Renjith M Das had parked his car on 19th Main in front of Rashtrakutas restaurant in Sector 4. He had left a fitness bag (with nothing inside), but three thieves thought there was a laptop inside it, and plan this robbery in five minutes during daytime while people are moving around. The video is now with the HSR police, but no news on their whereabouts yet.
Though the incident happened more than a year ago, and the video had gone viral then, Renjith shared this video today again to warn people about not keeping expensive things inside cars. With HSR having a considerable floating population, these video reminders are the need of the hour. Just CLICK HERE to watch the video that has already recorded over 45,380 views so far and counting.
The other day when it was their area police inspector Rajesh’s wedding anniversary, the residents of Teacher’s Colony planted a sapling in his house. It does not just end there.
The group of over 175 members have bought 60 more saplings and are offering their services to plant a sapling on your auspicious day.
“Please give us your birthdate or anniversary, suggest a place in Teacher’s Colony, and we will plant the sapling,” says Mohan Govindiah, secretary, Namma Teacher’s Colony Residents Welfare Association. He can be reached at 77608-52892.
Right to left: Police inspector Rajesh with his wife and son
70 Mahagani saplings ready to be planted in your house or surroundings
An active bunch of residents headed by Sunder in HSR Layout Sector 2 have prevented two garbage dumping incidents on the banks of Somasundrapalya Lake.
The slippers and other garbage was dumped on the footpath in day time
The kitchen waste by an eatery was prevented from being dumped near the lake at night
When residents saw a small van pull up near the stretch close to the lake and dump slippers in the open land next to Isha Lakefront apartment, they immediately rushed to the vehicle drivers and forced them to take it all back.
Similarly, some people from an roadside eatery came to throw the kitchen waste in the open land, and were prevented in just the same manner.
Another way of catching the culprits is to install CCTV cameras along the stretch and even if the culprits are not caught in the act, they can be convicted later by the BBMP and the cops for causing nuisance. It’s humanly impossible to stay on guard all the time. If the cameras are able to catch the offender’s name and vehicle numbers, much more can be done in a streamlined manner.
Fed up with apathy from politicians, bureaucrats and other government officials, a group of residents have begun fixing the potholes on the Kasavanahalli Main Road. And while doing so, they have also tweeted to Prime Minister N Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah, BBMP Mayor, and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar who is also the Bangalore Development Minister. There have been over 88 retweets of this and general outrage by the residents.
Tweeted Sudarshan: “Self Help is the only option. BBMP and BWSSB don’t act unless directed by Court or its a Natural Calamity.” Added Abhijeet Kumar Sinha: “The authorities (BBMP Mayor, BBMP Commissioner, Deputy CM, Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali, CM) have mastered the art of ‘Apathy’. The budget allocated for road repairs goes into the pockets of individuals. Bangalore is proud to have roads like that of the poorest countries of Africa.”
Ankita Goyal echoed their sentiments and said this categorically: When thick skinned authorities refuse to work, citizens have to do it themselves.”
One of the residents behind this self-help gesture Gopinath K said: “With our multiple follow-ups, they just dumped the concrete and stone powder, not sure how many more follow ups are required to lay the proper roads.”
The residents have had enough and are continuing to highlight the plight of their civic infrastructure. They have chalked up ‘Bellandur Ulisi’, a series of ‘Save Bellandur’ events from October 21 leading up to the grand climax on October 27. They are conducting a painting competition for kids to come up with solutions to their problems on October 21 from 10am to 1pm. On the same day, from 3pm onwards, they plan a bike rally around their neighbourhood. And on october 27, they plan to form a human chain along this map to highlight the many issues they are facing today.
In a terse message to the authorities, their first in the series is a painting contest for kids under 15 years with the theme of ‘Mobility, pedestrian safety and cleanliness’. By saying, ‘Who will save Bellandur? Spiderman, Superman or BBMPman?’ their flier is asking the kids to use their imagination (and the imagination of their parents) and paint between 10am to 1pm.
On October 21 itself, between 3pm and 6pm, they also play to hold a bike rally along three routes as follows:
ROUTE 1: DODDAKANNELI-KADUBEESANAHALLI-CARMELARAM
ROUTE 2: HOSUR-KASAVANAHALLI-SARJAPUR ROAD-HA
RALUR ROAD
ROUTE 3: IBLUR-BELLANDUR-KARIAMMAAGRAHARA-
YEMLUR
October 27 – FINAL DAY
From 10am, they intend to form a human chain along this map. later, they plan to hold a press conference and give a media briefing. “We want to get actions on demands before we move out by the end of the day,” says their press statement.
RESIDENTS CAN PITCH IN WITH MONETARY HELP!
To manage the expenses for Oct 27, the residents are seeking generous voluntary contributions. “We estimate about minimum Rs 200 per contribution would help the cause,” they say.
You can transfer the money to:
ACCOUNT NAME: KASAVANAHALLI DEVELOPMENT FORUM
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1713014889
IFSC CODE: KKBK0008107
Bank: Kotak Mahindra Bank
Branch: SARJAPURA MAIN ROAD BRANCH
After the money transfer, they are requesting you to send your name, transaction reference number and amount transferred details to kasavanahallidevforum@gmail.com or whatsapp to 9886022760.
BAD TO WORSE STATE OF AFFAIRS
Not only are some residents taking pictures, they are questioning everybody for the civic chaos. Tweets Gopinath K: “#bwssb #bbmb #BDA horrible roads, worst than remote villages, how many days will you show us this torture? Please don’t harass tax payers with these horrible roads. Please pave roads where commuters can commute.”
Even worse indictment is from the @savebellandur handle: “Every small shower, it gets worse in #Bellandur. @bjparvind, ur vision of International Stadium is ready. Residents swim, long jump & dirtbike to move around.”
Such is the apathy by the authorities that the residents have started a Telegram broadcast channel to relay all the news in their neighbourhood in addition to tweeting about their problems to the authorities and the media. In one such tweet from @savebellandur, they say: “Hon reps @bjparvind @PCMohanMP pls do anything! Haralur, Kasavanahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, Doddakanneli, Yemlur & #110Villages in same state. Why should we suffer 4 #BBMP’s #Incompetence? Let them deposit tax money to #Bellandur escrow accoubtm we will self manage.”
Thirumalesha Krishnappa, the principal of SVR PU College in Samasandrapalya, Sector 2, HSR Layout, is capturing the faces of eve teasers outside his school and regularly tweeting to the city police, Deputy CM and CM. Here is one such instance captured on October 9 at 4pm.
“Eve teasing is a great threat to the student community in Somasundrapalya and HSR Layout schools and colleges,” he tweets. “We request Hoysala to do rounds around 4 pm near all the schools in these areas.”
Speaking to Residents Watch, Krishnappa said, “The cops promised that they would patrol the area. In any case, whenever I see any suspicious activity, I take photos with the vehicle number and upload them on Twitter. These are traders in the area who are indulging in eve teasing. It happens once or twice a week.”
Situated bang in the middle of HSR Layout, in Sector 3, near McDonald’s junction, the 9-acre Swabhimaana Tree Park is the most beautiful lung space in HSR Layout.
Just take a few minutes off your busy schedule, relax and prop your phone on a stand and keep watching. We have spent a good amount of time in catpturing the many facets of the park in this 20-minute video.
And yes, don’t forget to step inside the actual park whenever you are free. It’s open before 9.30am and after 4.30pm.
Member of Parliament Kupendra Reddy was allegedly attacked by stray dogs in Sector 1, prompting the BBMP to impound seven dogs in the Koramangala animal shelter. Fearing that the dogs could be relocated or killed, animal activists rushed to the shelter and have filed a case against the BBMP in the Koramangala police station, and are demanding their release.
Representation purpose only
The incident happened yesterday morning (October 11) when the senior politician was on his morning walk. The four stray dogs that Sundara Rama Reddy (84 years) keeps in his house ran out when the gate was left ajar by the servant. One of them allegedly attacked Kupendra Reddy, prompting him to immediately lodge a complaint with the BBMP who rushed to the place and impounded seven dogs. “They are all sterilised dogs,” said Ravikumar of the Animal Husbandry Department, BBMP (Bommanahalli). “We will keep them under observation at the Koramangala dog pound and see if anyone has rabies. If someone has that disease, the dog dies on his own.”
The BBMP officials say that they are following the Supreme Court ruling and will release the dogs back to where they picked them up from. But the residents don’t want them back because of this attack incident. The animal activists fear that the dogs could be killed or relocated because of political pressure, and are demanding their release. However, the BBMP is quite categorical. They will keep the dogs under observation and let the rabies-infected dog die on his own, while the rest will be left back on 14th main, 21st Cross, Sector 1.
The problem is more compounded as an FIR has been lodged by the BBMP against the stray dog caretaker. “He’s feeding 20-30 street dogs who form packs and attack people, according to the residents,” said one official. “The residents are scared and want them to be relocated but we can’t help it as we are bound by the Supreme Court order.”
After the recent Annual General Body meeting, a new set of people have taken charge of the 4th Sector Residents Welfare Association. We wish the team the very best luck in their endeavours.
Left to right: Amarnath Shetty (Jt. Sec), Anil (Sec), Jaya Kumar KM (VP), Syed Shabbir (President), Suresh Bhaskaran, Sneha Rai, Bharati Sunder, Asha (Treasurer), Kamlesh Mahajan, Manzoor Ameen, Ravindranath, and KN Murli
Core Committee members
President: Shabbir Syed
Vice President: Jaya Kumar KM
Secretary: Anil
Jt. Secretary: Amarnath Shetty
Treasurer: Asha
Committee Members
Sanjeev Bhandary
Suresh Bhaskaran
KN Murli
Ravindranath
Manzoor Ameen
Sneha Rai
Bharathi Sandur
Kamlesh Mahajan
Chandrashekar
Vijayalaxmi Anand
Want to become a member?
If you stay in Sector 4 but not a member of the association, you can contact Joint Secretary Amarnath Shetty (98440-72857) or Secretary Anil (98453-55273) or treasurer Asha (98440-98422).
Yesterday, BBMP raided seven houses in Sector 3 and Sector 1 and fined them Rs 500 each. Usually, this kind of system works and people are made aware of the violations. The law says that you should segregate garbage into wet, dry and sanitary waste. But the violators mix up everything. To make matters worse, they use plastic bags instead of keeping buckets specifically to store garbage.
The wet waste is sent to the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) in the neighbouring Kudlu area for composting and generating manure out of it. Unlike complaints from other wards that the segregated garbage gets mixed up in the van, it’s not the case in HSR Layout. Only the segregated wet waste goes to the KCDC.
Regular raids like these will keep the residents on their toes. The problem is complicated in HSR Layout, because of the floating population. The people who haven’t segregated in other wards come to HSR and don’t segregate. The landlords fail to educate them, perhaps because they themselves don’t segregate as they may not be staying here.
Therefore, it is up to the citizen volunteers and the BBMP to educate them, and one form of education that works is to regularly fine the violators. Here is BBMP health inspector Vinodh GM doing his job on the morning of Tuesday, October 9.
In the last 24 hours, the PM2.5 levels have been below the safety level of 60. However, these minute suspended particulate matter that can deep into your lungs without your knowledge were highest at 11pm last night at 53. That’s pretty close to the safety mark.
The moral of the story? Don’t step out at night for walks. The mornings are best as you can see from this chart of the last 24 hours in Bangalore’s pollution levels.
The pollution levels get murkier when we found the measurements at the Silk Board junction, the closest monitor from HSR Layout. In the last 24 hours, the average PM2.5 level is much higher than Bangalore’s at 39.63, which is almost double of the city’s pollution level. Adding to this is that the PM10 levels (not so much of a pollutant as PM2.5) is 80.57, which is close to the 100 safety mark.
