Six-year-old HSR resident shares DIY composting tips on YouTube!

January 12, 2021April 1, 2019 by RW News Network

HSR Layout resident Prachi, a six-year-old, shares her tips on how to start composting at home through the aerobic method.

Not only has her mother Lalithamba BV recorded this but also uploaded it on YouTube for mass consumption. The video was uploaded on October 2, Swachchata Diwas, and has already recorded over 300 views and gotten six subscribers.

We would like you to watch this as well, because if there is zero wet waste coming out of your house, there will be fewer landfills. You can watch Prachi’s video here. Two days earlier, she had shared a short video on the benefits of aerobic composting here which garnered 170 views. Way to go!

Six-year-old HSR resident shares DIY composting tips on YouTube! 1

A view of HSR Layout from the heavens!

January 12, 2021April 1, 2019 by RW News Network

Sai Baba temple in Sector 3 encroaches another section of median park; BBMP looks the other way!

January 12, 2021March 26, 2019 by RW News Network

In what is a blatant violation yet again by the Sai Baba temple authorities, they have brazenly encroached another large stretch of the median park on 19th Main Road in Sector 3, HSR Layout, to build a metal and concrete structure. This is in addition to the median park they had already encroached several years ago to build the temple. Despite protests and complaints from residents, no action is taken in the last one month.

“The temple itself is illegal and the MLA himself said many years ago that the BMTF has been given orders to demolish it, but nothing has been done on this, and now this additional violation reeks of the rotten system we have today,” said one Sector 3 resident on condition of anonymity. The temple came up many years ago despite vociferous protests from the residents due to MLA Satish Reddy’s blessings. The residents blame him for the mess caused by the temple today, like traffic jams whenever festivals happen.

One BBMP official said, “The engineers should take action. In the beginning, the residents opposed when they saw the sheet structure. Now, the temple authorities have concretised the floor as well.”

We urge BBMP engineer Srinivas and Joint Commissioner (Bommanahalli) Dr Soujanya to immediately take action and send the right message to the encroachers of public spaces across HSR Layout and Bangalore. “We don’t want them to say ‘election duty’ and get away with this,” said one resident. “Encroaching a public park is a serious offence. No excuse is a good excuse. They have to take action now.”

We have informed both Srinivas and Dr Soujanya. We will keep you posted on what happens next.

Use steel cutlery for celebrations, say residents and offer a rental service

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

Hasiru Mithra, a group of HSR Layout residents, that works towards bettering the neighbourhood selflessly also offer an affordable steel cutlery rental service. This is perfect for the upcoming festive occasions. In fact, these are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and just about any occasion that requires you to rent cutlery. Instead of going plastic, go steel. Not only is it environment-friendly, it also saves you from getting diseases like cancer due to plastic usage.

Use steel cutlery for celebrations, say residents and offer a rental service 9

Use steel cutlery for celebrations, say residents and offer a rental service 10

Use steel cutlery for celebrations, say residents and offer a rental service 11

BYOC is the new buzzword, and it means ‘bring your own cutlery’. Thanks to their venture, little ones are now carrying their own cutlery for the Ashtami Pooja celebrations. “Take your own cups, containers, cloth bags, and cutlery everywhere, just like your wallet and phones,” says Hasiru Mithra co-founder Lalithamba Viswanathaih. “Buy from local shops, loose packaging free stuff as much as possible. Lets respect Mother Nature by saying ‘No’ to single use plastics and paper disposables, and keep taking #BYOCSelfie to inspire many more people.”

If you notice paper or plastic cups or any single use disposables in your office, attempt to make a change towards reusable cutlery like steel. Start celebrating Waste-Free functions. “We have a steel cutlery bank for any celebrations with nominal rental charges (available in HSR Layout and Somasundrapalya). Happy Eco Navaratri!”

For renting steel cutlery, you can contact Lalitha (94480-63776). Will you be the next Change Agent?

Permanent places to drop off electronic waste in HSR

January 12, 2021March 20, 2019 by RW News Network

There are temporary e-waste pickup points in HSR Layout at Ganesha temple park on 11th cross in Sector 1, at Nagarjuna Greenridge apartment complex in Sector 2 and Royal Habitat, again in Sector 2.

However, these are on specific days and have set timings. We will update you on this channel during those collection drives. But if you are looking at anytime pickup, there are two places where you can drop off your e-waste whenever you want to (see images below). In addition, if you are giving stuff in bulk, doorstep pickup can also be arranged.

70% callers in HSR seeking counselling are students

January 12, 2021March 15, 2019 by RW News Network

A women and child safety helpline in BTM Layout receives an average of 10 calls a day, 70% of whom are students. According to the helpline officials, the biggest problems they face is addiction to smartphones, losing interest in studies and getting involved in love affairs.

70% callers in HSR seeking counselling are students 14

In rare cases involving warring adult couples who don’t listen to them, such people are referred to the helpline located inside the police commissioner’s office on Infantry Road. “So far, this has happened in about a dozen cases where either the people coming to us are highly educated and adamant or people with tremendous influence,” says Thamar SM, the helpline founder. “Such individuals are sent to the commissioner’s office, so they fear the law more.”

Most cases involving adults are about infidelity and personality classes between couples. “We offer legal guidance on the phone and counselling the wife and husband in person,” says Thamar about this free service. “We have one counsellor and one person who fields the phone calls.” They publicise this free service through pamphlets, but it’s largely word of mouth. A face to face counselling session can last between 30 minutes to two hours, according to him. Counsellor Meena had earlier worked with the Santvana Kendra, a government non-profit in BTM Layout.

HELPLINE

108/6, First floor, Tavarekere Main Road, near Balaji theatre (Off Forum Mall Road, behind Christ University

Phone: 91084-45555

Alternative number: Bangalore City Police: 100 (they will direct you to area-wise NGOs.

What is HSR’s connection with the world at large?

January 12, 2021March 15, 2019 by RW News Network

For those new to HSR, the acronym stands for Hosur Sarjapur Road. But type ‘HSR’ on social media or the search engines, and you will realise that the coinage is used just as widely for completely different entities in an entirely different corner of the world. We are talking about #hsr or even @hsr that will take you to Hamilton Street Railway, a public transport agency in Ontario, Canada. Incidentally, HSR also has bus services and for all its constant updates, it uses the Twitter handle: @hsrnow.

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 16

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 17

That’s not all. HSR is known in a completely different way in Australia where it stands for a ‘Health and Safety Representative’. Essentially, these are health inspectors who visit workplaces if there are fears that the safety of workers is compromised. Similarly, HSR is a young science whose acronym stands for ‘Health Services Research’ that brings together social science perspectives of individuals and institutions engaged in delivering health services.

Contents

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 18

On to New York now. Yes, HSR also means ‘High Society Radio’. It’s a podcasting service from locally sourced New Yorkers every Tuesday. Then again, that’s not all. There is a company called Health Systems Reform or HSR in short that has branches in the US, UK, Russian, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Which means, HSR is truly a global name that is significant to a lot more people than we knew until now.

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 19

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 20

What is HSR's connection with the world at large? 21

If you are wondering why you never came across these HSR interpretations, that’s because you might have already shared your location data to Google, so it will only give you what is relevant to your city and neighbourhood. That’s the least amount of data that the search giant has – it also knows where you went, what sites you visited, what illnesses and products you searched for, and more. But that’s another story for another day.

Haphazard parking on 14th Main & 17th Cross

January 12, 2021March 15, 2019 by RW News Network

The resident and vehicle users are inconvenienced by the the indescriminate parking along 17th Cross Road and 14th Main Roads that lead to McDonald’s junction. Not only do they narrow down these major thoroughfares of HSR Layout, but also cause much inconvenience to both pedestrians and vehicle users.

Haphazard parking on 14th Main & 17th Cross 23

Says resident AB Gowda who has tweeted to the traffic cops for action: “Vehicles parked haphazardly are blocking the main roads at this junction in HSR Layout, 17th Cross Road (McDonald’s signal). It’s the same haphazard mode in all four roads leading to this junction.”

Haphazard parking on 14th Main & 17th Cross 24 — The tiger patrol towing a car on 17th Cross Road near Star Bazaar

Although the traffic department’s ‘tiger’ patrolling squad regularly tows away vehicles on 17th Cross and 14th Main, this appears to be a never-ending ordeal to vehicle users and pedestrians. The only way to stump this out is to perhaps erect ‘no parking’ signs all along the road and not just near the junctions. But ofcourse, the best recourse is to install CCTV and automatically fine drivers violating the rules if manpower is in short supply.

One-way violations by school buses continue on 27th Main Road

January 12, 2021March 13, 2019 by RW News Network

One-way violations by school buses continue on 27th Main Road 26

It’s one thing for two wheeler riders to violate one-ways and completely a different magnitude of violation when higher capacity school buses are involved in such violations. That is precisely what is happening on 27th Main Road despite being a one-way from 24th-27th Main junction to Somasundrapalya Main Road junction.

We have highlighted about this before but the traffic police is inept at making their voice loud and heard in schools around the neighbourhood. It’s a branding issue too as residents wonder what these institutions are teaching their kids when they themselves violate the most basic laws.

Tweeting about this situation yet again, a traffic management enthusiast going by the Twitter handle ‘Kevapat’ says, “Schools have started, so has the dangerous one-way violations! 27th Main, HSR layout”. This time, he caught Rabindra Bharathi school bus violating the rule. It was Chaitanya school earlier.

Paper straws, bamboo stems & papaya stalks to replace plastic?

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

Paper straws, bamboo stems & papaya stalks to replace plastic? 28

An HSR vendor has come up with paper straws to replace the banned plastic straws you use to drink fruit juice and tender coconut water.

“They can be an alternative for disposable plastic straws,” says resident Lalithamba BV who has suggested this to the BBMP top brass, including Randeep, the commissioner in charge of waste management in the city. “These need to be promoted, so that they become economical.”

In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, coconut vendors have come up with several other alternatives like bamboo stems and papaya stalks. Where there is a will, there is a way. If you want to use these paper straws, you could reach Arun at 94806-37400 or 94806-37400.

Trees on fire near Agara Lake

January 12, 2021March 11, 2019 by RW News Network

After the fire at KPTCL campus on 27th Main in Sector 2 last week, today was the turn of plants near Agara Lake park. The trees caught fire and the fire force officials immediately rushed to extinguish the fire. The lake caretakers suspect that a cigarette butt thrown inside the park fence by the passersby could have led to the accident. The location of the dry grass fire is next to the major stormwater drain (Rajakulave) on 14th Main opposite Greenview Hospital. Luckily, the Agara Lake staff swung into action before the fire force officials arrived.

“This afternoon, there was fire near the stormwater drain side of Agara Lake,” says Kavitha Reddy of Agara Lake Protection & Management Society. “This is the side where residents of Mantri Sarovar had planted the trees. Some roadside person could have thrown a cigarette. The trees have burned like hell.”

Another lake in the vicinity of HSR Layout is ready for the rains!

January 12, 2021March 11, 2019 by RW News Network

The residents of HSR Layout are blessed to have four lakes in their vicinity: Agara Lake, Somasundrapalya Lake, Iblur Lake and Kaikondrahalli Lake. And even more blessed are they as all the four lakes are either rejuvenated or in the process of it. Iblur Lake is ready for the rains. The rejuvenation that began in December 2017 is close to completion. Spread over 18 acres and 6 guntas, it will have an urban forest, pathways, CCTVs and public toilets.

Says Jagannath Rao, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP: “The lake work is almost complete. Only the pathway mud work is left. Iblur lake is ready for rain water.”

The lake was supposed to be ready by December 2018, but it is delayed by about four months. The credit should also go to the Iblur Environs Trust who have been vociferous in their campaign for the lake revival and given plenty of suggestions to make the water body thrive all the year round. There is also a kalyani for all pooja related activities in addition to a Sewage Treatment Plant to treat 5000 kilo litres of water per day. The lake is fenced from all sides to prevent encroachment and garbage dumping. The residents can hope to see the groundwater levels go up in the months to come after the rains.

BEFORE: Iblur Lake

AFTER: Iblur Lake