Drive For A Better Tomorrow

30/07/2016

rains got people stranded in both B'lore and Gurgaon(NCR) where people were struck for hours together. Why does the common man has to suffer like this despite one being honest in paying all taxes on time? Isn't it time that we should protest like for any other services for better infrastructure facilities? Is it not our right to claim a better living for the taxes we pay? I guess we should not pay taxes till the Govt fixes our problems. The common man is suffering civic apathy. Voice your opinion.

03/07/2016

17/06/2016

How would it look if this was in Bengaluru!!

It has a 600-metre long jogging space shaped like the Narmada river.

11/05/2016

How come you wear short pants to come for taking a DL??

One can think of 10 reasons why a driving licence would be denied, but wearing shorts to the RTO on a sunny Saturday would probably not feature on the ‘guess list’. And yet, that’s exactly what this young entrepreneur claims he went through.

03/05/2016

03/05/2016

Bengaluru will be an unliveable, dead city in 5 years'

Bengaluru has become a big concrete jungle, with few open spaces and little tree cover.

A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) presents an alarming picture. It shows 525% growth in built-up area in the last four decades, 78% decline in vegetation 79% decline in water bodies. These are not just figures, but the lakes and trees that surrounded you have quietly disappeared as a result of the urban sprawl.

'Senseless growth’

Prof T V Ramachandra of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the IISc calls it 'senseless growth.

What’s the point earning better when the food that you eat is adulterated? As a result of unplanned urbanisation, Bengaluru is going to be an unliveable and dead city in the next five years, he said.

It was not the same case before. Bengaluru was the most sought-after among big cities given its pleasant climate and the easy availability of land, a decent economy and low-key politics.

Urban expert Ashwin Mahesh blames the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for not coming out with a sectoral plan.

"The BDA has become an agency which facilitates land deals for the benefit of corrupt politicians. People feel it should be closed down,” he said.

Environmentalist Yellappa Reddy said, "The government is not competent enough to foresee the future implications of the present growth. There is no proper policy on land use and water. Land is being exploited on the whims and fancies of the politicians.”

He urged the government to use 40,000 acres of evicted land for community benefits such as creating lung space, water bodies and playgrounds.

How to decongest

Prof Ramachandra said the government must take necessary steps to decongest Bengaluru. Besides banning new industries in the city, the government should make sure other districts get these economic benefits, he added.

'Government must act’

"It’s disturbing to see private developers dominate government decisions. The norm to keep at least 15-20 % of the city as open space is ignored, stormwater drains and water bodies have been narrowed. At least now, the government should wake up and get is priorities right to make Bengaluru a sustainable city,” he said.

Architect Najeeb Khan is of the opinion that the government should create enough facilities in villages to minimise migration.

13/04/2016

Even ministers are surprised!

13/04/2016

FROM A CITY OF A THOUSAND LAKES TO ONE OF DYING LAKES!

Bengaluru’s lakes, once part of a glorious, centuries-old network of water bodies, have over the years been choked to non-existence by the unchecked urbanization of the city. From over 1000 lakes, the number has dwindled down to a mere 221, most of them staring at extinction.

These vanishing city lakes have had a negative ripple effect including the potential threat to sources of potable water, decline in agriculture, fishing and other recreational activities which took place in and around lakes. Most of these ‘dead’ lakes were transformed into concrete jungles mainly residential complexes, malls and even a stadium!

Close to 50 lakes have lost their identity to unplanned and chaotic urbanization, some of them being:

1. Dharmambudi lake: Kempegowda Bus Terminus since 1963
2. Challaghata lake: The Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) international golf course since 1981
3. Sampige lake: Now known as Kanteerava stadium built in 1997
4. Koramangala Tank: Drained to build the National Games Village apartment complex
5. Akkithimmanhalli lake: Breached in the 1970s and now houses the Bangalore Hockey Stadium in its place
6. Hennur Lake: Known to us now as HBR Layout
7. Sunkal Lake: KSRTC 's regional workshops operate on this

There is enough evidence of the blatant misuse of loopholes in legal provisions to facilitate environment destroying unplanned constructions being allowed everywhere in Bengaluru. These lakes have been made to pay the price for the greed of a few!

At the rate at which lakebeds are falling prey to rapid growth, exploitation and apathy, the near future looks stark, lake-less and indeed lifeless for Bengaluru...a legacy we will be responsible for handing over to the coming generation.

Bellandur Lake’s toxic and polluted state is a “frothy” testimony of the above?

13/04/2016

13/04/2016

Renowned American photographer Late Berenice Abbott once famously said, “Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.”

In case of ’s biggest waterbody, Lake, Abbott’s words hold true in more ways than one.

The lake which is today in a lifeless state, once sparkled with pride. The city’s old-timers recall its pristine waters and the numerous recreational activities that took place around it. Sadly, much of that imagery remains a thing of the past and what meets the eye today is a highly polluted and toxic lake.

Bengaluru-based photographer PeeVee, known for capturing the city’s essence, landscapes and more, shares Bellandur Lake’s story from 2009 in pictures.

What we see is the gradual dying of Bellandur Lake...

13/04/2016

A MISSION TO SAVE BELLANDUR LAKE

Over the past few years, chants of ‘Save Bellandur Lake’ have echoed from time to time. But, unfortunately all those voices faded without much difference to the present state of the Lake which is polluted, toxic and dying. For those who took up the Bellandur cause and for those who prayed for the Lake’s revival - there is hope for a new lease of life to Bengaluru’s largest waterbody.

A coalition of lake experts, activists and concerned citizens have come together with Namma Bengaluru Foundation to draw up a comprehensive Action Plan - a set of solutions that aim to save, rejuvenate and revive the dying Lake. The solutions comprise a practical and viable set of actions to bring the Lake back to life.

On behalf of the Citizens Coalition, the Action Plan – Solutions Document will be handed over to KJ George, Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning in the presence of MPs Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Mr. PC Mohan and Mr. Rajeev Gowda, MLA Mr. Sathish Reddy, Village Representatives and other Government Officials tomorrow (April 13). We hope that the implementation of solutions laid down will restore our lost Bellandur Lake to us and will also benefit the city in many ways for years to come.

Let us all support the cause of Saving Bellandur Lake towards a Rejuvenated and Better Bengaluru!

07/03/2016

WATCH This Mr. CM and the others. More important than the watch politics. Please save our eco system.

Thousands of dead fish rose up to surface of Bengaluru's Ulsoor lake in the early hours of Monday. Later in the morning, the fish were washed up close to the shores of the lake. According to Vaman Acharya, former chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, this happens every March. Aske…