It takes a while for the citizens to get the BBMP officials to take action on pigs loitering in their neighbourhoods. However, when they do make an appearance like a few days ago, the pigs run into the military grounds that is out of bounds for both the authorities and citizens. Despite the escape plan of the pigs, the BBMP was able to catch around 50 pigs in Sector 2 and Sector 3. Though they received reports of pigs being seen in Sector 1, they had vanished into the area of the defence forces by the time the catchers turned up.
The pig catching haul is significant because many years ago when the then corporator Latha Narasimhamurthy decided to rid HSR of pigs, she had to call off the drive when she was apparently threatened by the pig mafia. Later, BBMP designated officials of animal husbandry to catch the pigs. But the drive was never carried out for various reasons, including the pig mafia.
Residents also reported that vans carrying pigs would come to the edge of Sector 2 and drop them off in groups. However, that appears to have stopped as one resident said, “We don’t see such groups anymore, atleast not in the last 6-8 months. However, those who escape into the military grounds come back to HSR the next day. That’s when we know where they had been to.”
However, the cleanup drive for pigs in Sector 2 is always an incomplete exercise as the pigs escape into Sector 3, Sector 1 and the military grounds. However, this time, the BBMP did visit all the three sectors to nab a significant number of pigs.
Sector 3 resident Srikanth says: “There are around 50 pigs roaming on 25th Cross.” Another resident says that there are around 500 pigs in the military area. “Whenever they feel like, they enter the surrounding areas,” says one resident. “This info was given by contractors hired by BBMP for catching pigs.”
According to Dr Ravikumar of the BBMP, “fencing or compounding of the military area will restrict the movement of pigs.” Can the defence forces listen to his advice or do something else that will alleviate the problem?
But when will the military exterminate or relocate the pigs from their area remains to be seen. It’s a long-pending problem that refuses to go away permanently until the military acts on pigs.
The next time you spot pigs, report to Ravikumar (98452-73175).
The other day, prominent civic actists debated over a newspaper report about BBMP’s new proposal to allow local provision stores, milk booths, and bakeries to come up on residential roads. While some don’t agree with the idea altogether, others mentioned that such stores already exist in many parts of Bangalore, and this move will only regularise them. Others debated that the BBMP’s move to expand its tax base by regularising an illegality was tantamount to awarding the guilty rather than penalising them. A few others felt that the BBMP proposes many things, but implements nothing on ground, so what use is another proposal anyway? One person summed it up well by saying, it’s another ‘akrama sakrama all over again’. Akrama Sakrama was a move by the state government several years ago to regularise building violations across the state. But the proposal could not be enforced as the residents went to court against the move as it favoured big builders more than the small land and house owners. In addition, it would lead to more haphazard development of the city, which has already gone from bad to worse.
Ancillary services
In the existing 2015 masterplan that is in use today, there is already a provision for ‘ancillary use’ for provision stores and such small entities on roads above 40 feet width. “They are permitted for up to 50 sq. metres,” says Nitin Seshadri. But now, the BBMP wants to allow them on roads that are 40 ft. and less. “This has already happened on ground, so why the formal statement now?” asks Pushpa S. Another resident activist disagrees with the BBMP’s move by saying, “The logic is ridiculous. Something illegal exists, the BBMP is losing revenue, therefore they want to make it legal! It emphasises the point that the law-abiding citizen is a fool to be so. Break any rule, wait long enough and it will be regularised with a paltry penalty.”
Realistic requirements, anyone?
If you ask any average resident who has no clue about the law, they will get back to you and say, but we need these shops, as they are close to where we stay. Agrees Vijayan Menon: “From a holistic point of view, residents need the kiranas… maybe not the eateries. Most of them don’t have trade licence, so there are two options: regularise and take the trade licence fees for kiranas which came up before January 2012. The commercial tax licence can be used to find the dates. the second option is to work the masterplan to designate areas and roads for local markets, like the commercial axis concept.” Meera K agrees to this by saying, “Kirana stores are important; many apartments have small shops too.”
However, Pramod Kapur disagrees by saying that there is a reason why the current law holds its value. “Not having any commercial activity on roads of 40-feet and less has some logic,” he says. “Congestion resulting from two-wheelers and possibly the odd four-wheelers belonging to owners and more customers will create huge problems. People must be encouraged to walk a bit longer if necessary. Convenience to some can become a nuisance for everyone in the future.”
New proposal or law, BBMP should not be taken seriously, say some residents. “The problem is that we have no faith that the BBMP will implement whatever they say,” said one resident. “Agreeing to anything is pointless.” Kapur agrees: “The only solution is to maintain the status quo. No exceptions because then, one gets into debates. One simple single rule and that’s it.”
However, what about shops that don’t have a trade licence even though they came up before 2012? “If we close them, it will hit the functioning of a residential layout,” says Menon. Swarna V says, “Small shops had designated spaces even before 2012 in BDA layouts under shop sites. They didn’t adhere to that then and now that’s what has become this colossal cancerous monster.” Indira adds to this, by saying, “Not to mention, the umpteen eateries that have come up creating havoc and much garbage.”
The problem is also about how these initial small shops grew into larger entities. “Any shop starts small, but they aim to grow big,” says Mina Prabhu. “And as they grow bigger, they just expand the space they are in, because they believe it is lucky for them. They rarely want to move out.”
Agrees Neeraja Shetty: “Nowadays, everyone wants to expand beyond capacity. So a kirana shop starts selling bakery items, sets up a chips counter with a stove on the footpath, and so on. These kind of adhoc food services are really causing major issues.”
The argument continues. To amend or not to amend the zoning regulations is the question. However, Seshadri has an important fact to share about the importance of a sustainable master plan for the city. “The majority in this city couldn’t care less about commercialisation,” he says. “They don’t want to stop at a traffic light. It’s okay for them to go the wrong way on a one-way street. It’s the minority, people like us, who are paying all the taxes and running the country anyway. The majority only matters during elections. We need to focus on sensible policies and not check what the majority feels about each issue. The government is supposed to look at implementing progressive policies that help the long-term growth of the country in every way. What the majority feels about each issue is totally irrelevant.”
However, the implementation will “touch’ the majority, says Mina Prabhu. “And in a situation of elections every year, no party wants to risk implementing any policy that can damage their potential votes.” Menon had the last word on this issue: “It’s a bunkum proposal anyway. It is proposed by people who have no jurisdiction on the matter, not even UDD (Urban Development Department). They can only do this with the next Master Plan… which is also out of their hands.”
What do you think, dear reader? Let us know by WhatsApp at: +919880585748.
Bengaluru-based Cult.Fit is based in HSR Layout. Yesterday afternoon, Hrithik Roshan, the brand ambassador of the fitness firm, visited its corporate office on 18th Cross, Sector 3.
A huge crowd had gathered when they realised that the actor was suddenly in their midst. The actor later performed at Embassy Tech Village as part of the Cult Fitness Party. The visuals above convey the story better than anything else.
In September last year, a portion of the jogging track inside Agara Lake park collapsed. The reason were the incessant rains that had loosened the mud, exposing the BWSSB’s sewage line running underneath. Thankfully, it had not contaminated the lake water. Later, it was fixed, but temporarily. Yesterday, this portion of the track caved in again.
This is the state of civic affairs in the capital of Karnataka. Imagine what is the case across the state? On a recent lake visit by former Supreme Court justice Santosh Hegde, the BWSSB had promised to fix the issue permanently.
“The BWSSB promised that it will be done and agreed to the technical issue I had raised but nothing is done yet,” says an enraged Kavitha Reddy, one of the caretakers of Agara Lake. “Now we have to fight again to fix it. Apathy is the word for these incompetent people.”
It appears like a giant swimming pool outside the 10-acre Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3, HSR Layout. Despite alerting the BDA and now the BBMP about the lack of a pipeline to carry the water on 15th B Main Road into the stormwater drain, the authorities are turning a blind eye.
In addition, the parking space along the boundary of the park is uneven, slushy and a nuisance at best. In addition, the construction of an arch over the major storm water drain running along the boundary of the park has resulted in a bottleneck at 19th Cross-15th B Main. The landscaped garden on both sides of the entry gate have eaten up the drain and footpath space, further congesting the road. It’s time to demolish the landscaped garden and decongest this junction that is at its worst on weekends, with two wheelers parked helter-skelter around this nodal point.
The parking space needs to be sloped in such a way that the rain water enters the drain and not stagnate on the road and footpath. Similarly, the water from the park is coming on to the footpath, when it should go straight into the drain. Clearly, the work of the BDA was unscientific. In addition, there are no lights in the children’s play area. And more sand needs to be applied in the space as it’s way too less.
All of this is something that the BBMP or the BDA can do in a jiffy, but the authorities are simply prolonging the issue for no reason. The residents are upset and urge the new BBMP Joint Commissioner of Bommanahalli to take prompt action.
The Shell petrol bunk on 18th Main, Sector 3, HSR Layout
More than eight months ago, we wrote that the Shell petrol bunk in HSR Layout, Sector 3, was stopped by the BBMP due to complaints from the residents. However, the BBMP officials at the time said that the bunk owners had taken most permissions, barring one permission from the Town Planning department. However, sources in the BBMP tell us that the permission might never come as the BBMP officials have denied it due to the location of the petrol bunk as it is inside a residential area which also has a hospital behind it.
More than a year ago, when the Shell petrol bunk began work even without taking all the adequate permissions, the residents went to the Sector 3 Residents Welfare Association. The association wrote to the BBMP and the HSR Federation, compelling the BBMP officials to take prompt action. Later, the Sector 3 association had a change of heart and wanted the petrol bunk to come up in the area. But by then, it was too late. The town planning officials visited the spot and after their complete enquiry realised that the residents were indeed right and this was not a suitable place for a petrol bunk. The verdict as of today, therefore, is that the petrol bunk might never come.
However, if there are any more updates, watch this space.
The absense of illegal speedbreakers, and the absence of white stripes on both legal and illegal humps across Bengaluru is a nightmare to vehicle users, particularly at night. And this happens on ultra-busy thoroughfares like Outer Ring Road. While the Traffic Engineering (TEC) department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanaragara Palike (BBMP) blamed the lack of funds earlier, now they are promising to paint the stripes after they are done with zebra crossings at major intersections across the city.
“We will finish the work within 15 days in all the arterial and sub arterial roads,” says Praveen Lingaiah, Executive Engineer (TEC), BBMP. “We are in touch with the traffic police, and will fix the speedbreakers whose stripes have also worn off due to the rains.”
Regarding speedbreakers on 30 feet roads in residential areas, Praveen clarified that they are not taken up by the TEC. “You have to check the department that laid the road as they are responsible for painting the speedbreakers… we are only involved with high density corridors and roads that are usually bus routes. We are also not responsible for fixing illegal speedbreakers as those are generally done by the residents themselves in an unscientific manner that is more dangerous than beneficial.”
According to BBMP officials, many speedbreakers requested by the residents are uncalled for. “Just because there is one accident, the residents demand a speedbreaker,” said one official. “This is quite dangerous, particularly on busy roads as that will lead to traffic slowdown.”
The officials also pointed out that the speedbreakers that lack the white stripes are usually not done by the BBMP, and even if they are, the rains usually play spoilsport. “These speedbreakers are back-breaking,” said one BBMP official himself. “But the lack of proper funds and supervision, and the lackadaisical attitude of TEC officials are responsible for the current mess. The residents and the media have to continue pressuring the BBMP to take action.”
When BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar was apprised of the matter, he said the aggrieved citizens should file a formal complaint on the BBMP Sahaya app with the right geo-location. However, the residents complain that most of their online requests don’t get resolved, and dubbed the app as a major sham. Therefore, we hope that this media report should galvanise the authorities to prioritise the demolition of illegal speedbreakers, paint the legal humps, and erect speedbreakers where required.
November 10 is the deadline for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to rid the city of potholes, and there are about 15,000 of them, according to the civic agency’s estimates.
Thanks to a Karnataka High Court order a while ago, the BBMP had fixed many potholes in HSR Layout, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Whitefield and other neighbourhoods of Bangalore. However, those very roads and a few others have developed craters again. Either the rains are too harsh or the work was sub-standard.
For reasons of transparency in public works, the BBMP also put up its report on potholes in the public domain. This was again due to the order of the High Court. However, if you view them today, you will realise that Bengaluru neighbourhoods are relatively pothole-free. Only certain roads are marked for ‘road resurfacing required’. The others are spotlessly clean, according to the civic officials. When we accessed this BBMP link again, that page had vanished into a pothole too. The pothole page did not exist anymore. It could be resuscitated anytime, so we have attached the link for you to check it later.
The rains played spoilsport again, and the roads have thrown up the ugly truth about BBMP contractors and the shoddy way they work. Then again, it’s the corrupt system. How can a road contractor win a tender at the lowest sum possible, and then remit a portion of it towards bribes to different people, and work with the remaining amount and still make a profit? That’s the crorepati question no one wants to answer. The last time, one political party tried to answer that is today confined to just one metro and trying to deal with the ‘world’s most polluted capital’ moniker.
And yes, if you have injured yourself due to a pothole, the Karnataka High Court has ruled that you can directly approach the BBMP for compensation.
So how can you help, dear reader? Just download the BBMP Sahaaya app and upload pictures of gaping potholes with the exact coordinates. In addition, WhatsApp us (+919880585748) as well. If they stand out from the rest, we will even dedicate a story on the ‘most potholed roads’ in your neighbourhood.
In addition, you can contact BBMP and the BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar (Facebook & Twitter) in the following ways:
The residents are fed up of the immoral, greedy and illiterate politicians hogging the landscape and want to do something. They want to nominate people within their areas who are doing great work selflessly to become their next corporator and MLA. That is the only way things can get done in a systematic way, according to them. Towards this end, many such pan-Bangalore organisations are coming together in Bengaluru and HSR Layout, like the Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF), Citizens Action Forum (CAF), Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), Whitefield Rising, and Pothole Raja, among others.
The underlying idea is that the city’s infrastructure and civic amenities are being improved in tandem with the rapid growth of the city. The system is broken and no political party has the right people, particularly the corporators, who can make their wards the perfect models for the rest of the country.
If you have it in you or want to support such selfless individuals from within your area/ward/region, don’t miss this evening’s event in HSR Layout. It could change your life.
“We have decided that enough is enough and want to bring good people to contest elections and participate in governance!” says the collective’s press release. “
WHEN AND WHERE?
The meeting is at 4.30pm today (Nov 2), at the Club House of Nagarjuna Greenridge Apartment off 19th Main in Sector 2, HSR Layout. Attending this meetup will not only give you a detailed perspective on what the collective organisations have in mind, but also helps you choose the best candidates and manifesto for the HSR Layout ward.
Be there, if you want to make a difference. If you don’t want to stand for elections, you can support the right candidate monetarily or otherwise. If nothing else, you will understand how activism and electioneering works. It’s a good crash course in developing a civic conscience.
Mountaineers and environmentalists Kavitha Reddy and Jigna Modh
Walk, run, and cycle for the constitution. Two city mountaineers and environmentalists, Kavitha Reddy and Jigna Modh, are calling everyone to join them in their ‘Yatra for Constitution’. The idea is to not only commemorate 70 years of the constitution’s existence but also to ensure that it’s sanctity is maintained. The Bengaluru to Bidar journey of 700 kilometres will cover 10 districts in 16 days. The flag off is on November 26 at 7am from HSR Layout. The funds raised during this initiative will go towards the conservation of lakes and the environment through the NGO, Kaagaz Foundation. Anyone from Karnataka can join this yatra.
For both these residents, it’s a journey of a lifetime. “November 26, 1949 is when India got its constitution penned by Dr BR Ambedkar,” says Jigna Modh. “It’s time to reaffirm our faith in it and stay committed to the holy book that we the people of India have adopted.”
The yatra’s agenda is make this aware to citizens, especially youngsters about the fundamental rights and duties that the constitution has bestowed on us and the need to stay committed to it and celebrate it.
“As our commitment to Article 51A (g), we are raising funds for the conservation of lakes and the environment,” says Reddy. “This is a self-funded journey, therefore all the funds we raise will go to the cause we are working for, and additionally will plant a sapling enroute for every Rs 1000 we raise.”
Their goal is to raise over Rs 10 lakh. If we believe in the cause, you can donate right now and help them with their journey in spirit. About 15 people have already confirmed their participation. People will join the yatra and leave as they see fit. At various places, an event will be organised by NGOs. The organisers are expecting about 50-60 people to be part of their journey, even if they are not with them from start to finish. Importantly, whoever joins them can raise funds for their own causes that align with Article 51A (g) of the constitution.
Most accident-prone roads of HSR Layout. Well, actually, most happen to be junctions as people from different ends are always in a hurry to get from Point A to Point B. The result is an unfortunate accident. Which is why, a former traffic inspector in HSR Layout prevented these frequent head-on and side collisions by creating deviations.
We are talking about three killer junctions: The 17th Cross-24th main junction, 22nd Cross-19th Main junction and the 17th Cross-19th Main junction. Some residents loved the idea and the others didn’t. Some riders, allegedly under the influence of some stimulant broke the median several times at Nandini Cooljoint junction (which itself is illegal, by the way). Most of these run-ins happened late into the night. To cut a long story short, the deviations remained, and have been so for over a year now. Unfortunately, there are people who violate the one-way rules, but most behave because they can’t get into one-ways when there is oncoming traffic.
Have the number of accidents come down because of this? Yes, definitely, atleast at these junctions. But elsewhere, the killers are still free. And they happen to be motorcycle users, bus drivers, auto drivers and the very famous water tanker drivers.
The other killer roads/junctions are as follows:
9th Main-Outer Ring Road (ORR) Junction
The other day, a biker injured a pedestrian who was trying to crossover from the HSR side of ORR to the other. The way to cross any busy road is actually simple, but people either lack patience or don’t know how signals work. You just have to wait till the vehicle users are almost nil on either side before you cross the road. Does this really happen? Yes, it does. When the signals go red on either side. Just try it the next time you are crossing any road, big or small. Just don’t try to squeeze through vehicles because someone behind such vehicles might not see you suddenly coming into view and hitting you head-on. Crossing here is still a nightmare for some, and therefore, a skywalk was being constructed before the IMA scam surfaced and the work is back to square one. The reasoning? IMA was the major sponsor of the skywalk. Who should answer to this? Both the MLAs: Ramalinga Reddy of BTM constituency because one side of the road belongs to him, and he inaugurated the skywalk. Sathish Reddy of Bommanahalli constituency as the other side of the road belongs to him, and he inaugurated the skywalk before R Reddy.
5th Main-ORR Junction
Be very careful out here, whether you are a pedestrian or a two-wheeler rider. Many accidents have taken place at this junction and near this junction. People have been injured grievously and some have even died due to collisions both from front and back.
ORR-BMTC Bus Depot Junction
Many accidents have happened here, on both sides of ORR. The other day, a speeding BMTC bus hit a rider from behind and caused him severe head injuries. Many have died on their way to the hospitals after an accident at this junction.
19th Main-ORR Petrol Bunk Junction
The other day, a bike rider was hit by a rash auto driver when he turned the wrong way without warning. Some time ago, one elderly bus passenger died at this junction on ORR when the BMTC bus driver hit the breaks and caused her to lunge forward. Her chest had hit the metal bar in front of her as she was suddenly pushed forward due to inertia.
5th Main-17th Cross Junction
Many accidents have occurred when fast moving vehicles try to get on from both sides of this road. Though most of the injuries were not grievous, this is yet another junction that both riders and pedestrians should be careful about.
What Should You Do To Avoid Becoming A Statistic?
The cops suggest that the pedestrians should try and use as much of the footpaths as possible.
And when there are no footpaths, they should stick to the edge of the road. Importantly, always walk on the right side of a busy road, so you can see oncoming traffic. If you are a rider, always go slow at any junction. Think there are speeding vehicles coming from all sides at the junction. Slow down, it will save your life and your parents will bless us for saving your life with just this one tip.
Many on ORR have happened at late nights and early mornings. This is the time when people ride rashly. Some are drunk drivers and some are half-asleep. Therefore, whenever you step out to walk, jog or ride and drive, watch every direction before crossing the junction. No traffic does not mean a speeding rash driver will not make a sudden appearance.
