Civic

Seven houses fined in HSR for not segregating garbage!

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garbage hsr layout

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.


Seven houses fined in HSR for not segregating garbage! 1

Seven houses fined in HSR for not segregating garbage! 2

LED lights & automatic sensors for residents of Sector 5 & Sector 6

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teacher's colony control switches

The residents of Jakkasandra ward 173, including residents of Sector 5 and Sector 6, can expect their streets to be better lit in the coming days.
On Saturday, MLA Ramalinga Reddy and corporator Saraswathamma attended a pooja programme to provide 65 LED lights for the entire ward. And these also include automatic sensor switches that will automatically turn on during sundown, saving precious electricity.

LED lights & automatic sensors for residents of Sector 5 & Sector 6 3

LED lights & automatic sensors for residents of Sector 5 & Sector 6 4

Many might not know this but the Jakkasandra ward includes areas of Sector 6 (the area behind the Silk Board bus stand right up to Teacher’s Colony) and Sector 5 (the area between Teacher’s Colony and 14th Main Road near Greenview Hospital).


“Our area got about four automatic sensors,” says Mohan Govindiah, secretary, Namma Teacher’s Colony Residents Welfare Association. “The LED street light fittings and control switches in Jakkasandra Ward are being given under the MLA Special Grants scheme, and are worth Rs 25 lakh.”
The pooja was held at 10am on September 29 at the BBMP Park in Sector 5, near Arogya Ahaara restaurant.

Residents Watch impact: BDA Complex flyover service road gets fixed overnight

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hsr layout roads

Within 24 hours of writing about the sad state of the service road under the flyover that was neglected for over two years, the BBMP has fixed the road with a fresh coat of tar.


They have not just filled the pothole, but the entire portion of the problematic stretch to ensure that water does not stagnate. We thank the BBMP for keeping their word with Residents Watch and coming good on their promise.


Once the state government grants the money for the road development works for the city, we could see the entire stretch from Silk Board to Iblur being relaid. But until then, this is a good stop-gap arrangement.

Residents Watch impact: BDA Complex flyover service road gets fixed overnight 5

BEWARE: Death trap at HSR BDA flyover; BBMP promises to fix it tonight

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hsr layout roads potholes

This stretch of the road next to the flyover near BDA Complex in HSR Layout is treacherous. No matter how much you fill it up, the potholes are formed yet again due to stagnant rainwater caused by bad planning of the BDA. When the water isn’t getting drained into the nearby stormwater drains, potholes are always likely. And many vehicle users have had harrowing experiences out here, particularly when it rains and they have no clue that there are potholes underneath the water waiting to surprise them.

BEWARE: Death trap at HSR BDA flyover; BBMP promises to fix it tonight 6
The stretch of the road under the flyover near BDA Complex in HSR Layout

Despite bringing this sorry state to the attention of the Major Roads department of the BBMP, nothing has been done to fix the waterlogging issue on this thoroughfare. This is particularly dangerous as it’s a major portion of the Outer Ring Road and any mishap will make the BBMP officials directly responsible for it.


Says resident Kavitha Reddy, “It’s been in a bad shape for many years. The key problem is that there is no gradient and when it rains the water, it stagnates upto 2ft, and the road develops killer potholes. All that the BBMP has to do is give a gradient while aspalting the road, so that the rain water reaches the Agara Lake through the stormwater drain.”


Senior BBMP officials informed Residents Watch that the proposal to fix all the major roads in Bangalore have been given to the state government In March 2018, and are awaiting approval. More than Rs 5 crore has been requested for the stretch between Silk Board and Agara flyover.


According to them, the stretch was handed over to the BBMP by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2016, but besides cleaning, they admit that no development work has taken place here under the BBMP regime. “Once the government grants the money for the major roads, all the service roads and flyover roads would be fixed,” the official said.
What about the immediate step of fixing the potholes? “This September 14th, a tender has already been granted to fix the roads in Bommanahalli and this road will also be taken up,” he said.


Ramesh Dev, Assistant engineer, BBMP (Major Roads) told Residents Watch that last night, the BBMP fixed the underpass stretch of Agara flyover from the temple end, and tonight, they will fix the BDA flyover service road as well. “We will maintain the slope, so the water does not stagnate,” he said.

A swimming pool outside Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3

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hsr layout swabhimaana tree park
A week ago, we had written about the sorry state at the entrance of the Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3. Action is yet to be taken on it. If this is allowed to go on, the stagnating water will create potholes, which is a massive dent on the excheque and a waste of public money. Did you know that Rs 3 crore is spent on relaying a kilometre of road?
 
 
A swimming pool outside Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3 7
 
 
“It’s a water pond near the main gate of the park,” says resident SB Kittur. “Whenever there is even half-an-hour of rain, the water collects on the road. The BBMP should act immediately by arranging the removal of the rain water and find a permanent solution.”
 
One solution is to place a big pipe that connects the road and the stormwater drain. “The corporator and MLA should force the BBMP to find a permanent solution,” he says.

 

KCDC stink covers HSR Layout and surroundings

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HSR Layout KCDC
Since yesterday, the stink from the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) has become stronger, and is being felt in parts of HSR Layout, Sarjapur Road, Singasandra, Mangammanapalya, Kudlu, Harlur and Bandepalya. Adding to the stink are the rains and the wind direction.
 
 
 
KCDC stink covers HSR Layout and surroundings 8
 
 
A few days ago, MLA Satish Reddy had stated on social media that the waste was being removed to eventually shut down the KCDC unit soon. The residents of Somasundrapalya who live closest to the polluting composting plant, however, feel that the tonnage might have gone up in the last week. However, KCDC officials deny the allegation.
 
“The fact that the RDF (refuse derived fuel) is being removed, and it’s raining continuously definitely gives out the smell which we cannot avoid as waste mixed with water does make the smell intolerable,” said one official. “However, the smell is also from the stormwater drains as they are also carrying sewage in many areas, so it may not just be the KCDC responsible for it.”
 
The KCDC officials also contend that they are sending back mixed waste, almost every other day, and following the protocol strictly. Reacting to the MLA’s statement that the plant will be shutdown soon, the officials said that the matter is in court, and only the court can take such a decision.

 

Sewage enters people’s homes in Sector 3

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hsr layout sewage
The rains last night has led to the overflow of sewage on to the roads in Sector 3, leading to the flooding of homes. One victim of this is software engineer Arunkumar R who resides on 18th Main, 24th Cross. “We woke up at 4am and found the sewage overflowing on the road,” he told Residents Watch. “My neighbours are also facing the same problem of sewage entering their homes.”
 
 
Sewage enters people's homes in Sector 3 9
 
 
 
Sewage enters people's homes in Sector 3 10
 
 
Arunkumar is working from home today as he is planning to get a plumber to fix this issue of sewage entering his hall and bathroom this morning. “The house stinks and when this happened one week ago, the BWSSB cleared the sanitary lines, but it’s blocked again,” he said.
 
He is taking a tip from his neighbour on 21st Cross who faced the same issue the last time around. “Last week, he installed a one-way valve through a plumber when knee-high water had entered his house, and there was no flooding in his house this time,” he said.
 
A resident for the last ten years, it’s the first time that Arunkumar has faced this problem. This clearly shows that the increasing commercialisation, illegal building constructions and enhanced population density has choked the sanitary lines that cannot handle such a huge volume.
 
The sewage is still overflowing on to the roads. “The lid is still open because of the water pressure as it must be blocked somewhere in the upper region,” said Arunkumar.
 
We have received complaints of drainage overflowing on to the roads in other parts of Sector 3 as well. “The area from 22nd Main to 26th Main is in a big mess,” said Dharmender. Added Srikanth: “There is a drain leakage on 25th cross, near 17th C main entrance.” Resident Raghu reports that the drain is overflowing from 221/A and running down on the 22nd A Cross, and gathering at the road junction below. “The whole road is stinking n big health hazard,” he said.
 
A BWSSB official in charge of this area said that the rains are to be blamed for this. “The sanitary line could not withstand the pressure and the manhole lid automatically opened,” he said. “We will clear the blockage immediately.”

 

House damaged in Agara during excavation work by central govt

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hsr layout house damage
Two bedrooms have developed cracks and the the foundation has come unhinged during excavation work on an empty plot behind a petrol bunk in Agara. The house owner is demanding the engineers to fix his house damaged by their unthinking act and has lodged a police complaint at the HSR police station. While this incident occurred about ten days ago, yesterday the petrol bunk’s underground storage tank was affected too. They were told to empty the tank in case of any mishap.
 
 
House damaged in Agara during excavation work by central govt 11
 
 
 
House damaged in Agara during excavation work by central govt 12
 
 
Surprisingly, the offending party happens to be the Ministry of Earth Science, a government of India initiative that is supposedly building their head quarters out here. Speaking to Residents Watch, the house owner and victim of this development, Kumaresh N (38) said, “We had to evacuate from the house ten days ago because of this and have lodged a police complaint but not an FIR, but the HSR inspector has promised all help.”
 
Kumaresh runs a travel and tours business for the last three decades and built this house about 15 years ago. “It’s a sheet house but has a strong cement foundation with one feet thick walls.”

 

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces

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hsr layout blackspot removals
Anil Benni and his team of BBMP workers are doing a world of good in HSR Layout. Here are some of the places that were renovated from blackspots to colourful seating spaces (and some with trees), and ‘no garbage’ zones.
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 13
25th Cross, 18th A Main
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 14
25th Cross, 18th A Main
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 15
Below BDA complex flyover agara lake entrance
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 16
Below BDA complex flyover agara lake entrance
 
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 17
Behind Ellukunte Government School
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 18
Behind Ellukunte Government School
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 19
 
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 20
Iblur, which comes under the HSR ward of the BBMP
 
 
Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 21
Iblur, which comes under the HSR ward of the BBMP

 

BWSSB to penalise residents letting rainwater into sanitary pipes

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hsr layout bwssb
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has issued a notice to all the residents of Bangalore. The notice says that their officials have observed that some houses have connected their rain water collection outlets to sanitary pipes, causing heavy pressure on the underground pipes that have led to water gushing out of manholes during the rainy season. Not only does the water flow on to the road but also flood the area and even enter houses in low-lying areas. Therefore, the BWSSB mandates that the rain water outlet should be connected either to the RainWater Harvesting pit or to the storm water drains. It is also prohibited to connect the sewage outlet of the house to the storm water drains. It should go to the sanitary pipe underground. Anybody violating these laws will be fined without mercy.
 
Reacting to this news, resident Narayani Das had this to say: “Can the BWSSB then ensure that the storm water drains, especially on Somasundrapalya main road from the circle to Shobha daffodil are desilted to allow the free flow of water, and also put back the slabs properly, so that all the shop owners on that road do not throw waste which clogs all these drains?”
 
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BWSSB to penalise residents letting rainwater into sanitary pipes 23