House damaged in Agara during excavation work by central govt

January 12, 2021September 20, 2018 by RW News Network

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 1

House damaged in Agara during excavation work by central govt 2

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.”

Community policing has stopped in HSR Layout!

January 12, 2021September 19, 2018 by RW News Network

The community policing initiative at HSR police station is no longer being done. The contract with Janaagraha, an NGO, that was enabling this initiative with the the cops has expired. However, the community policing will restart once the community liaison officers (CLO), the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector, are identified at the police station.

Community policing has stopped in HSR Layout! 3 — Fifteen children who lived in HSR Layout were enrolled into schools due to the efforts of HSR Layout Community Policing Team in June 2017. PIc: Janaagraha

Janaagraha began this initiative five years ago and was operational in around 20 police stations. The HSR wing was close to two years old before it was stopped in January 2018. Today, Janagraha’s initiative is still operational but only in two stations. “Now, the police are going to carry on with community policing by themselves in a couple of months,” informed Deepak Nayak, manager, community policing, Janaagraha. “We are there as their knowledge partners only.”

HSR field associate Kiran for Janaagraha was moved out in December 2017 itself. “The CLO nomination process is going on,” said Nayak. “After that, Dr SP Ganesh (retired DG & IGP, Karnataka) is going to train the CLOs who will run community policing in their respective stations.”

The entire exercise will be spearheaded by Nanjundaswamy, the Additional Commissioner of Police, who will also be the nodal officer for community policing in Bengaluru.

LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS?

If you want to know what community policing is all about and how citizens can help and what they can do, read this previous story on community policing done by Residents Watch.

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces

January 12, 2021September 18, 2018 by RW News Network

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 4 — 25th Cross, 18th A Main

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 5 — 25th Cross, 18th A Main

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 6 — Below BDA complex flyover agara lake entrance

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 7 — Below BDA complex flyover agara lake entrance

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 8 — Behind Ellukunte Government School

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 9 — Behind Ellukunte Government School

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 10

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 11 — Iblur, which comes under the HSR ward of the BBMP

Before-After: From garbage dumping spots to seating spaces 12 — Iblur, which comes under the HSR ward of the BBMP

Entrance of Swabhimaana Tree Park is a ‘no man’s land’

January 12, 2021September 16, 2018 by RW News Network

The road at the entrance of Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3 is flooded. There is no place for the rain water to flow. Even though a pipe is laid close to the entrance, it is filled with mud. We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate and fix this perennial problem before the newly tarred road develops a pothole.

Entrance of Swabhimaana Tree Park is a 'no man's land' 13

Cycle day enters its 5th year today

January 12, 2021September 16, 2018 by RW News Network

Cycle day was celebrated with great gusto this morning and ended at 930am. Today was it’s 4th anniversary. It now enters the fifth year of its functioning in HSR Layout. For more details about it’s long history, please read yesterday’s story.

It was a mix of cycling, music, yoga, tug of war and many other games today where the children and the adults enjoyed just as much. The organisers thank BikeStudio HSR for supporting the event in addition to DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport), Bangalore Traffic Police, and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for their continued support.

Not to mention the NGO Esaf Society for helping them conduct surveys and the NH Narayana Hospital people for providing ambulance support. Mark and Crooners deserve a special mention for the musical performances and Neelam Pandya for conducting the yoga sessions.

MP Kupendra Reddy loses his father

January 12, 2021September 15, 2018 by RW News Network

Member of Parliament D Kupendra Reddy, a resident of HSR Layout, has lost his father.

MP Kupendra Reddy loses his father 21 — MP Kupendra Reddy

Sources tell us that Reddy’s father VS Dasa Reddy and the father of state minister DK Shivakumar’s father were childhood friends.

The MP’s father was not keeping well for sometime now, and expired about ten days ago. “He was supposed to come to our function today but he could not make it to our community lunch as he is busy conducting all the rituals following his father’s death, and is right now in Chennai,” said Vilas Deshmukh, member of Harlur Somasundrapalya Residents Association.

Kupendra Reddy is a 58-year-old Rajya Sabha member since 2014, who will remain an MP till 2020. He is considered as one of the richest men in Bangalore. Originally from the Congress party, he is now with the JD (S).

HSR traffic inspector bereaved

January 12, 2021September 15, 2018 by RW News Network

HSR traffic inspector Rajashekar NH is on leave for a few days now as his father Dr Hanumanthappa NR expired recently.

HSR traffic inspector bereaved 22 — HSR Traffic inspector Rajashekar NH

All those who were trying to reach him can contact him from next week when he is expected to report to his office in Iblur.

An MBBS doctor, a physician to be precise, Dr Hanumanthappa was 75 when he breathed his last.

The inspector is right now in his hometown and is not picking up any phone calls, unless really important.

If the residents have any traffic-related complaints, it’s best to wait till he returns as there is no one at the station who can fix any important complaints that you might have.

The 42-year-old traffic inspector is in his hometown as part of his father’s last rites.

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents

January 12, 2021September 15, 2018 by RW News Network

Sector 3 resident Karunaprasad Kanavi was witness to an accident this afternoon involving three cars on 22nd Cross right in front of the house where he stays. This mishap happened before the showers inundated HSR Layout. Thankfully, no one was grievously injured in the accident.

“At this same spot, there was an accident on the first day of Ganesha festival in 2016, resulting in the instant death of a motorcyclist,” he told Residents Watch. “The residents have been asking for a scientific road hump on both the sides of 22nd cross and 17th Main junction for a long time in addition to a ‘no parking’ zone near the junction on all the sides.”

‘ONE OF THE MOST ACCIDENT-PRONE JUNCTIONS IN HSR’

The many reasons for this junction becoming accident-prone could be many. Says Kanavi: “It might be rash driving and speed. No one follows the ‘stop & proceed’ rule at this junction. There is no such thing like giving way to the vehicles. The drivers just want to proceed straight first and then take a turn. Therefore, road humps on both sides of the junction are required to reduce the speed at this accident-prone spot. It is a complete 90-degree turn (both left & right) for the vehicle users coming on 17th Main and joining the 22nd Cross. It is a partially blind curve and further compounded by the parked cars on all the three sides near the junction. It becomes quite narrow for the buses and trucks. Taking a turn for them is a nightmare here.”

We hope the traffic police take note of this and do the needful.

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents 23 — The accident on 22nd Cross

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents 24 — Scooter cruising like a speed boat, says Kanavi about this scene outside his house on 22nd Cross

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents 25 — 2016 Ganesha season – Spot death of a motor cyclist

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents 26 — Cops visit after an accident at the same spot in 2014

Accident at 22nd Cross-17th Main; most mishap-prone, say residents 27 — Minor accident in 2015

Residents demand mechanised sweepers to contain vehicular and construction dust on main roads

January 12, 2021September 14, 2018 by RW News Network

With vehicular pollution, construction and roadside dust polluting the main roads of HSR Layout, the residents are now asking the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to implement mechanised sweeping of the main roads atleast.

Residents demand mechanised sweepers to contain vehicular and construction dust on main roads 28

“Where are the mechanical sweepers that were supposed to be deployed on all the major roads of Bangalore?” asks HSR resident and civic activist Kavitha Reddy in a tweet to CM and Deputy CM of Karnataka. “If the CM and Deputy CM continue to let the corporators and MLAs to decide on it, they will destroy the city further! Just visit the strech between Agara and Silkboard junction, were the roads have not been cleaned for years now.”

Says resident Shashidhara K who is busy installing pollution monitors across HSR Layout to gauge the impact, and his results are not encouraging: “HSR definitely need to eliminate construction dust, sand particles from streets (using BBMP mechanized sweepers), and also reduce vehicular pollution at the earliest. Air quality is very bad on the main roads and at intersections.”

Residents demand mechanised sweepers to contain vehicular and construction dust on main roads 29

Residents ask for dividers, speedbreakers on 19th Main, 27th Main; top cop promises action

January 12, 2021September 14, 2018 by RW News Network

On September 4, the residents of HSR Layout tweeted to the city traffic police about fixing the messy and dangerous gridlocks on 19th Main-11th Cross Road and 27th Main-7th Cross. Additional Commissioner of Police R Hithendra immediately responded that he would have the situation examined. The Traffic East police division was activated who, in turn, asked the HSR cops to look into the complaint.

Residents ask for dividers, speedbreakers on 19th Main, 27th Main; top cop promises action 30 — 27th Main Road

Residents ask for dividers, speedbreakers on 19th Main, 27th Main; top cop promises action 31 — 19th Main Road

Now the local traffic wing has promised to inspect the spots during peak hours and figure out ways to fix the gridlock and avoid accidents. “We asked the cops to take action as there have been accidents due to reckless speeding on 19th Main and 27th Main,” says Sector 1 resident Kavitha Reddy who had tweeted to the top cop. “We have suggested 15-metre road dividers and speed breakers for smooth flow of traffic, and to reduce road rage and accidents.”

Residents ask for dividers, speedbreakers on 19th Main, 27th Main; top cop promises action

January 12, 2021September 14, 2018 by RW News Network

Agara lake under threat? High Court’s final hearing on privatisation case in November

January 12, 2021September 13, 2018 by RW News Network

The controversy over the privatisation of Agara Lake is far from over. On September 10, 2018, the Karnataka High Court admitted an appeal by the Lake Development Authority (LDA) against Biota Natural System (India) Pvt. Ltd who won the case over lake ownership against the LDA in a city civil court in January 2017. Biota is claiming that the LDA wrongfully terminated its 15-year lease agreement to manage the lake. However, the Karnataka High Court admitted the opposing plea filed by the LDA in April 2018, and has stayed the execution of the earlier city civil court order until the next hearing on November 5, 2018 (Karnataka High Court case number: MFA 3392/2018).

Agara lake under threat? High Court's final hearing on privatisation case in November 38

The residents consider this a positive development because with the redevelopment of Agara Lake at a cost of Rs 16 crore by the state government, the case has never been stronger. The Agara Lake Protection & Management Society (ALPMS) has approached the forest department that is now in charge of the lake to make a strong case in their favour. “The LDA was treating the high court case lightly, but when we informed the Forest department about it and also met chief secretary Vijaya Bhaskar (an HSR resident) and Sandeep Dave, the additional chief secretary of Forests, a strong case is now being built up for the November hearing,” says Kavitha Reddy of ALPMS.

Agara lake under threat? High Court's final hearing on privatisation case in November 39

SOME BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

In 2017, the LDA lost the case to Biota, a Hyderabad-based company, because the state advocate failed to make a strong case. In 2012, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Bangalore-based Environment Support Group (ESG) in the Karnataka High Court against the Karnataka government’s decision to hand over four lakes in Bangalore to private parties. The case was won, but only partially. While the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model of Agara Lake was scrapped by the court, status quo was maintained for the other three lakes – Hebbal Lake, Vengayyana Lake (KR Puram) and Nagavara Lake (Lumbini Gardens). The SC hearing on these lakes is to come up in the next few months.

Based on the High Court order, the LDA scrapped its deal with Biota citing violation of the agreement rules. When Biota lost the case in 2012, they filed a case in the city civil court to get the money they had deposited (Rs 20 lakh) with LDA with interest. As the argument by the LDA lawyer was weak, the government ended up losing the case to Biota in January 2017. Now the LDA has filed its objection at a higher court – the Karnataka High Court – against the judgement of the lower court.

THE HISTORY

Way back in May 2007, Agara Lake was handed over to Biota in a public-private partnership – the private party wanted to build an amusement park. Outraged, the residents went to court in 2008 with the help of Environment Support Group’s Public Interest Litigation and had the agreement quashed in 2009. This led to the handing over of the lake back to the Lake Development Authority. But the private party went to court saying that they got the contract first and went in for an arbitration. Last year, the government lost the case because the advocate did not make a strong case. So the lake was supposed to be handed back to the private company for its upkeep and maintenance for the next 15 years. When the LDA was trying to get a stay in High Court, the LDA was shutdown as the lake governance was given to the Minor Irrigation Department. Now, it’s being run by the Forest Department who will plead in the High Court on behalf of the LDA.