Friday, April 27, 2007

As Bangalore falters, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune vie to be tech Eden

FAVOURED DESTINATION - As Bangalore falters, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune vie to be tech Eden
Other cities cash in as top IT firms, citing poor administration, say they have no expansion plans in Bangalore

Mint

I t’s official now. Bangalore, India’s tech capital, has fallen behind in the race to play host to the new offices be- ing set up by leading software and back-office services com- panies in India. Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune are the biggest gainers of such expansions.

Bangalore’s administration has been criticized by top managers of Infosys Technologies Ltd and Wipro Ltd, the second and third-largest tech vendors in India, respectively, for the city’s crowded roads, rising pollution levels and deteriorating infrastructure in the last five-six years.

Chennai leads the new crop of destinations in India, with the port-city expected to house more than 73,000 workers of the top three Indian information technology companies—Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Technologies Ltd and Wipro Ltd—in the next three years, overtaking the number of employees these firms have in Bangalore.

The trio, which together have around 55,000 employees in Bangalore, do not have any expansion plans in the city.

Infosys’ 25,000-seater facility in Mahindra City on the outskirts of Chennai, which is slated to run at full capacity by 2010, would be the company’s largest office in India. About 3,500 Infoscions, as programmers at India’s second-largest tech company like to call themselves, already work at the office.

Similarly, TCS’ upcoming facility, which will be completed by the end of 2008, would have a capacity of 22,000 seats, according to Viswanathan, Ravi and vice-president head of Chennai operations, TCS. The first of TCS’ six buildings in a spe- cial economic zone complex will be completed by July or August, and will house 3,500. around TCS expects to “one complete building per quar- ter” over the next six quarters. TCS, businesslargest software India’s process out- and sourcing services firm, already has its strongest presence in Chennai, with about 16,500 employees, followed by Mum- bai with nearly 11,000, and Bangalore that has over 10,500. Infosys has about 6,500 peo- ple working in Chennai cur rently, says Sujeet Oommen, the regional manager for the company’s Chennai facilities. This includes 3,000 people in one facility at Shozhinganallur and 3,500 people in the work- -in-progress Mahindra City fa- cility, he said. When it reaches full capacity, it would overtake the company’s Bangalore facil- ity located in Electronic City, on the southern outskirts of the tech capital, which seats about 18,000. Infosys human resources director T.V. Mo handas Pai said Infosys was at- tracted to Chennai because it “has good talent, the environ- ment is conducive, and infra- structure is good”.

Hyderabad, At TCS announced plans last week to spend Rs400 crore to set up a 15,000-seat facility in an upcoming special eco nomic zone promoted by the state government, growing the company’s workers in the city more than five times.

The company’s chief finan cial officer S. Mahalingam says the new office will be ready in three phases in 2009, 2011 and 2013, adding 3,000, 5,000 and 7,000 workers more at the completion of eachnew offices phase. The location of TCS’ are driven by “availability of quality talent pool and sound infrastructure”, Mahalingam said. He expects Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad to have 25,000 workers each in the next few years.

Pune has attracted Infosys and Wipro as well. Infosys will not reveal details but its latest financial results reveal a ‘work in progress’ of a 14,400-seater in this western industrial city.

Earlier this month, Wipro chairman Azim Premji an nounced a new facility in Pune, its second in the city, at a cost of Rs400 crore. The com pany plans to nearly triple its workforce in the city to over 17,000 by 2008-09. Premji has been among vocal critics of the Karnataka government for ig noring Bangalore’s woes.

In anticipation of further ex pansion of tech firms in the new upcoming tech cities, prices of commercial space have shot up. Lease and pur chase costs in Chennai, for in stance, is more expensive than in Bangalore, said Ramesh Nair, south India head of mar kets at realty consultant Jones Lang Lasalle.

Recent administrative im provements could help stem the tide at Bangalore. New commercial land has been ac quired and released by the Bangalore authorities within city limits attracting commer cial developers.

“If the Tamil Nadu govern ment can release some land here, then Chennai could also bring prices under control,” Nair added.

Bangalore as expensive as Silicon Valley for talent

Founder of image search startup Riya, Munjal Shah, writes in his blog about how his company relocated it's Bangalore office to the Silicon Valley after wages in Bangalore became as expensive as in Silicon Valley

Focus on environment

Focus on environment
The BBMP plans to develop lakes and set up sewage water treatment plants, writes Poornima B V


Awhopping Rs 40 crores has been earmarked under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) for taking up environmental protection activities in the year 2007-08. The BBMP intends to take a holistic approach to protect and conserve parks, lakes and tanks in the city. Development of 14 lakes in the new areas under Greater Bangalore, setting up of small sewage water treatment plants (STPs) in collaboration with the BWSSB, water harvesting and use of recycled water to irrigate both new and existing parks will be the main focus areas.
A detailed project report is being prepared to shortlist these lakes and take up developmental work after calling for tenders, according to Krishna Udapudi, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP. There are certain guidelines that have to be followed before taking up any developmental work, according to Udapudi. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has formulated a National Lake Development Plan (NLCP), according to which the water holding capacity of the lake has to be increased by desilting, diversion of sewage water and providing proper inlets and outlets. The BBMP also intends to take over all major tanks and lakes from the Minor Irrigation , LDA and public agencies to give a unified thrust towards conservation of the lakes in the city. Sankey Tank and Ulsoor Lake have already been developed and become landmarks in the city. There are plans to create more awareness regarding various techniques of rain water harvesting through media campaigns.
The BBMP proposes to enter into an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the BWSSB in the current year to use secondary treated sewerage water for all parks. A sewage treatment plant will be set up this year in J P Park. As a beginning, the Deer Park and Kempabudhi Lake Park will be watered using recycled water from the Kempabudhi STP. Recycled water from the Nayandahalli STP would be used for all new parks in Rajarajeshwarinagar. Apart from this, medians, circles and islands in the city will also be watered using treated water from these plants, using tankers.
There are also plans to move towards the concept of tree parks to conserve water, instead of establishing parks only with aesthetics in mind. Massive afforestation plans is also on the cards, with a proposal to plant over one lakh plants for which a provision of Rs 1 crore has been made.
The Freedom Park, a major project that has been taken up by the BBMP, is likely to be completed in a year's time, according to Udapudi. There are also plans to develop parks in various neighbourhoods with emphasis on new areas, after a detailed survey.

Novel idea for parking in Koramangala

Novel idea for parking in Koramangala
An open space under a high-tension power line will be converted into a parking space. This is a first-of-its-kind joint initiative between the BBMP and traffic police. Leena Mudbidri reports


With the city's roads burgeoning with traffic and drivers parking their vehicles in every available space possible, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has to keep its nose to the grindstone in solving the parking problems. Numerous large public spaces have been identified along with playgrounds to provide for spacious parking.
The expansive area at the Koramangala Industrial Layout in fifth block has been started as a pilot project along with support from the Adugodi Traffic Police. Police officials laud the enthusiasm of the BBMP in taking the project forward.
Citing the reasons for zeroing in on Koramangala initially, ACP Adugodi Traffic Police Station, Ravindra Prasad, said that with that particular neighbourhood choc-o-block with software companies, hotels and shopping centres, there was a dire need to prevent vehicles from being parked haphazardly on narrow streets and by-lanes inconveniencing pedestrians and other passing traffic.
The area that has been earmarked for this parking lot falls directly under the high tension wires and hence this space had been lying vacant for months. When the work on this 700 feet long and 45 feet wide area is completed, the parking lot will be able to accommodate a whopping 600 four-wheelers and 2,000 two-wheelers, according to a senior official of BBMP.
Levelling of the ground is being carried out currently and asphalting should soon follow. The open drain which passes through this space has been fully covered with concrete blocks. The trees lining the parking lot will not be felled and have been included in the blueprint. In fact, a senior police official points out, that more greenery will be added between lanes once the laning work starts. Proper lighting to ensure safety is another feature to be added on. Also, since the parking space is right below the high-tension wire, a safety canopy will be put in place to prevent mishaps especially during the monsoon.
Banking on the success of this project which is scheduled for completion in six months, the BBMP will be well on its way to also implementing the use of open spaces like playgrounds for basement parking.

Savouring romance of boulevard

Savouring romance of boulevard
DH News Service Bangalore:
With 15 days to go for the boulevard to be completely pulled down to facilitate Metro Rail work, the regulars were spotted cooling their heels and watching the world go by, savouring their last days on the stone benches.

For many who work in and around M G Road, the boulevard has been an inexpensive retreat during coffee breaks and in-between shifts.

With 15 days to go for the boulevard to be completely pulled down to facilitate Metro Rail work, the regulars were spotted cooling their heels and watching the world go by, savouring their last days on the stone benches.

Many who work as security guards, waiters or vendors say, it’s an ideal place to while away time and rest between shifts, especially during the summer

Deepak, who works at the Shilton Grand Hotel as a security guard says, in between his 12-hour shift, he likes to sit on the stone benches and rest. Now with the boulevard being torn down, he doesn't know where else to go as his room is too far away.

Bhagawan Das, a vendor who sells panipuri in Shivajinagar, finds the boulevard an ideal break from the noisy bustle of Shivajinagar where he stands serving panipuris to customers till late afternoon in the baking sun. He will have to stay back in Shivajinagar after the boulevard comes down, he says ruefully.

Sandeep Kumar Singh, who works at customer service at Museum Inn says, he has a four-hour break between his shifts, a lot of which he spends at the boulevard.

Its a quiet place for couples too, who meet up between work. Ashish, who was there with his girlfriend Bina, says its a cool, shady place to meet up with his girlfriend. He regrets the boulevard will lose its air of romance very soon.

Metro: Changes in vehicular movement

Metro: Changes in vehicular movement
Bangalore, DHNS:
The changes will be in effect from May 1.

Keeping in view the welfare of the general public, the smooth flow of traffic and the successful completion of the metro rail project without any hindrance, the city police commissioner has brought about certain changes in the movement of the vehicles and the public. These changes will be in effect from May 1.

The BMRCL which has undertaken the Bangalore metro rail work has started work on Mahatma Gandhi Road (M G Road), Anil Kumble Circle to the Trinity Circle. These come under the Bangalore City Transport, East Limits and the metro work will be carried out in six phases. In the initial stages, work will be undertaken from Anil Kumble Circle to Deccan Herald and from the Karmraj Road to Mayo Hall junction in two phases.

*Movement of BMTC buses via Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium on M G Road has been prohibited. Also, buses starting from the Shivajinagar Bus stand and heading towards Neelasandra and other areas have to now travel via Parsee temple, CTO, Queen’s Circle, Lavelle Road, Cash Pharmacy and then take a left turn towards the Residency Road. On its return journey these buses will have to travel via Ashirwadam Circle, Museum Road, SBI junction, Anil Kumble Circle and then reach Shivajinagar Bus stand.

*Movement of autorickshaws from the west to east of Anil Kumble Circle to Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium has been prohibited. However, provision has been made for these autos on the Cubbon Road.

* Parking of vehicles towards the north of Cauvery Handicrafts to Mayo Hall has been prohibited

Very few affected by proposed one-way rule on M.G. Road

Very few affected by proposed one-way rule on M.G. Road

Afrah Shafiq

It will be implemented only in the last phase of the Metro project

# Few traders worry about possible effect on business
# Many willing to put up with likely inconvenience



IN FOCUS: A view of the Trinity Circle junction in Bangalore. — PHOTO: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: It is only the stretch of M.G. Road from Dickenson Road to Trinity Circle that will become one-way and not the stretch until the Brigade Road junction as reported in a section of the media. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, East) M.A. Salim has said that even this arrangement will only be temporary and will be removed after the completion of the Metro Rail project.

Mr. Salim says that the only other alteration made to M.G. Road will be the removal of parking facilities between the Brigade Road junction and Trinity Circle. To reduce the anticipated burden on traffic, buses would be redirected in such a way that they will not pass through M.G. Road, he adds.

But the public apparently has no reason worry in the immediate future, as Mr. Salim promises that the new rule will be implemented only in the last phase of the Metro Rail Project.

Once the stretch from Trinity Circle till Dickenson Road does become one-way, how will it affect businesses on the road? A walk down the road gave one an idea of what people feel.

The first stop is the sandalwood-scented Cauvery Emporium run by the State Government. Prashanth, an employee, is blasé about the one-way proposal: "Our clientele mainly includes NRIs and foreigners, and no one-way rule is going to stop them from coming."

Proprietor of Karishma Silks Bhagwan has a similar response. "It is already virtually impossible to get parking on M.G. Road. So people have already got used to parking at a distance and walking down the road, which is what they will continue to do."

But proprietor of Saboo Collections Om Prakash is worried about the likely ill effect the rule will have on business.

"The tremendous increase in traffic due to the one-way rule will encourage people to avoid the road, and this will affect business," he says.

Karnataka Government may order re-auction of recovered land

Karnataka Government may order re-auction of recovered land

S. Rajendran and Sharath S. Srivatsa

Encroachers of government land are said to be keeping a watch on potential buyers

# Detailed report sought from Deputy Commissioner on the auction proceedings
# 70 per cent of the lands auctioned on Wednesday fetched much less than the reserve price

BANGALORE: After the encroachment of government land and studying ways and means to check it, the State Government is unable to auction the land for a good price. Interestingly, the authorities have come across small groups of people attempting to dictate the prices at the auction of government lands being held here over the past two days.

Sources in the Government told The Hindu that the price of certain lands being put to auction were reportedly pegged to a lower level. Irrespective of the assurances held out to the potential buyers by the authorities along with police protection being offered, there were not many willing to venture to bid for certain lands that there were being put to auction. The bidders from outstation have remained in the background for various reasons and their local confidants are in the forefront.

Minister for Revenue Jagadish Shettar, who has been closely monitoring the auction of the Government properties being carried out by the officials of the Bangalore Urban District, told The Hindu here on Friday that as a first step, the Government had directed the authorities to re-auction should any given piece of land fetch a lower price than that which had been originally expected. In the auctions that were held on Wednesday, nearly 70 per cent of the lands sold had fetched a much lower price than what was expected.

The authorities had tentatively fixed the prevailing guidance value as the reserve price for a number of auctions (each sale of a given piece of land is considered an auction in itself) while in some of them the prevailing market price (based on the location of the land concerned) had been fixed as the reserve price.

After the first round of auctions gone through on Wednesday, the Government, which had the final say in the sale, has decided to opt for re-auction in several cases. A detailed report has been sought from the Deputy Commissioner of the Bangalore Urban District M.A.Sadiq.

Fear psychosis appears to have gripped the prospective buyers and most of them have refrained from participating in the current round of auction of government lands.

On the one hand, those who encroached the Government lands and have since been evicted were keeping a watch on the bidders. Added to this were the agencies of the Union Government, which were simultaneously keeping a watch obviously to detect tax evasion and garner information on tax evaders, if any.

Illegal parking makes residents’ life miserable

Illegal parking makes residents’ life miserable
Thursday April 26 2007 11:20 IST

BANGALORE: Residents of HBR Layout, 4th Block, 13th Main wake up every morning to the roar of heavy vehicles revving up and driving away leaving clouds of diesel fumes. Not that they like it even a wee-bit, but many complaints to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and to the City police to clear the nearby vacant plot of parked vehicles have fallen on deaf ears.

Gowri K, a resident of HBR Layout said that there a few garages belonging to private companies in the vicinity of their residential area which allow private buses to park for the night. ‘‘It is not parking buses alone that bothers us. The drivers start their repairs and servicing of buses early in the morning and the accompanying noise pollution continues throughout the day,’’ she says.

Residents also say that they have sought and got help from the City police for clearing the plot of vehicles. But the drivers pleaded for time till January and assured the aggrieved residence that they were searching another location and this one was temporary. But they have not kept their word.

Kishore L, another resident, points out, ‘‘We have told them to stop the repair works several times, but they simply do not listen. It also involves the safety of children,’’ he said.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

It’ll be another trip on MGs

It’ll be another trip on MGs
It’s not just the promenade that’s going. The Metro will alter the shopping and chilling zones on MG Road as well
The TImes of India

BANGALORE’S Metro rail will change the scene on MG Road quite a bit for some time at least, and we are not talking only about the promenade that will do a temporary disappearing act. By the time the metro rail is in place, some familiar landmarks may disappear forever, some will rejavascript:void(0)
Publishlocate and make a re-appearance, while others will cope as best as they can even as they say it will hurt business.
For starters, Jamals will move some way down the road to Pavilion mall. The problem so far has been primarily that of parking, and with this stretch going to become a one-way with ‘no parking’ in the near future because of the rail, the proprietors think it best to make the move. Says Ameen Jamal, “We have also taken two garage spaces on rent at the new place so that our customers can park their vehicles.”
However, the other reason is that the old building will come down and a new one will come up in its place. So the stretch from GK Vale to Lakeview, will make way for a new structure. But sources say, they will all reappear at the old spot. Secretary, Brigades Shops and Establishments Association, Suhail Yusuf, thinks the metro rail “will turn MG Road into a graveyard. But we will try our best to have our customers continue to come to us,” he says.
Thallam Venkatesh of the Bombay Dyeing showroom too thinks the Metro will sound the death knell for many businesses on MG Road. Especially for the staff who work at these establishments. He says, “Businessmen will survive, but if the construction goes on for a long time, and some shops shut down, what about the hundreds of assistants who have been with shops for 20-30 years? They know no other job.”
But Machender Pishe, president, Bangalore Trade Association, says though the Metro will cause disturbance to established businesses, it spells development for the city. “We have to make adjustments.”
Restaurateur Gautam Krishnan Kutty, who runs two outlets on MG Road, has decided to “live with it.” He says, “It’s one of things you have no control over, so I’ll work around it. There’s not much I can do, we’ll ensure our clients still come. Short of relocating, there’s nothing else I can do. But I’m not relocating. We have to think of the
interests ”

Traffic woes: A tale of two cities

Traffic woes: A tale of two cities
Ambarish B | TNN

Bangalore: The handling of traffic violations in New Delhi and Bangalore make for a study of contrasts despite having similar tales of woe. Both cities have the highest number of vehicles and grapple with similar traffic problems. However, while New Delhi has handled the same by delegating responsibility to staff lower in the hierarchy, Bangalore is still seeking solutions.
Delhi High Court recently empowered traffic head constables to issue challans and levy penalties against violators. The order was passed given the growing vehicle population and high number of offences in the national capital. Interestingly, Bangalore tops the number of traffic-related offences nationwide, yet empowering traffic cops is not seen as a step forward here.
A minimum of 5,000 traffic violations take place in Bangalore every day. Yet, only a subinspector and officers of higher rank can issue challans and levy spot fines. However, on M G Road and Brigade Road, constables note down the offence and bring it to the notice of their seniors without initiating action. To tackle the problem, the traffic police will be equipped with BlackBerry handsets soon. “Lower-rung officials — from constables to assistant sub-inspectors — could only note down a field traffic violation report (FTVR). This was sent to the automation centre. Now, we are trying to catch defaulters with the help of BlackBerries, which will be introduced by the end of the month,’’ DCP east (traffic) M A Saleem told TOI.
However, there are apprehensions that this could lead to more corruption. “Traffic woes in Delhi are different from those here. Giving constables or head constables the powers to issue challan would create new problems. No other developing country has a spot-fine system. Instead, we need exclusive levy collection centres to make a difference,’’ a traffic official said.
The 250 BlackBerries will be used only by sub-inspectors and their seniors. These will work in tandem with a central server. “Black-Berry also helps reduce corruption as a receipt for the fine is issued to the offender on the spot and this will simultaneously be recorded by the central server. The fine amount for each violation will be stored on the handset. Moreover, repeat violators will get three times higher fine automatically calculated using the stored data,’’ DCP Saleem said.
Violations in Bangalore: 5,000 per day
Signal-jumping, drunken driving top the list Fine collected by the traffic police — Rs 5 lakh per day, largely for offences like signal jumping, no-parking and helmet violation, as per records
with the departmentTraffic woes: A tale of two cities
Ambarish B | TNN

Bangalore: The handling of traffic violations in New Delhi and Bangalore make for a study of contrasts despite having similar tales of woe. Both cities have the highest number of vehicles and grapple with similar traffic problems. However, while New Delhi has handled the same by delegating responsibility to staff lower in the hierarchy, Bangalore is still seeking solutions.
Delhi High Court recently empowered traffic head constables to issue challans and levy penalties against violators. The order was passed given the growing vehicle population and high number of offences in the national capital. Interestingly, Bangalore tops the number of traffic-related offences nationwide, yet empowering traffic cops is not seen as a step forward here.
A minimum of 5,000 traffic violations take place in Bangalore every day. Yet, only a subinspector and officers of higher rank can issue challans and levy spot fines. However, on M G Road and Brigade Road, constables note down the offence and bring it to the notice of their seniors without initiating action. To tackle the problem, the traffic police will be equipped with BlackBerry handsets soon. “Lower-rung officials — from constables to assistant sub-inspectors — could only note down a field traffic violation report (FTVR). This was sent to the automation centre. Now, we are trying to catch defaulters with the help of BlackBerries, which will be introduced by the end of the month,’’ DCP east (traffic) M A Saleem told TOI.
However, there are apprehensions that this could lead to more corruption. “Traffic woes in Delhi are different from those here. Giving constables or head constables the powers to issue challan would create new problems. No other developing country has a spot-fine system. Instead, we need exclusive levy collection centres to make a difference,’’ a traffic official said.
The 250 BlackBerries will be used only by sub-inspectors and their seniors. These will work in tandem with a central server. “Black-Berry also helps reduce corruption as a receipt for the fine is issued to the offender on the spot and this will simultaneously be recorded by the central server. The fine amount for each violation will be stored on the handset. Moreover, repeat violators will get three times higher fine automatically calculated using the stored data,’’ DCP Saleem said.
Violations in Bangalore: 5,000 per day
Signal-jumping, drunken driving top the list Fine collected by the traffic police — Rs 5 lakh per day, largely for offences like signal jumping, no-parking and helmet violation, as per records
with the department

Blackberry for traffic offenders

Blackberry for traffic offenders
Nina C George
The Black Berry will ensure transparency in the police department. The police can’t tamper with the system or charge more than the stipulated amount for the offence and can’t negotiate with the culprit. It will also keep a check on repeat offenders.

Two years ago the when Bangalore City’s traffic police started wielding simputers, the palm-top PCs, it appeared that the days of violating traffic rules with impunity were finally numbered. And, there was a considerable reduction in the number of traffic violations and consequently accidents as the traffic police personnel turned simputer-savvy.

Two years hence, it looks like zero tolerance of traffic violations appears imminent, thanks to the Blackberry, a revised and upgraded form of simputer. For, the Blackberry will not only instill the fear of the law in habitual offenders, but also nail the black sheep among the men and women in the uniform.

However, things will fall into place only when the end users — the traffic policemen on the road — are trained to use them.



Transparency

“The Black Berry will ensure transparency in the police department. The police can’t tamper with the system or charge more than the stipulated amount for the offence and can’t negotiate with the culprit. It will also keep a check on repeat offenders. With this, we hope to bring about some systemic changes,” M A Saleem, DCP (East) says and adds, “the people will surely be spared of police harassment.”



Online connectivity

What makes the Black Berry different from the simputer is that it provides direct online connectivity to the central server. Information keyed in will immediately get transmitted to the server which in turn records the violations and acts as a ready reckoner of previous offences committed by the same person. So if you are a habitual offender, be sure you won’t escape the clutches of law.

The Blackberry will have different slots such as code, name of the offender, vehicle number, fine amount, violation codes, location and date. It also has an inbuilt printer that will help the police handover a challan then and there to the offender.

To begin with, offences such as signal jumping, driving without helmets, drunken driving, parking in no parking zones and other such visible offences will come under Blackberry.

“If we spot a repeat offender we have the authority to recommend that his or her licence be suspended,” says Saleem.

Bangalore City Police Commissioner Neelam Achuta Rao is appreciative of the new project. He says that the Blackberry will surely keep offenders from getting away or indulging in violations.

“It will help us record the present violations and the previous violations will also be displayed. This will help us track repeat offenders, instill a sense of fear and give them a feeling that they are being watched,” says he.

The Blackberry software and online connectivity has been developed for the City police by Airtel.

Saleem says that the Blackberry will be given to those carrying the Inspector and Sub Inspector ranks. About 250 police officers will be trained in the coming days to handle the device.

The next time you zip around the City’s roads, make sure you pay attention to the rules as well.

And, this is how MG Road will change...

And, this is how MG Road will change...
DHNS
For many families, Sunday evenings will no longer mean sitting on the steps of the boulevard with their time-pass (roasted peanuts) or ice-creams and bhel, watching the world go by.

Many Bangaloreans took a nostalgic walk down M G Road Boulevard, also referred to as the Promenade, last Sunday, the day the work on the first phase of the Metro Rail Work started here. Many have started taking photographs of the boulevard to treasure memories of happier times spent on this walkway.

There have been protests galore almost every day since last Sunday, but the machinery for excavating the work has been rumbling digging out the earth on the boulevard.

If work goes according to plan, the boulevard is expected to be dismantled in phases and will be completely razed to the ground by October. Initially, parking on MG Road was to have been banned almost immediately, but there’s some respite again. Only in the later phase of work on the Metro Rail project, will parking restrictions come into place, it is learnt.

In recent times people have had pleasant memories of the boulevard being used as a part of the Bangalore Habba with its colourful stalls. For many families, Sunday evenings will no longer mean sitting on the steps of the boulevard with their time-pass (roasted peanuts) or ice-creams and bhel, watching the world go by.

Nostalgia or need?

Nostalgia or need?
Work on the Metro Rail on MG Road has begun and Bangaloreans will soon be bidding adieu to the boulevard. We bring you two articles from old Bangaloreans, who walk down the patch of green to share their memories.



A bird’s eye view of the Parade Grounds had a grassy central area and a large body of water at one corner, surrounded by dense vegetation on its south-western periphery. That brief verdant section, after the rains, momentarily took you to the lush richness of the Malnad. In more recent times, separating the historic military grounds and the road is a splendorous evergreen bush bearing purple-pink flowers, and a walkway.

The radiant plant has a hoary background. A French Navy Admiral, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, ‘discovered’ it growing in wild splendour in Brazil in 1768. He carried the exotic plant to the western world from where it eventually found its way to British India, and the famous embankment on South Parade.

South Parade, that stretch of Mahatma Gandhi Road between present day Anil Kumble Circle and Brigade Road, became one continuous trendy mall with upmarket stores, chic fashion houses, Marks & Spencers and other English brand outlets, dancing halls and piano bars, restaurants, and a place where the rich and famous were to be seen.

Life on the other side of South Parade, on the bund was equally exciting. Long before motor vehicles, fashionably dressed women and men in top hats on horses went around the tree-lined bridle path. This elevated path had exquisite trees and flower beds and benches for people to rest. From that vantage point one had views of social butterflies, outrageously dressed young girls going around with tennis rackets, soldiers ogling at pretty women, inebriated men getting thrown out from taverns, and other such Victorian goings-on.



Favourite haunt

Around the 1930s, the Civil and Military station’s hungry souls and saccharine-toothed crowds often made a beeline to a hep ice-cream kiosk facing the water body across the elevated ‘bund’. The Lakeview Ice Cream parlour, even with many changes in ownership, retained its hold on customers.

In the ’60s and ’70s the bund was a favourite hangout of students, young couples and retirees. On Saturdays and Sundays, invariably after the movies and a coffee at Koshy’s, youngsters ambled across with friends there.

The serious minded discussed Camus or the French Nouvelle Vogue movies or Che Guevara. On other benches sat teenagers such as long haired Bidu Appiah in tight pants hugging guitars and serenading the chicks in the gang with ‘Rhythm of the falling rain’ and hours would fly by, as honge flowers dropped from the branches above. Often times you’d find young journalists sitting across Deccan Herald, carrying on what apparently started in the India Coffee House, and holding forth on issues of the day – El Che or Karnad’s Kaadu and its symbolism.

Elsewhere on the bund children played or couples sat near the illuminated cascading fountain opposite Liberty cinema, or some came just to shoot the breeze. Besides peanut vendors, a frequent visitor on the bund was an elderly Sikh fortune teller. With heavily dark, kohled eyes he’d hold youngsters’ eye and talk of their future. “You to study much if want to pass ‘exterminations’ and become officer”, he’d say, or “Pray hard to ensuring good marriage prospects and future.”

This morning I walked down memory lane, starting from tree no. 481, a mango tree, on the bund and right upto Oriental (Anil Kumble circle), crossing the fruit bearing Ficus, tree no. 461. Rag pickers, mongrels, garbage and the inevitable fire of paper, and other rubbish greeted me. Yes, not many changes have taken place on the promenade. The mini-Malnadu was there. Fact is this heritage district has remained ‘heritage’ more in name than in care and upkeep.



Namma Metro

As I left this morning a bull-dozer was noisily and angrily gobbling up the ‘bund’ and dumping pink flowers and mud with mechanical precision. Much of the tree canopy, we’re assured, will be spared. By 19 April 2009, concrete and steel will reshape the promenade and the click, click, click of the Namma Metro will echo in the area where once birds chirped, animated discussions on existentialism were heard, the soul touching sounds of Bidu’s guitar lingered and gladdened many a heart.

The bund protesters and others interested in preserving Bangalore’s heritage will continue to protest. Meanwhile, old timers are bound to feel nostalgic about the changes wrought on the historical bund. On the other hand, there are many who after experiencing the Singapore or Kolkotta or Delhi metros, don’t see what all the fuss is about. After all, Bangalore does need a faster and better mass transportation system...

Janardhan Roye



Memories a(bund)ant

Perhaps, not many citizens in Bangalore are as nostalgic about the MG Road boulevard than KSN Murthy, an IAS officer, who retired 15 years ago. In the mid-1960s as the Commissioner of the then Bangalore City Corporation, he took a personal interest in helping to create the boulevard with the support of an efficient team of officials.

“I had a good relationship with the police as the deputy secretary, General Administration Department, now known as Public Administration. A R Nizamuddin, then deputy commissioner of traffic, was a good friend and he had a good idea about traffic management. There was no undue publicity or announcements”, recalls Murthy.

Speaking to Metrolife at his residence in Benson Town, he reminisces that the road from Queen Victoria’s statue, past Anil Kumble Circle (then Oriental Circle) up to Brigade Road junction used to be zig-zag and narrow. Cars used to be parked along the length of the road, where the metro rail track has been proposed.

“In place of the boulevard there was a big mound of soil dumped from Parade Ground. There were no caretakers for M G Road. The corporators had no pecuniary or social interest in developing the road. In 1966 Nizamuddin and I, conducted a joint inspection of the road to make it as wide as possible,” says Murthy.

Murthy was supported by A B Ramanand, Corporation Engineer (now redesignated as Chief Engineer), a relative of Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar, a noted contractor during the British regime. The deputy corporation engineer was one Isaac, a knowledgeable person, who also helped in the estimation of the road widening work put up before the standing committee for approval.



How it was approved

“There was a possibility that this work would not be approved by the corporators, who were very unruly in those days. Most corporators were shouting and in the melee the plan got approved without them knowing what it was all about.”

When excavation of the soil (mound) began, a well-dressed man in traditional kacche-panche and a turban alighted from a black cadillac and came near me. He was K N Guruswamy, the founder of Deccan Herald.

Says Murthy, “I knew who he was and I had seen him many times, but I had not personally spoken to him. He asked me, ‘Are you the Commissioner? I am Guruswamy.’ I told him we were trying to widen the road and Guruswamy responded by saying that it was a good idea. He even asked photographer T L Ramaswamy to take photographs of the work in progress. More than me, it was Guruswamy who took an interest in the progress of the work.”

Once the road was widened, there was a question of what to do with the mound of soil which was still there. Carting of the mud waste was suggested but that was not practical. There were two three ideas about what to do with the mound. The engineer, Ramanand, who in his capacity as a Rotarian, had been abroad and knew about landscaping. He suggested that they could make steps, but this would lead to litter.

“I had read a book by Burley-Marx, a landscape architecture and suggested that the mound could be converted into a green turf. But growing green grass was extremely difficult. It had to be something like bougainvillaea, a perennial, which could withstand severe summers. There was resistance to the planting of bougainvillaea as it shoots up very fast. The bouganvillea were finally planted with the assistance of the horticultural superintendent of the Corporation.”

Six pergolas were erected all along the flat portion of the boulevard and stone benches were placed, which are now replaced by concrete benches. “It was not known as boulevard or promenade as it is known today. Only one of the six pergolas survives today at the Kumble Circle”, adds Murthy.

Murthy’s interest in plants and landscaping goes back to his college days, when he was a student of Botany. His bookshelf is lined with books on landscaping. During his tenure as deputy secretary in the Union Ministry in Delhi, he was instrumental in laying of the Nehru Park. When Prakash Singh Kairon saw the Nehru Park he invited him to do something similar and unusual in Chandigarh and thus was born the famous Rose Garden of Chandigarh!

Murthy cautions that annuals should not be planted below the proposed metro rail track as this would mean planting year after year. Instead perennials should be planted.

Michael Patrao

Private initiative keeps BBMP swimming pools buzzing

Private initiative keeps BBMP swimming pools buzzing
By Gayathri L DH News Service Bangalore:
With the private companies taking over, the pools are very well- maintained and the BBMP is even making profits.

The erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP)-owned public swimming pools across the City were for a long time in a deplorable condition, thanks to dismal hygiene levels, all through the period when they were maintained by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. But not any more.

According to a Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) source, the Palike was running up losses of Rs 5 lakh to 6 lakh a year and was struggling to maintain the pools. But that was around 15 years ago, before BMP started leasing these pools to private organisations. The initiative has helped in ‘rejuvenating’ the pools and, in the process, filling BBMP coffers.

BBMP owns eight such pools in the City.

While five have been leased to private agencies, one has been handed over to the Department of Youth Services and Sports and one is still maintained by the BBMP. One, the Corporation Swimming pool at Seshadripuram, is not ‘functional’.

The BMP began leasing the pools, as it was finding it very difficult to maintain the hygiene levels and get competent people to monitor their use. The cost of maintenance - plus the water and electricity charges - was very high, leading to losses for the Palike.

With the private companies taking over, the pools are very well- maintained and the BBMP is even making profits, the sources said. The pool in Sadashivanagar has been leased to KC Reddy Swim Centre, the ones in Jayanagar and Vijayanagar to PM Swimming Centre, and the one at Basavanagudi to Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre.

According to some pool managers, they were in a pathetic state when they were handed over to the private parties.

Nihar Ameen, Programme Director of K C Reddy Swim Centre said, the pool used to look worse than Sankey Tank. “After we took over, we’ve ensured that there is 24-hour filtration and that the pool water is tested on an hourly basis, to check the chlorine levels and ensure maximum safety. We also have 10 lifeguards on duty on a rotation basis,” he added. Many old-timers who have used the pool after they were leased say the difference is marked and it is now as good as any private pool.

Says John Veigas of Maruthi Nagar, “I’ve been using the Jayanagar pool since 1977. The pool had such a dark green colour and was so dirty, that if someone got drowned, no one would even know. Post-‘privatisation’, the pool is so clear that if you drop a coin where it is at its deepest (15 feet).”

Get it done in 20 days or I'll throw you out, thunders Kumaraswamy

Get it done in 20 days or I'll throw you out, thunders Kumaraswamy

Staff Reporter

Slow pace of work on storm water drains blamed for city's rain woes

# Chief Minister-speak Consultants hired by those who wanted to turn city into Singapore
# Do you design drains to last for five years or the next 25?



NOT UP TO THE MARK: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Industries Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu inspecting rain-affected Vasanthnagar in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Much to the disgust of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the slow pace of work on remodelling storm water drains has emerged as the sole reason for flooding, which destroyed homes in the recent rain in the city.

During his continuing tour of the flood-affected areas of the city, the Chief Minister expressed unhappiness over the poor progress of the storm water drain remodelling project, which has been on since 2005.

"Contractors have not done any work. They have just put up retaining wall for some 10 feet and done nothing else," the Chief Minister said.

He blamed consultants chosen under former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna for the mess. Mr. Kumaraswamy sarcastically remarked they had been hired by those who had wanted to turn Bangalore into Singapore.

He asked Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj: "Do you design the storm water drains for five years or for the next 25 years? Who are the designers?"

Mr. Jairaj replied that the design for the storm water drain remodelling project was taken up by a French firm, Stup Consultants.

"Two per cent of the project cost had been set aside for the design. Yet it is so poor that water stagnation and flooding is common every time it rains," he said.

Accompanied by a number of officials he visited Vasanthnagar, Ulsoor, Shivajinagar and National Games Village. Mr. Kumaraswamy, in his trademark style, took officials to task for neglecting work on storm water drains.

On Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, where 45-year-old Lakshmi drowned in the early hours of April 22, the drain that collapsed continues to remain so. Mr. Kumaraswamy said, "I do not care about what package it falls under. I will give you 20 days to bring some changes on ground. If you do not do so, then I will suspend all the engineers involved."

Encroachment and official connivance in allowing it was on display at HKP Road in Shivajinagar, the worst affected area that the Chief Minister went to in this visit. A stretch of the retaining wall of the storm water drain collapsed in the rain on April 21 and flooded the area.

A senior corporation official Harsh Gupta said that 380 houses had been illegally built on the storm water drain.

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Chief Engineer Venkat Raju said that there was no place to lay sewage lines which was the reason they had not been able to divert sewage from the storm water drain.

At Vasanthnagar, residents complained of flooding and the residual smell and slush. Shashikala Mohan, a resident, said that every time it rained, houses were filled with at least four feet of water.

"For you this is a new experience, but we have been living with this for about 10 years now," she said.

At the Guru Nanak Bhavan junction, the road is in a mess following a long-delayed work on enabling easy flow of sewage and rainwater. At the National Games Village, encroachment of a drain resulted in the slow movement of sewage and rainwater.

Puttenahalli lake to be bird reserve

Puttenahalli lake to be bird reserve
Wednesday April 25 2007 10:47 IST

BANGALORE: Puttenahalli Lake has been in the news, but for the wrong reasons over the past few years.

While people living on its fringes have been putting up with rainwater seeping into their houses - hundreds have even been displaced - Puttenahalli holds a secret treasure. It is a nesting bowl for a wide variety of birds, and it may soon become the state’s first Bird Conservation Reserve.

A study, by native biodiversity experts, has discovered 49 species of birds breeding here. Steps are being taken to declare the 10-hectare water body as a protected zone.

The lake, may thus emerge as a birdwatcher’s realm of joy. It will have watch towers, trekking paths, guides to identify birds for tourists and other basic facilities, it is officially learnt.

Among the birds found here are Darters, Painted storks, Black-crowned Night Herons, Purple Herons, Pond Herons, Egrets, Asian Open-Bill Storks, Eurasian Spoonbills, Little Grebe, Little Cormorant, Spot-billed Ducks, Purple Moorhen, Common Sandpiper and other water-birds.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Avani Kumar Varma said, Puttenahalli lake is a “must protection place”.

Earlier, the lake was under Lake Development Authority (LDA) and was listed for further development for commercial purposes under Public-Private Partnership Model.

“We have written to the state government to withdraw the lake from the LDA list and hand over to us. The government has already given the green signal and the process of declaring it as a conservation reserve is underway,” he added.

According to biodiversity expert Dr Harish R Bhat, Bangalore is left with only 34 healthy tanks, 14 of which are in Bangalore North and these attract many birds. Out of these, Puttenahalli is prominent because more than 7,000 birds can be sighted during the breeding season.

The ‘avifauna’ of this lake also includes some of the endangered and migratory birds from the Northern Himalayas and Siberia.

“Many species which are listed under threatened category from International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) find this lake as their favourite abode during breeding season - the Painted Storks and Darters to name a few. The new tag of conservation reserve will help in preserving the rich bird population in a urban set-up,” he added.

City bird-watcher P Manjunath, said that a Spot-billed Pelican was sighted in the same lake last year. “We have been surveying the water body since many years. Depending upon the breeding season, the birds can be sighted here,” he said.

Don’t mind, Bangalore is like this only

Don’t mind, Bangalore is like this only
Two overseas visitors reinforce the global tech community’s faith in the city

Financial Express

BANGALORE, APR 25: On a sultry Wednesday afternoon, sitting in the plush office of the $130-million Infinite Computer Solutions’ CEO at Bangalore’s International Tech Park, Australian state minister Timothy Holding is unfazed by talk of infrastructure woes plaguing the city.

“This is clearly a city that is growing extraordinarily quickly,” he said. “But then, Bangalore must be getting something right. For, the investments here are staggering,” Holding told FE, pointing to the huge campuses housing global IT giants like SAP and Indian majors like Tata Consultancy Services.


That may be so, but local frustration is also clearly palpable to Holding. “All of the development work puts incredible pressure on infrastructure, on roads, public transport, electricity. And, of course, the challenge for the government is to respond to the needs of the people and businesses,” the information & communication minister from the Australian state of Victoria said as he prepared to meet Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Nearly 20 km away from the Tech Park, in a five-star hotel, Yahoo co-founder David Filo became slightly emotional about his company’s Bangalore connections. “I have mixed emotions as I stand here. Initially, when we were looking at basic outsourcing, we came here. We moved from that to engineering services and to development of products for markets globally. Now, we offer services across the board from Bangalore,” the Chief Yahoo said. The reason: “As we looked at emerging markets and the places where we would put our engineering, we realised that Bangalore made sense.” It is not just for Yahoo, Google or AOL (which will be launching its India portal aol.in on Thursday) that Bangalore has made sense.

Despite the city’s spiralling costs, increasing wages and rising property prices compounded with the infrastructure bottlenecks, multinational companies have opened their purse strings to increase their Bangalore presence. In the last one year, IT giants like IBM, Accenture, Intel, SAP and Cisco have together poured in over $1 billion in investment into Bangalore.

As Filo said: “We want to look at Bangalore as a centre of excellence for developing products for the global market. Folks here are going to be working on engineering services for the global markets.” Yahoo has currently 1,000 people working in its research & development section and on Thursday will open another facility with 1,600-seat capacity.

There was, though, one word of caution from Holding. “Of course, the pressure on infrastructure with development will increase quickly and it will always be a struggle to keep up.” But that’s unlikely to rob the Garden City of its technological prowess.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

B'lore lakes struggle for survival

B'lore lakes struggle for survival

CNN-IBN


Baangalore: It was once known as the Garden City, the air conditioned city and also the perfect metro. But today Bangalore is no longer a ‘paradise’.

The lakes in Bangalore for the matter, are struggling to survive. The Jaraganahalli Lake for example, just like any other lake has become an open toilet and a dumping ground for garbage and construction debris.

The lake was fenced off to prevent any further dumping and encroachment, but it wasn't long before people found a way through.

In fact, the Lake Development Authority (LDA), the first of its kind in the country, was set up five years ago to coordinate and monitor lakes in the city.

However, in the absence of powers to prosecute, the LDA remains, much like it's boards, helpless and abandoned.

"In any of these lakes, the eviction of encroachment power is not vested in us. There is no LDA act so far in place. There is no statute empowering us to book the encroachers and other culprits who are responsible for dumping garbage and construction waste,” says CEO, Lake Development Authority, B K Singh.

S Shridhar and his friends got together and formed a group called Utkarsh and decided to take up cudgels on behalf of the dying Vibhutipura Lake as the lake was turning into a huge landfill due to a spurt in building activity over the last six months.

"We have given memos to the forest department two to three times but have not seen any action there...There is always a confusion between the forest department, the LDA and the revenue department. The corporation is not in function now, it's been dissolved so we don't even have that remedy,” says Shridhar.

With the formation of Greater Bangalore came great hopes for Bangalore city. But amid the construction boom and with elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike yet to be held, it is such city details that stand to suffer the most.

EJIPURA down the drain

EJIPURA down the drain
R Jayaprakash | TNN


On a 10x10 ft plot is a five-storey residential building. The road is between 5x15 ft. This entire area lies 8 ft below the stormwater drain — at the level of the drainbed. A spell of rain means that the roads and houses are under sullage water. The residents are hardly worried: “We have to suffer for just three months, the rest of the year, we have a place to live.’’
This is Ejipura for you. The area, located behind Koramangala’s National Games Village, is invariably in the news during the monsoons for one primary reason: floods, floods and more floods.
WHAT AILS EJIPURA?
The area is adjacent to a primary drain — Koramangala Valley — which runs through the National Games Village. KHB authorities covered the drain so it could be used as parking space. Pillars have been erected over a distance of 1 km in the drain, on which the parking platform stands. The result: the pillars are obstructing the flow of sewage, with tons of debris getting blocked. It is not humanly possible to get into the drain to remove the silt or debris.
Added to this is the encroachment of the drain. What starts as a 30-ft wide drain near Infant Jesus Church narrows down to 15 feet as it approaches Ashwini Layout. During the rains, excess water flows back and gushes into Ejipura, as there is no other outlet.
Around 10 roads starting from Ejipura 9th Main and Ashwini Layout get flooded. When the downpour is heavy, there is water logging of 3x5 ft on the road and it takes more than five hours for the water to be cleared out. The water pressure is such that water flows back sewage into bathrooms and toilets in the houses.
THE CULPRITS
The primary culprits are residents and slumdwellers. It is very rare to find a building that has been built in accordance with the by-laws. The BBMP rule book has been quietly flushed down the drain! The area is also an engineering marvel of sorts — there are multi-storied residential units on 10x10 ft plots. Most plots measure 30x40 ft, and almost all of them have three-storeyed constructions. Being centrally located, it is thickly populated. Owners have built extra floors to rent them out as there are a lot of takers, thanks to the low rentals and proximity to the city. Nevermind the stench, mosquitoes and three months of flooding!
“To put it in a nutshell — it’s a high-density area. There are instances of over 10 people residing in a 10x12 ft room. The drains are incapacitated for waste and sullage to flow out. There are roads that are just 5 ft wide. Even if the authorities want to initiate action, there is little scope. The only solution is to remove the 1-km cover on the drain in the Games Village and remodel it.
“At least, the flooding will stop to a certain extent,’’ explain the area residents. Till that is done, the residents have taken their own precautions — with some ‘contingency plan’. Since the houses are at the level of the drainbed, they have constructed retaining walls in place of gates to stop water from entering their homes. Two steps to climb in and four steps to climb out — this is the most common feature in the locality.
Low lying areas identified by the BBMP
Vasanth Nagar, Shankarappa Garden, areas around Ulsoor lake, Dobhi Ghat, Koramangala, Murugeshpalaya, JP Nagar, Madivala, Malleshpalya, Kamakya Theatre, Padmanabhnagar and Ejipura.
BWSSB warning
The BWSSB has warned all citizens against flushing out rainwater collected on rooftops into underground drainage. This is leading to manholes overflowing during the rains, said BWSSB chairman NC Muniyappa. “Instead, the residents of high-rises should take steps to harvest and store rainwater or practice groundwater recharging. In case there is no provision to drain out water from rooftops, divert it to roadside drains instead of UGD,’’ said Muniyappa, adding that houses which have given a connection to UGD has to cut off the link before the rains.
BBMP on war-footing
The BBMP has taken up emergency civil works worth Rs 14 crore to prevent damages due to rain. BBMP commissioner K Jairaj on Tuesday convened a meeting of engineering department officials and stated that all zonal joint commissioners had been given the powers to execute emergency works to provide relief to rain-affected areas. He also released a list of activities to be started by BBMP as a precautionary measure.
GROUND SITUATION
THE EYESORE: The primary drain, Koramangala Valley, that flows through games village has been encroached on — a 30 ft drain narrows down to 15 ft. Flooding is common as the area is at the drainbed.
SOLUTION: Remodel the drain, widen it and deepen it. Remove the drain cover for regular cleaning. Or relocate residents of the area.EJIPURA down the drain
R Jayaprakash | TNN


On a 10x10 ft plot is a five-storey residential building. The road is between 5x15 ft. This entire area lies 8 ft below the stormwater drain — at the level of the drainbed. A spell of rain means that the roads and houses are under sullage water. The residents are hardly worried: “We have to suffer for just three months, the rest of the year, we have a place to live.’’
This is Ejipura for you. The area, located behind Koramangala’s National Games Village, is invariably in the news during the monsoons for one primary reason: floods, floods and more floods.
WHAT AILS EJIPURA?
The area is adjacent to a primary drain — Koramangala Valley — which runs through the National Games Village. KHB authorities covered the drain so it could be used as parking space. Pillars have been erected over a distance of 1 km in the drain, on which the parking platform stands. The result: the pillars are obstructing the flow of sewage, with tons of debris getting blocked. It is not humanly possible to get into the drain to remove the silt or debris.
Added to this is the encroachment of the drain. What starts as a 30-ft wide drain near Infant Jesus Church narrows down to 15 feet as it approaches Ashwini Layout. During the rains, excess water flows back and gushes into Ejipura, as there is no other outlet.
Around 10 roads starting from Ejipura 9th Main and Ashwini Layout get flooded. When the downpour is heavy, there is water logging of 3x5 ft on the road and it takes more than five hours for the water to be cleared out. The water pressure is such that water flows back sewage into bathrooms and toilets in the houses.
THE CULPRITS
The primary culprits are residents and slumdwellers. It is very rare to find a building that has been built in accordance with the by-laws. The BBMP rule book has been quietly flushed down the drain! The area is also an engineering marvel of sorts — there are multi-storied residential units on 10x10 ft plots. Most plots measure 30x40 ft, and almost all of them have three-storeyed constructions. Being centrally located, it is thickly populated. Owners have built extra floors to rent them out as there are a lot of takers, thanks to the low rentals and proximity to the city. Nevermind the stench, mosquitoes and three months of flooding!
“To put it in a nutshell — it’s a high-density area. There are instances of over 10 people residing in a 10x12 ft room. The drains are incapacitated for waste and sullage to flow out. There are roads that are just 5 ft wide. Even if the authorities want to initiate action, there is little scope. The only solution is to remove the 1-km cover on the drain in the Games Village and remodel it.
“At least, the flooding will stop to a certain extent,’’ explain the area residents. Till that is done, the residents have taken their own precautions — with some ‘contingency plan’. Since the houses are at the level of the drainbed, they have constructed retaining walls in place of gates to stop water from entering their homes. Two steps to climb in and four steps to climb out — this is the most common feature in the locality.
Low lying areas identified by the BBMP
Vasanth Nagar, Shankarappa Garden, areas around Ulsoor lake, Dobhi Ghat, Koramangala, Murugeshpalaya, JP Nagar, Madivala, Malleshpalya, Kamakya Theatre, Padmanabhnagar and Ejipura.
BWSSB warning
The BWSSB has warned all citizens against flushing out rainwater collected on rooftops into underground drainage. This is leading to manholes overflowing during the rains, said BWSSB chairman NC Muniyappa. “Instead, the residents of high-rises should take steps to harvest and store rainwater or practice groundwater recharging. In case there is no provision to drain out water from rooftops, divert it to roadside drains instead of UGD,’’ said Muniyappa, adding that houses which have given a connection to UGD has to cut off the link before the rains.
BBMP on war-footing
The BBMP has taken up emergency civil works worth Rs 14 crore to prevent damages due to rain. BBMP commissioner K Jairaj on Tuesday convened a meeting of engineering department officials and stated that all zonal joint commissioners had been given the powers to execute emergency works to provide relief to rain-affected areas. He also released a list of activities to be started by BBMP as a precautionary measure.
GROUND SITUATION
THE EYESORE: The primary drain, Koramangala Valley, that flows through games village has been encroached on — a 30 ft drain narrows down to 15 ft. Flooding is common as the area is at the drainbed.
SOLUTION: Remodel the drain, widen it and deepen it. Remove the drain cover for regular cleaning. Or relocate residents of the area.

City records highest rainfall

City records highest rainfall
DH News service Bangalore:
Bangalore City has received 134.5 mm rain in the month of April (till 24). According to Meteorological department sources the rain recorded in this month is the highest compared to corresponding period of the last seven years.

In addition rainfall recorded so far in the month is roughly three times more than the normal of 46.3 mm. Similarly temperature in the city has also gone up. Normal temperature expected in April in Banalore city is 33.6 degree celsius.

But this time the temperature went up to 36.4 dc in the first week of the month.

Dr Vijay Raghavan, Director, Meteorological department said that April is considered to be the hottest month. “However in May temperature decreases with the increasing rate of rainfall. Normal rainfall expected in May is 119.6 mm”, he said.

550 acres of land to be auctioned from today

550 acres of land to be auctioned from today

Staff Reporter

Government hoping to net a substantial sum after the revaluation of guideline value

BANGALORE: Notwithstanding the opposition, the auction of government lands in Bangalore Urban district that have been recovered from encroachments will commence from Wednesday at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban).

Over 550 acres of government land that were recovered would go under the hammer in phases.

Officials in the Deputy Commissioner's office said the Prevention of Unauthorised Construction Cell was coordinating the auctioning and the process would continue till Monday.

"On an average, eight individuals/ institutions have evinced interest in bidding for each block of land that will be auctioned," the sources said.

Bidders were given time till 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday to deposit the money.

Sources said they were expecting a good turnout from Wednesday as land in and around Bangalore was in high demand.

With the revision of guidance value for properties in Bangalore recently, officials said, auction could fetch good amount to the Government.

Nearly 290 acres in different survey numbers of different villages coming under Bangalore North taluk alone would be auctioned on different days.

On Wednesday, 102.03 acres of land in Anekal, Bangalore North and South taluks would be auctioned. They include recovered lands in Chikkanaganamangala, Gattihalli, Harappanahalli and Singena Agrahara villages in Anekal taluk, Ravuttanahalli in Bangalore North taluk and Muddaiahnapalya and Yalachiguppe villages in Bangalore South taluk. Besides, 59.02 acres in Bangalore North (Additional) and North taluks would be auctioned on Thursday while 97.35 acres in Bangalore South and Anekal taluks would be auctioned on Friday.

Biggest chunk

The biggest chunk of land would be auctioned on Saturday with 254.14 acres in Bangalore North taluk made available for buyers.

In East and North (Additional) taluks, 48.19 acres of land would be auctioned on Monday.

12 radial roads for Bangalore Metropolitan Region notified

12 radial roads for Bangalore Metropolitan Region notified

Sharath S. Srivatsa

The aim is to reduce travel time, vehicular pollution and accidents


BANGALORE: In an effort to improve connectivity and ease movement of traffic between towns near Bangalore city, 12 radial roads with a total length of 175 km have been finalised by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority. The cost of the project is likely to be Rs. 1,400 crore.

This network of radial roads in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region are needed to decongest traffic within Bangalore city, taluk headquarter towns and other major towns and meet future traffic needs. These roads, according to the notification, will reduce travel time and pollution and provide better connectivity in and around Bangalore, besides decreasing the severity and number of accidents.

Notification

The Authority notified formation of the radial roads on April 19 after a detailed survey. A total of 104.71 km of existing roads will be retained for the radial roads, and 71.12 km of bypasses will be built for the towns.

Metropolitan Commissioner Sudhir Krishna told The Hindu that the radial road project was a supporting project for the proposed Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), Intermediate Ring Road (IRR) and the Individual Town Ring Road (ITRR).

"The development of radial roads will have localised benefits and the width of the roads will be widened from 60 ft to 200 ft. Approximate cost has been calculated to be Rs. 8 crore a kilometre, which also includes the cost of land acquisition. Certain geometric variations have been to incorporated to allow high-speed traffic on these radial roads," he said.

The radial roads will also connect the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) proposed by the Bangalore Development Authority and the IRR and the STRR proposed by the BMRDA.

The 12 radial roads that have been notified by the Authority are Yelahanka-Doddaballapur, Sulibele-Nandagudi, Bangalore ORR-Sarjapur, Bommanahalli-Anekal (via Jigani), Harohalli-Dodda Maralavadi, Alimaranahalli-Sathnur, Lakshmipura-Chikkanahalli, Tavarekere-Kumbalgodu, Magadi-Bangalore, Banaswadi-Nelamangala, Kanaswadi-Doddaballapur and Kanaswadi-Doddaballapur Road.

To pass through villages

The roads, according to a topographical survey, will pass through 149 villages falling under the jurisdictions of 11 taluks, including Anekal, Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Magadi, Nelamangala, Ramanagaram, Bangalore (North) and Bangalore (South).

The notification states that no authority or person should undertake or permit any development within the alignments for the radial roads without the permission of the Authority.

Storm water drains not good enough

nother episode of one rain and water logging stories mushroom this year too. But the million dollar question remains unanswered. Why does our City is too delicate for even small quantity of rain. Here is a answer and reason for such a havoc to blame it upon. Almost all storm water drains in the City which are constructed to channelise the rain water to different valleys are not good enough to sustain the amount of rainfall being received.

Take this example. According to the data available with Meteorological Centre, average rainfall in the City for April in last five years, is approximately 46 mm. This includes a downpour as high as 324 mm in April 2001, and as low as 9 mm in 2002. But Citys kaccha storm water drains built decades ago, are able to sustain a maximum of 25 mm average rainfall per month.

L Sathyanarayana, Chief Engineer, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), West zone, said that there is no chance to widen such drains as per the the present rain fall statistics as there is space available in the areas adjacent to drains. "We can only remodel them and such works are being done across the city," he said.

But, why there were no problems of floods in previous decades with same set up around? Engineering experts point out that uninterrupted links between various lakes in the City used to facilitate a smooth flow of rain water in such drains and even during heavy rain there used to be no water logging as such.

"Almost all storm water drains today have been encroached upon by real estate zars. Dumping of waste, mainly in the from of construction materials, has led to the flooding of the low-lying areas," said a senior engineer of the Palike. So, with such a basic hurdle ahead, will the project of "remodelling of storm water drains" yield any fruits? A former BBMP engineer said that if strom water drains in the water logging areas are deepened enough to facilitate the easy flow of water, problems can be solved for a large extent.

"The strom water drains leading to Bellandur lake are not deep enough and cause floods in Koramangala and surrounding belt. If under remodelling project deepening works are done here and if Bellandur lake is de-silted regularly, we can reduce the yearly havocs," he said.

Also, Palikes priority should be to remove encroachment from the storm water drains beginning from the end points of the four valleys namely Vrishabhavathi, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Koramangala.

Illegal buildings razed to ground

Illegal buildings razed to ground
Wednesday April 25 2007 10:32 IST

BANGALORE: Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), in a major anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday, recovered property worth Rs 10.26 crore in the HBR layout.

A release from BDA said that demolition works targetted 23 sites of different dimensions which included six sites of 40 X 60, 16 sites of 30 X 40, and one site of 20 X 30 in HBR layout I and II stage.

Unauthorised walls constructed across these sites were levelled and the property fenced.

The demolition operations were carried out by the BDA Task Force under the guidance of executive engineer of North division and local police, release said.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Volvo fares reduced

Volvo fares reduced
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: BMTC has reduced the passenger fares for Volvo buses and has done away with different pricing for peak and non-peak hours. Now, there is going to be a common fare. The minimum fare in all Volvo services is reduced from Rs 15 to Rs 10. Also, the fares on important traffic generating routes have also been reduced. This has come into effect from April 15.
Up to 4 km is Rs 10, up to 10 km is Rs 15, up to 16 km is Rs 20, up to 20 km is Rs 25, up to 22 km is Rs 30, up to 28 km is 35, up to 30 km is Rs 40, up to 34 km is Rs 45 and up to 38 km is Rs 50.

Public too responsible for rain havoc: CM

Public too responsible for rain havoc: CM
DH News Service Bangalore:
Public should also understand their responsibilities as citizens. When they blame the administration for the inconvenience caused to them, they should introspect on what wrong they have committed”, Kumaraswamy said.

Who is responsible for the clogged drains, water logged roads, flooded basements and illegal constructions in Bangalore? The answer is simple - politicians, officials and the general public are equally responsible for the havoc created by rain in the city, according to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

As in the last rainy season, this time too the chief minister along with a batallion of officials from the civic agencies visited some of the rain hit areas in the city on Monday. The areas included - parts of Sujata Theatre area in Rajajinagar, Bapuji Nagar, Kamakya Extension and BTM Layout.

After the visit, Mr Kumaraswamy told the accompanying reporters that the rain water clogged in many areas because of gross building by-law violations and unauthorised constructions attached to storm water drain valleys. “Power hungry politicians, corrupt officials and greedy public are responsible for this. Public should also understand their responsibilities as citizens. When they blame the administration for the inconvenience caused to them, they should introspect on what wrong they have committed”, he said.

Mr Kumaraswamy said he will go through records of unauthorised constructions and take strict actions against officers who gave approval for such constructions and builders. “I am not going to yield to any pressure”, he said. He also directed Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to blacklist contractors who delayed in completing work. The chief minister was flooded with complaints from the public during his visit to the rain affected places.

“Sir, we spend sleepless nights whenever it rains”, complained Kamalamma of Kamakya Extension in Banashankari III stage. As the storm water drain passing through the extension overflowed during Saturday’s rain, houses in the locality were filled with water up to a height of 4 ft. The residents blamed delay in completing the construction of retaining walls of the valley as responsible for their plight. “We spent the whole night on the terrace with children. We can’t eat, we can’t sleep. Foodgrains have been washed away in water. I have nothing to cook,” said Sharadamma.

Ms Shyla Ramadas, Secretary of Dena Bank Residents Welfare Association, alleged that the palike contractor demolished the retaining wall of the valley constructed by the residents and that had resulted in overflow of storm water. “We have spent Rs 75,000 for asphalting roads and Rs 35,000 for retaining wall as no authority concerned took necessary action to provide the basic amenities. Then why should we pay tax to the State government or the palike”, she questioned.

Mr Kumaraswamy after listening patiently to the complaints blamed illegal construction in the locality as the root cause for rain havoc.

“You are also equally responsible as the palike for the rain havoc. Why did you encroach the land to construct houses”, he questioned. He took serious exception to high rise buildings being built illegally alongside the SWD valley. He directed BBMP Commissioner K Jairaj to demolish illegal construction and take action against the officers responsible. The CM visited Bapujinagar, where a few huts attached to Vrushabhavathi SWD canal collapsed during the rains.

After inquiring with the residents the CM learnt that the affected residents had been allotted free houses in Laggere. He took the residents to task for not vacating the place even after getting houses. He instructed the officers to vacate them immediately.



HELPLINE

*BBMP: 22221188, 22100031, 32/33/34/35

*BWSSB: 22945129/ 22945240

*Fire: 101



DEAD OR ALIVE?

No trace of Subbalakshmi

Subbalakshmi and her petty shop were washed away in Sunday’s rain. Till Monday evening, there was no news about her. Neither the BBMP nor the fire fighting personnel could trace her. BBMP workers dug up silt to half a kilometre inside the Ulsoor drain from Ajantha theatre to Gurudwara in Ulsoor.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said no deaths had been reported due to the rain. “Though media reports say a woman is feared to have been washed away in a drain, it has not been confirmed. Efforts are on to trace her,” he added.



ASHOK ACT

From policy-making to policing!

A resident of Kamakya Extension had a tough time during the Chief Minister’s visit to his locality on Monday. Along with many residents, he was airing problems of the area to Health Minister R Ashok. At one point, he said: “Officers of the Palike don’t listen to us unless they are beaten up in public.”

Objecting to the remark, Mr Ashok asked the police to take the man into custody. Police obeyed the order. Other citizens, however, came to the defence of the arrested man and demanded that he be released. Mr Ashok finally relented.

Garbage ‘floods’ Bangalore

Garbage ‘floods’ Bangalore
DH News Service Bangalore:
A visit by Deccan Herald to the four major valleys – Challaghatta,Vrushabhavathi, Komaramangala and Hebbal – revealed that the accumulation of large quantities of garbage and silt here led to the overlowing of rain-water and flooding of nearby residential areas.

It was due to collapsing of the retaining walls of a drain near Ulsoor that a woman was washed away. On Monday evening, efforts to retrieve the body were still on. Here the drain running along the A N M Road was choked with garbage and building debris. When it poured heavily, the gushing water overflowed, leading to the collapse of retaining walls.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy visited many rain-affected areas and directed officials to take appropriate action.

The retaining wall of Ulsoor lake has also collapsed and the footpath has caved in at many places.

Overflowing of drains also flooded nearby residential apartments in Ulsoor, while the BMTC terminal road in Shantinagar witnessed waste-water logging, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross it. Residents of Maruthinagar in Madiwala suffered due to the same reason.

Wall collapse

Retaining walls have collapsed at many other places too. It was from these damaged portions rain-water overflowed. Shoulder drains (through which rain-water from residential areas flows into these valleys) were also clogged. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had assured that all shoulder drains would be closed, but they continue to remain open in some areas.

The BBMP’s much-discussed project to repair the faulty drains at the cost of Rs 768 crore has been “under progress” for the last two years.

The project, which was taken up in 2006, is going on at snail’s pace. “The project has been facing several hurdles. The major problem is of encroachment. Hundreds of unauthorised buildings have come up on the drain... The project can be implemented successfully only when these buildings are demolished,” BBMP sources said.

The BBMP has not been able to lay concrete on the surface of the drain as there is continuous flow of sewage. Of 230 km of storm-water drains, large quantity of sewage enters at around 60 km stretch (mostly in the previous BMP limits), officials said.

Now the BBMP has asked BWSSB to stop sewage flow into the drain.

A downpour remains a cause for worry

A downpour remains a cause for worry

Staff Reporter

Silt has not been removed from the narrow storm drain in J.P. Nagar 6th phase

# No repair work taken up on storm water drains
# Water enters houses during heavy rain

BANGALORE: The newly-laid road in J.P. Nagar 6th Phase near Puttenahalli Lake, which faced the rain fury in 2005, would give one the impression that the area has changed for the better. A close look, however, presents a totally different picture. There has been no repair work on storm water drains and a downpour remains a cause for worry for residents.

A visit by this reporter revealed that the residents of Ramanna Road, adjoining J.P. Nagar 6th Phase, are an anxious lot after the more rain was forecast.

Gopal Reddy, a resident of the area, said silt had not been removed from the narrow storm water drain. "How will water flow during a downpour?" he asked. He said water had entered his house and that of many others on Saturday night during heavy rain. "We are forced to live with this problem as we cannot afford to move out of our houses which we built with great difficulty," he added.

Another resident G. Anand said the erstwhile Bommanahalli City Municipal Council authorities did not act on the promises they made about widening the drain and building a proper sewage line. They laid a pipeline across the main road to let storm water coming from Puttenahalli Lake flow into the drain which passes along the road, close to the houses. "The authorities have not bothered to remove the silt," Mr. Anand said.

He said the problems of residents have multiplied. Owing to blockage of the pipleline, sewage mixes with drinking water, he claimed.

HBR Layout residents cry foul over filth

HBR Layout residents cry foul over filth
Monday April 23 2007 09:27 IST

BANGALORE: These days residents of HBR Layout, 4th Block, hop, skip and jump to avoid slush and rot strewn along the roads. Notwithstanding all the initiatives and claims of action, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) swears it has been doing to keep the residential areas clean, complaints are galore.

Residents say they are tired of complaining to BBMP and to City Municipal Council (CMC) about the growing garbage hills on the vacant Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) sites. Barring lip service nothing was being done. Residents also say that the door-to-door garbage collectors dispose off the garbage near the dustbins rather than properly placing them in the allotted disposal points.

‘‘We have complained to health officials of both the departments many times but nothing has resulted so far. The health and safety of children are at stake since the rotting food-waste attract street dogs,’’ said Vasanth K, a resident. After the heavy pre-monsoon showers, the garbage has come till the doorstep, he complained.

Foul smell is another nuisance of uncleared wastes on the public road. ‘‘The civic agencies must take its task more seriously,’’ said Priya L, another resident.

Will smooth ride be a reality?

Will smooth ride be a reality?
Monday April 23 2007 09:29 IST

BANGALORE: With construction of Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) and land acquisition in full swing, a smooth ride may finally be a reality.

What enhances the hope is the policy to restrict commercial activity along the road. If everything goes as planned, the BDA would finally achieve what it could not with the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

The developing agency has begun with the construction activity of the eight-laned PRR in Bangalore South East region near Bannerghatta Road and Yeshwantpur in Bangalore North. The PRR, which will run parallel to Link Road of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project in some places, will cost BDA’s kitty some Rs 3,600 crore.

The PRR is expected to not only ease traffic congestion, but also boost economic development in the region. The route from Hosur Road to Mysore Road, via Tumkur Road will cater to the heavy vehicles. This will reduce the traffic bottleneck on the city roads. Tourist buses too would have to bypass Bangalore City as the PRR will be linked to all the highways, including NH-7.

BDA commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said that the PRR will mark the limits of the horizontal expansion of Bangalore. ‘‘Development of new layouts beyond this road would not be encouraged as that would be counter-productive. The road will definitely ease traffic movement. The alignments and land acquisition in certain places are in progress,’’ said Gowda.

The agency has faced a lot of hurdles in the road alignment. It had to shift its chartered routes many times for various reasons. As per the prior alignment, the PRR was to pass through the reserve forests of Bannerghatta, but the plan was altered, he pointed out.

We’re ready for monsoon: BBMP; nothing of the sort: Citizens

We’re ready for monsoon: BBMP; nothing of the sort: Citizens
Monday April 23 2007 09:37 IST

BANGALORE: While the dire complications of severe anaemia is well known, there is an increase in mild to moderate forms of anaemia, which needs to be addressed as it is causing higher maternal mortality, said president of Bangalore Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BSOG) Dr Arulmozhi Ramarajan at a scientific session on Sunday.

It is said that about 52 percent of women in the reproductive age groupand 74 percent of children are anaemic by definition in our country. Apart from this, India is also infamous for being the country with the highest maternal mortality rate in the whole of South Asia at 540 per lakh pregnant women. Reducing this number by three fourths within 2015, that 135 per lakh, is one of the key goals set by the Millennium Declaration of the World Health Organisation for the country.

Given this, BSOG had organised a scientific session focussing on ‘Eradicating anaemia for safer motherhood and healthier generations’.

Speaking at the session, Dr Arulmozhi said, ‘‘Anaemia in pregnant women could be due to lack of proper nutrition, worm infestations, acute blood loss or chronic blood loss.’’

Apart from causing deaths during childbirth and children being born with low birth weight, anaemia is also said to cause various long term repercussions for the child. Dr Hema Diwakar, Diwakar Speciality Hospital, said,‘‘Anaemia during pregnancy continues into neo-natal anaemia due to poor reserves and leads to further complications. It could result in poor mental and physical development resulting in decreased learning capacity.’’

Doctors felt that such complications can be reduced by recognition, correct diagnosis and treatment of anaemia.

The measures suggested by the doctors included health education, providing iron and folic acid supplements to school children and pregnant women, routine deworming, correct diagnosis of unresponsive anaemia and most importantly enhancing awareness and empowering girl children.

Trust to conserve heritage sites

Trust to conserve heritage sites
Monday April 23 2007 12:21 IST

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Environment Trust has taken up initiative in protecting and conserving heritage sites in and around Bangalore.

The trust will investigate heritage trees and sites, sacred vanas that are still existing in the city and its surrounding areas within the radius of 35-40 kms for conserving them.

Those interested can participate in this conservation work by locating trees and sites.

They can inform about their locations and details at 9341228852 or e-mail at sgneginhal@ gmail.com.

Monday, April 23, 2007

BBMP efforts satisfactory, says Jairaj

BBMP efforts satisfactory, says Jairaj
Bangalore, DHNS:
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K Jairaj has stated that precautionary measures taken by the Palike against heavy rain was “satisfactory”.

Despite heavy rains causing widespread damage in the City, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K Jairaj has stated that precautionary measures taken by the Palike against heavy rain was “satisfactory”.

He has claimed that the BBMP has minimised the damage due to rain by taking preventive measures. “The Palike has been successful in minimising water logging this year. In the previous years the Palike used to get reports of water logging in over 90 per cent of places for this amount of rain.

Whereas this time it has come down to five to six places,” Mr Jairaj said.

However, he admitted that the Palike cannot achieve 100 per cent success in its efforts to tackle rain-related problems. “The public should also co-operate with the Palike. They should stop dumping garbage into storm water drains”, he said.

Havoc shows Palike in poor light

Havoc shows Palike in poor light
DH News Service Bangalore:
Heavy rain that lashed the City on Saturday night has once again exposed the Palike’s inability to handle crisis situations, especially a deluge.

Heavy rain that lashed the City on Saturday night has once again exposed the Palike’s inability to handle crisis situations, especially a deluge.

Basement parking lots of apartments in several areas were inundated following the downpour. As many as 23 four-wheelers in the underground parking of Green Castle apartments at Ulsoor were submerged.

The apartment was flooded as sewage-mixed rain water from a nearby drain overflowed. “Water overflowed as the retaining wall of the drain collapsed. It has been impossible for us to live here as the entire area stinks,” Ms Padma, one of the apartment residents, said.

She held BBMP responsible for the damage done. “The Palike has done sub-standard work on retaining walls. If they had taken proper measures in time, we would have not suffered this,” she said.



Too little, too late

The scene at many apartments in JP Nagar, Koramangala and Kamakhya area was no different.

Water gushed into the parking yard of the Residents Club, located in 5th phase of JP Nagar. “We had to close our canteen as water entered the parking lot and kitchen located in the ground floor,” said Ramu, club manager.

“Many apartments have also been affected by heavy rain. The Palike keeps assuring the public that it will finish remodelling and widening of storm water drain valleys, particularly those located in low-lying areas, soon. If they had finished work at a faster pace, we would not be suffering like this”, he added.

Rain leaves trail of havoc in City

Rain leaves trail of havoc in City
DH News Service Bangalore:
A forty-five-year-old woman was feared to have been washed away in the gushing waters of a drain in Ulsoor following heavy rain in Bangalore past Saturday midnight.

Torrential rain left a trail of havoc across the City inundating several houses and apartments and uprooting over a dozen trees and electricity poles.

Subbalakshmi was feared to have met a watery grave in the wee hours of Sunday when a petty shop in which she was sleeping was washed away in the drain. The shop was located next to the drain near Ajantha theatre in Ulsoor. The woman, a widow, was a resident of Cox Town.

According to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Engineer (East Zone)

B T Ramesh, she decided not to go home on Saturday evening and slept in the shop as it was pouring. Only when some local residents learnt that the shop had disappeared in the morning did the incident come to light, he said. “We have been trying hard to fish out the body, if any. The incident can be confirmed only after retrieving the body,” he said.

Both the BBMP and fire fighting personnel have launched a search along the drain, which runs next to the Ulsoor Lake. Accumulation of garbage in the drain hampered the search operation, officials said.

There has been heavy damage to both public and private property. Hundreds of houses in the low-lying areas of Vasanthanagar Dobi Ghat, Kormangala I Cross, J P Nagar 5th Stage, Ejipura Main Road in Padmanabanagar, Lakshmanraonagar, Byappanahalli, Ambedkar Colony in Binnypet and the Bangalore Institute of Oncology in Shantinagar, have been flooded. Houses in around 38 areas are under water, according to a BBMP official release.

Residents blamed the BBMP for the havoc. “The retaining wall of a nearby storm-water drain was crumbling. Though complaints were made to the BBMP, nothing was done,” Abdul, a shop owner on I main road of Marutinagar in Madiwala, said.

Here, sewage mixed with rain water overflowed from a storm-water drain. Similar was the scene at the Shantinagar bus stand road and A N M Road in Ulsoor. Due to accumulation of silt, the drain overflowed onto the roads. Several huts belonging to the poor in Kodihalli were washed away.

As many as 16 trees were uprooted in places like Basavanagudi, Murgeshpalya, Rajajinagar, Malleswaram 18th Cross, Jayanagar, HAL II Stage,

M G Road, Bhuvaneshwarinagar, and near the BDA Complex at Banashankari II Stage. “All uprooted trees have been cleared for easy flow of vehicular traffic,” the BBMP claimed.

SINKING CITY

Worst-affected areas:

nVasanthanagar Dobi Ghat, Koramangala I Cross,

J P Nagar 5th stage, Ejipura main road in Padma-

nabanagar, Lakshmanraonagar, Byappanahalli,

Ambedkar Colony in Binnypet

nParking yards of apartments in Ulsoor, J P Nagar,

Koramangala inundated; Storm water drains overflow

in Madiwala, Shantinagar

The outlook: Thundershowers are expected to continue for a few more days

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Creaky infrastructure, spiralling property prices turn investors away

Creaky infrastructure, spiralling property prices turn investors away
Khaleej Times


HAS Bangalore begun to lose its appeal? The question has begun to haunt potential investors. More so, after the last week's upward revision of property guidance value.

For hawk-eyed businessmen, Bangalore is increasingly becoming unviable for investment. Its astronomically high property rates do not gel with poor infrastructure.

Choked traffic arteries make it unnavigable during office hours. Pollution simply asphyxiates the citizens of the city. Erratic power supply makes delivery schedules go haywire. All these together sap the dynamism from enterprise. Attrition among employees is high. Some call centre employees travel six hours in company buses to work eight hours. In the end, everybody complains that the rewards are not worth the effort.

The upward revision of guideline prices for property has therefore come in for flak from all quarters. It only makes the dream of an average middle class city dweller of owning a flat in the city an unachievable ambition. And there are hundreds and thousands of such 'overambitious' youth flocking to Bangalore every day of the year. They come here lured by the promise of happy balance between savings and craving.

The mood among the realtor community is clearly pessimistic. With a maximum rise of 350 per cent in guideline value, a square foot of space on Rajbhavan Road is now pegged at an absurd Rs10,000. Together with stamp duty of almost 11 per cent, and several other taxes (VAT, water, power, and proposed levies for sanitation, stormwater drains and solid garbage), flat buyers may be asked to cough up as much as 25 per cent of the actual cost.

Prisoners of technology

A couple of years ago Bangalore became the first global city to introduce video courts for undertrial detainees in jail. It clipped their wings by denying them the little opportunity of outings which production in the city court offered them. Now video links between jails and courtrooms as well as the hospitals have eliminated the need for travel and thereby the risk. On an average day, the city police had to ferry nearly 400 undertrials between the jail located 20 kms away from the city centre to the court in the heart of the city. More intrepid inmates made good use of the opportunity by dodging the police on 'pissing' stops. Alas! Modern technology robbed them of the much-awaited fortnightly outings. But it only further imprisoned them. Magistrates in city courts now hear them depose from within the high-walled prison. Even jail hospitals now have tele-consultation links with leading hospitals. Doctors can even read pulse and check heartbeat. Only emergency cases are taken to hospitals. But last week, there was some respite for the jail birds. Prison authorities set up coin-phone booths inside the jail. Inmates can now talk to their near and dear ones once a week. Conversations are recorded and monitored by the authorities. Each inmate is granted a five-minute slot.

The Minister for Prisons has also announced inter-prison visit for the prisoners.

Garden to garbage city

Bangalore risks losing the 'Garden City' tag. Man's greed for space has sounded the death knell for green spaces. Trees are axed with impunity. Heritage trees blocking flyover projects are remorselessly cut to clear way.

The latest piece of information that there is no place to dump hazardous industrial waste in Bangalore is more disturbing. That Karnataka's capital doesn't have a place to dispose off nearly four-fifth of its municipal waste should shock anyone who takes pride in calling it the 'Garden City' and India's answer to Silicon Valley.