in for a shock when he went out to dinner last Sunday.

He had parked his Honda Jazz car in front of Bricky’s restaurant on 27th Main and went inside to have dinner at around 9.15pm. When he came out at 10.45pm, somebody had broken the passenger side of the window and stolen the Apple MacBook pro 15-inch laptop and the bag kept on the seat.

The HSR cops advise everyone to not keep anything valuable inside the car and venture out. Don’t even keep an empty laptop bag, because some thieves broken the window glass and stole that too in one such incident two years ago.

The cops have registered a case of theft in both the cases and are investigating.

Despite closure notices; two more basement eateries come up on 27th Main

January 12, 2021January 21, 2019 by RW News Network

Despite closure notices; two more basement eateries come up on 27th Main 5 — Charcoal Eats is a chain of eateries and yet they are ignorant of the law

Despite closure notices; two more basement eateries come up on 27th Main 6 — Wicked Cup is next to Charcoal Eats

Despite shutting down a few basement eateries in the last few months, there are two more new eateries that have come up on 27th Main Road. This is despite 36 closure notices being issued by the BBMP to basement businesses on this road alone.

Incidentally, Charcoal Eats is a chain of eateries. The residents are wondering how such a franchisee store is unaware of the basic rules of operating a business. “It is this ‘chalta hai’ attitude that has congested roads and also threatened lives of people,” said one resident on condition of anonymity. “There was a fire mishap at Patra Bhandaar building on 27th Main, but the BBMP did not take action despite media reports.”

Compared to basement shops that are only encroaching the space meant for parking, the eateries are violating the Karnataka High Court order of more than a decade ago that does not allow kitchens in basements as it violates fire-safety norms.

Cops level road dug up by Gail Gas; FIR lodged against engineer

January 12, 2021January 21, 2019 by RW News Network

Cops level road dug up by Gail Gas; FIR lodged against engineer 8

In a rare case of a Gail gas engineer being booked for inconveniencing the public, the HSR traffic police has achieved a one-of-a-kind feat. When residents called up the cops to complain that the road in front of Motherhood hospital on Sarjapur Road was dug up and left as it is by Gail Gas, the cops rushed to the place the next day to fix it as traffic movement was badly affected.

The call from the resident came on the morning of January 17. However, the cops acted on this complaint on January 18 when traffic movement was majorly hindered. Therefore, assistant sub inspector Narayanappa C got his people to smoothen the road surface for vehicles to move.

Since the Gail gas officials had run away from their duties, a case is lodged against the supervising engineer of the company. The case is filed under Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code that relates to violation of ‘no parking’ rules.

HSR has a new police inspector. Here’s all about him

January 12, 2021January 18, 2019 by RW News Network

SR Raghavendra is the new 38-year-old police inspector of HSR Layout. After a wait of over three months, the neighbourhood finally gets a senior police officer. He replaces DR Nagaraj who is now in charge of Bommanahalli police station.

Raghavendra is not new to HSR though. He had served in HSR from 2013 to 2015. He is back again after completing his terms in Siddapura and Kalasipalya. He got into the police service in 2003, and has 15 years of experience under his policing belt.

However, BNR Reddy, chairman, Federation of Residents Welfare Association, opposes his appointment. “We have heard about corruption charges against him when he served in Hassan, Kalasipalya and HSR,” he told Residents Watch. “We don’t want such an inspector and are going to write to the relevant authorities about it.”

Raghavendra refutes these allegations. “I have no corruption charges against me till date,” he told Residents Watch. “The residents will get to know my work in the next 2-3 months.”

RS Murthy, former president of Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association, says: “Raghavendra wasn’t as good as his predecessor Rajesh, but he wasn’t bad either. I remember that he would hear all our complaints with a patient ear. However, the person who came next, Victor Simon, was the worst. The next person Nagaraj was just as bad as he did not do much in the area and the criminal activities also went up around the same time in HSR Layout.”

In 2007, Raghavendra was honoured with the CM’s gold medal for his work as an investigation officer in Hassan where he served as a sub inspector. The police officer prides himself on getting a conviction a month ago in a gangrape case when he was the HSR inspector in 2014. In November 2018, the city civil court convicted four people to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, Rs 50,000 fine and Rs 7 lakh relief to the woman who was raped in front of her family members in her house in Bellandur.

In 2016, Raghavendra was honoured by the Salumarada Thimakka Samiti. He has been given several cash awards and appreciation letters as well. He has even written a book of poems in Kannada called ‘Seleta’ (attraction) in 2003. He has also donated towards the education of many poor students.

That’s not all. Raghavendra is a law graduate from Hassan known to have donated blood on 20 occasions. He celebrates the birthdays and wedding anniversaries of his colleagues with a cake and bouquet at the police station itself, and relieves them for the day, so they can spend their auspicious day with their loves ones. On wedding anniversaries, he invites their spouse to cut the cake at the station. He also rewards his staffers from his personal pocket for exceptional work.

UPDATE: Raghavendra is now replaced by inspector Muni Reddy, and he can be reached at: 94808-01626.

Closure notices issued to basement shops in HSR Layout!

January 12, 2021January 17, 2019 by RW News Network

Closure notices issued to basement shops in HSR Layout! 12

Following the BBMP Commissioner’s order, the HSR ward officials have issued 36 closure notices to basement shops and eateries on 27th Main Road. Next on cards to receive them are business establishments on 24th Main, 5th Main and 9th Main, among others.

“We will give them only three-days time to shut shop,” said one BBMP official. “If they don’t, we will shut shop after taking approval from Bommanahalli Joint Commissioner.”

One meeting regarding this matter is to take place today with the joint commissioner is to happen this afternoon. We will update you when shops indeed get shut down by the BBMP. Right now, it’s all on paper.

“If the basement is used for parking, then it’s a good move by the BBMP,” says retailer Suraj Lulla. “It will also take care of fire hazards. However, BBMP has to be sensitive about small-time dealers who would have spent money on doing up the shop. Perhaps, the landlords should be asked to refund 50% of the rents they have collecte to the tenant. Ideally, the landlord should not have taken any rent at all.”

Shopkeepers believe that the rentals in HSR Layout is reaching the rentals of malls already. The rentals on 27th Main Road range from 120-200 per square foot. “The rentals are already too high; if the landlord also starts charging for freeing up basements for parking, it will become unsustainable for businesses.”

Retailers say that the rentals in the neighbouring Marathalli are 20-25% cheaper while Whitefield is 30-35% cheaper than HSR.

India’s first composting park receives visitors galore!

January 12, 2021January 17, 2019 by RW News Network

India's first composting park receives visitors galore! 14 — Corporators from the North-East at Swachagraha Kalika Kendra

India's first composting park receives visitors galore! 15 — SK Ram, Joint secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs, Government of India, and Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, BBMP

India’s first composting park is in HSR Layout and already, it’s a big hit with environmentalists, policy planners, scientists and politicians. Only recently, corporators from the north east visited Swachagraha Kalika Kendra in Sector 4. “They were impressed with the project,” says Ratnakar Bhadravathi. “There has been regular demand for visit to the Centre. We welcome HSR residents to visit and see the pride project and learn about composting and urban gardening.”

Says Dr Shanthi Tummala: “Suma Reddy and Jayanthi Srikanth did a wonderful tour for the corporators. Chitra Praneeth explained them about sustainable menstrual options. They were so inquisitive to know about these when we told them that we are attempting to reduce 5% of reject waste as well. They loved and enjoyed to know so many new things.”

Before the corporators, there were visits by SK Ram, Joint secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs, Government of India, and Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, BBMP. “Their testimonials speak volumes about their appreciation of the project, which is the first of it’s kind in India,” says Ratnakar. “We at HSR Citizens Forum are committed to contribute towards a cleaner and greener HSR through our eco-friendly initiatives.”

What’s more, a month after the park’s inauguration, there has been a bountiful harvest as well. Says Dr Shanthi of HSR Citizen Forum: “It’s definitely a dream come true for any urbanite to grow and eat. One should be blessed to assuredly eat healthy food with no chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides. You want to feel blessed too. Start composting your waste and start growing on your terrace/ balcony anywhere you find a space to keep a planter box. Grab the opportunity of free sessions at Swachagraha Kalika Kendra and learn to compost and fall in love with growing your own food. It’s a heavenly feeling. Don’t miss it.”

Swachagraha Kalika Kendra

14th A Cross, 14th Main, Sector 4, Behind HP petrol bunk near BDA Complex flyover. 6am-11am. 4pm-8pm.

Newborn girl found floating in stormwater drain

January 12, 2021January 17, 2019 by RW News Network

Cops catch 4 robbers near Agara Lake; 2 absconding

January 12, 2021January 17, 2019 by RW News Network

Cops catch 4 robbers near Agara Lake; 2 absconding 19

On the night of Sunday, January 13, HSR cops headed by police sub inspector Neelakantan M (52 years) caught four persons for allegedly attempting to rob people by threatening them with weapons. They were caught near Ayyappaswamy temple near Agara Lake on Outer Ring Road. All the accused are from Bihar aged between 20 and 40 years.

The cops witnessed this group of six people in the act of threatening the general public and snatching their precious belongings. One stick and one knife was seized from them after being brought to the HSR police station at 10.30pm. The accused who were caught include Kamalesh Paswan (21 years), Vivek Kumar (23), Kailash Sahani (26), and Jitendra Kumar (20). The two persons who escaped include Rakesh (26) and Sevakalal (40).

The operation was conducted between 8.40am and 1030pm. The HSR cops have lodged the case under two sections for attempting to commit dacoity and assembling for the purpose of robbing people. “Since it’s a stronger act, it will take more than three months for them to get a bail,” said one police official. “However, sooner or later, there are many gangs like this across Bangalore that get bail and engage in the same acts once they are released from jail.”

In other words, one or the other gang is always prowling the dark streets at night or lonely places during daytime. It’s best to avoid stopping at desolate places and venturing out at night, particularly by foot.

When is HSR Layout, the most polluted?

January 12, 2021January 16, 2019 by RW News Network

When is HSR Layout, the most polluted? 21

When is HSR Layout, the most polluted? 22

In the last 24 hours, we have noticed, and this is the general trend across four months since we began this channel, the pollution in this area is most between 7am and 9am. Clearly, it’s vehicular pollution during peak hours that’s causing it, among other reasons.

Thanks to the Sankranti festival yesterday, the pollution fell below 100 on the Air Quality Index (classified as ‘safe’) from 11am to 7pm. From 8pm, the pollution steadily rose again to peak at 7am today with an AQI of 182.

The least polluted times are usually in the afternoons between 1pm and 4pm when you can keep your doors and windows open for atleast 10 minutes to let in the pure air to detoxify your homes.

Car tyres stolen and stones kept in their place!

January 12, 2021January 16, 2019 by RW News Network