The Vasantnagar-headquartered Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) is inviting all Bengalureans to take part in a survey that we would share with city planners on how best to offer first and last mile connectivity to public transport. Will they have to be monorails, a plan mooted earlier? Or mini buses run by BMTC? Or increasing the bike and cycle rentals around bus and train stations? The alternatives are many.
Go ahead, take part in this survey. It will take a few minutes of your time, but by doing this, you will not only be helping yourself but also the future generation. Because what we ideate today gets done much later. The future is now. Take charge of it now. Click this B.PAC survey link and answer the questionnaire.
Remember, B.PAC is a non-governmental organisation patronised by city luminaries like Kiran Mazumdar, Charu Sharma, Prasad Bidapa, Prakash Belawadi, Nisha Millet, Harish Bijoor, RK Misra, and K Jairaj, among others.
Whitefield Rising, the citizen action group, has some good news to share about an economical way to save water: installing mini sewage treatment plants across the city. They have a success story to share with a full technical presentation tomorrow between 11am and 1130am at Bangalore One on Whitefield Main Road.
The beauty of this presentation is that there is a successful, operational mini STP that will be shown to the public, with special focus on the technology and the process that goes into it. This STP takes the dirty water from the stormwater drains, purifies it and releases it into public toilets for recycling, while the rest joins the lake.
The plant is completely solar-powered and is all natural as it does not use any chemicals. The joint initiative of Whitefield Rising and Hagadur Ward 84 committee, the STP was implemented by Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited and funded by an MLC grant from Mahadevapura.
The plant requires only 10 sq. metres, and Rs 14.5 lakhs. Most importantly, it takes only a month to build and commission.
This is another true public-private partnership that can do wonders to society. Be there and get one for your ward/neighbourhood/city.
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.
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:
Here is some money-saving tip for consumers. By law, no shop can charge you for carrybags. A recent ruling by a consumer court has much to say about this rule.
The story goes that Dinesh Parshad Raturi was made to pay Rs 3 for a carrybag when he shopped at a Bata showroom. Upset with this deficiency of service, he reported the matter to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Chandigarh.
After the arguments were heard, the court ruled that Bata was indeed guilty of unfair trade practice as they were not supposed to charge any money for the carrybag.
The court’s justification went something like this, and it is important for us to note why Bata was fined. The court judge said that the consumer used a carrybag that sported the Bata logo and gave free publicity to the company. In addition, the bag was essential to packing of the shoes, and therefore it was wrong for the store to charge the customer separately for it.
The consumer court has ordered Bata India to give away carrybags without charging a dime to all their patrons across the country. In this case, the court ordered Bata to pay back Rs 3 and Rs 3000 as compensation for the stress and Rs 1000 as costs. In addition, Bata India was fined Rs 5000, an amount that had to be remitted in the Consumer Legal Aid Account of the court.
Therefore, the next time you step out to shop, know your rights. You don’t have to pay for the carrybag. And if the shops in the malls or standalone stores charge you, file a case in the consumer forum. Also remember that the carrybags cannot be plastic. They have to be paper or cloth bags.
Innovator and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, the real life Phunsukh Wangdu of Aamir Khan-starrer ‘3 Idiots’ will be in town this weekend. Catch him at the Bhoomi International Conference whose theme is ‘In Search of Wellbeing’.
Sonam is just one among 15 pioneers and practitioners (see the image above) who are coming to inspire and motivate you. Make the most of this two-day affair from Sept 28-29 at Koramangala’s Satya Sai Convention Centre.
Some of the topics that educators and parents can listen in would include issues like climate change, safe food, economics, education and sustainability.
Be part of this enriching and meaningful conference. Take your kids along.
Walkathon 5K Closer home, NH Narayana Hospital is organising this run this Sunday (Sept 29) at 6am. If you want to walk for a healthy heart, this is what you should on your day off from work.
The location is the hospital in Sector 3 opposite HSR Club off 22nd Cross, 18th Main. Register now by calling 88849-49797 or 95139-65190. This event is organised to commemorate World Heart Day that falls on Sept 29. It’s all for the heart. Be there.
A tiring day spent rushing through the dull monotony of everyday life. You return home in anticipation of your comfy blankets and warm food. Within the safe comforts of a healing home, you prepare to doze off for a few blissful minutes.
BUZZZ.
And there goes your peace. One stray mosquito that keeps buzzing all over the place. One that prepares to zoom in and bite when you are right about to sleep off. You try swatting it but it is always cleverer and much faster than you. Soon, they multiply and continue their onslaught in huge swarming numbers.
Frustrating hours meant for peace and quiet. Successfully failing swats. The intense fear of using chemical repellents. The desire to protect your body and mind.
Herbal Strategi brings you an exclusive range of Mosquito repellent products that aims to keep away the pesky little pests while also keeping you safe from harmful side-effects.
This room spray is unlike any other as it comes with multiple benefits. Use the spray under your beds, in narrow crevices and other hotspots of mosquito breeding. Apart from keeping the mosquitoes away, they also spread the room with an airy fragrance just like a typical room spray. They do more than just freshening the room with an exotic aroma. The most annoying little tyrant, the mosquito is also kept away.
Herbal Strategi Mosquito Repellent Body Spray (Mospray)
Mosquitoes are a form of trouble that extends far beyond the confines of your home. It might be during the long-drawn minutes of a boring bus ride or an animated dinner night with your family – mosquitoes can come from anywhere at any time. It is not possible to use a coil or a swatter when you are out for an occasion. So Herbal Strategi has introduced a specially-designed mosquito repellent body spray which can be used anytime you travel outside. Not only does it keep the mosquitoes away, but also acts as a safe alternative to all the harmful chemical products available in the market.
Incense sticks are quite a popular feature in all our homes. Used as a means of freshening the air on a hopeful morning, we find them during prayers and chants to signify new beginnings. But what if they could keep away the nuisance of mosquitoes too? We introduce our Herbal Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks which performs the dual role of eradicating mosquitoes from your place while also infringing an aromatic peace within your homes, gardens and patios.
Herbal Strategi Mosquito Vaporizer (Mosrelief)
Plug-in electronic vaporizers have been the rage among all the methods invented to eliminate mosquitoes. A college student’s funky room or the calming interiors of a formal office, the huge comforters and freshly made beds while you sleep – Vaporizers find a place everywhere. Little do we know of the detrimental effects caused by those chemical vaporizers on human health. Juvenile asthma and premature respiratory illnesses occur due to the prolonged exposure to these chemicals. To make people aware of this danger and help them switch to healthier options, we introduce our own Vaporizer that consists of natural ingredients only.
Herbal Strategi Mosquito Repellent Oil
The tactics to keep away the ever-present mosquitoes have become easier and much more innovative with time. Herbal Strategi’s mosquito repellent oil requires you to add 8-9 drops of the oil into a small vessel with 30ml water. This small task when repeated everyday produces natural fumes that is toxic to the mosquitoes only. Free of side-effects and chemicals, they can be used in the heaviest breeding places in and around your home.
Now citizens have a way to put BBMP in the dock at the Karnataka High Court. Following its recent public notification about two apps (BBMP Sahaaya and Fix My Street) for reporting faults in the civic infrastructure, it is expected that they might work better than before. However, civic experts don’t want to take this for granted. Koramangala resident Vijayan Menon who had filed a writ petition about the state of roads in Bangalore is asking every Bangalorean to try out these apps and point out any faults they notice through screenshots and mail him.
The reason why he’s doing this? “The nature of closing the complaints and quality of work will continue to be suspect,” he says.
So here is what he needs from you to support the court case:
1. Use these apps to register complaints (there is a photo uploading facility in the ‘Fix My Street’ app). 2. Keep track of the process and closing. 3. See if responsibility is fixed on to the specific BBMP official. 4. Check on the quality of work. If the quality is crappy, repost on the app, saying that the quality is slipshod. 5. Keep screenshots at various times for submitting to court. 6. Circulate this info/directions to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in your area to widen the base. 7. Give your experience of using these apps and suggestions on improving them.
“If we get around 10 instances /cases, we can present them in court,” he says. “If the process works, it’s well and good. If it does not, then we will have to ask for fresh orders. We will also have to move towards work quality, contractor accountability, ward committee responsibility, and turn around times.”
Last year, there were 5036 cyber crime complaints received by the Bengaluru police. This year, and it’s just in its sixth month, and already 4350 complaints have been registered and counting. Some of the recent cases involved residents from Kasavanahalli and Koramangala. And both these cases were identity thefts.
THE KORAMANGALA CASE OF ATM FRAUD
Twenty-seven-year-old Raghavendra R needed Rs 400 urgently. However, the vendors were not accepting e-wallets. Therefore, he rushed to the nearest ATM in Ramamurthy Nagar and withdrew Rs 400. Three days later, while he was gymmin, he received two SMS-es that someone had withdrawn Rs 10000 and Rs 7000 from the same ATM in Rammurthy Nagar. Having realised that he was defrauded, he rushed to the Bank of India office who said they would take 90 days to resolve his complaint and also advised him to file a case with the Cyber Crime police station.
“I had Rs 18000 in the bank,” Raghavendra told Residents Watch. “They withdrew Rs 17000. After this fraud, I heard from another friend that someone known to him was defrauded the same way. Unfortunately, I had the old ATM card without the chip. Now, I have taken the one with the chip.”
THE KASAVANAHALLI CASE OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD
On May 4, 38-year-old Neelam Podar’s phone was switched off at 11.24pm. When she switched it on at 11.55pm, she was flooded with transaction alert messages. “My credit card was hacked and I reached out to the bank and blocked it,” she told this channel. However, the damage was done. She was defrauded of Rs 64088.
Following the statement to us by BBMP Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad that the basement shops will be shutdown after May 23, it is now learnt that the BBMP is getting ready for this massive operation. As it requires a systematic way of conducting the operation without fear or favour, there needs to be some amount of planning. For this project, political will is not an issue as the action is ordered by the Karnataka High Court.
Enough time has already been given – more than three months – for all the shops to relocate from the basements. Ofcourse, there are many new shops coming up in the basements as the landlords are openly sceptical about BBMP’s real motives. However, they fail to see that they are violating a 1976 law. The real sufferers will be all those new tenants in basements, and here is where their ignorance will lead to financial losses.
Speaking to Residents Watch, Dr A Soujanya, Joint Commissioner, Bommanahalli, said: “We will begin the basement shutdowns soon. We have just resumed our work after the elections. We will have a meeting, prepare the time table and chalk out our next steps.”
