On January 22, at around 3.45pm, 30-year-old Sudarshan Raghunath was shocked to find his Lenovo laptop, two bank cards and his passport missing from his car seat.
He had parked his Hyundai Asset car at 3.45pm last Tuesday in front of CPWD quarters on 27th Main Road to shop at Health & Glow. However, when he came back at 4.45pm, the front passenger window was broken and his laptop bag with his belongings was nowhere to be seen.
The resident of of Somasundrapalya has learnt a bitter lesson not to keep his belongings in the car while stepping out. The thieves are watching out for such belongings to steal.
SECTOR 6 WAS NEXT TWO DAYS LATER
Two days later, Balchandra Bandi, a 38-year-old engineer and a resident of Murugeshpalya was the next victim. He had parked his car on 16th Cross, Sector 6, in front of Syndicate Bank at around 8pm on Thursday, January 24. By the time he came back at 9pm, the thief or thieves had employed the same modus operandi as the previous incident. They had broken the front side passenger window and stolen his laptop bag containing his HP Elite laptop.
WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 20?
Two diners learnt a lesson the hard way when they stepped out to have dinner at two different locations in HSR Layout only to find their car belongings missing when they returned after their sumptuous experience.
Two months after it was reported, the broken divider on 27th Main Road is yet to be fixed by the BBMP and the traffic police. When the BBMP does not do its job, the traffic department is supposed to act, particularly to enforse one-way on a busy thoroughfare.
However, the it is status quo at this divider near Rockview restarant in Sector 2. Agreed that they are the responsibilities the BBMP’s traffic engineering cell. But two months is just too long a time to excuse themselves for being ‘busy’. That’s the excuse they have been giving the traffic police all this while.
The truth is also that though the dividers were put back a week after it was first broken, some miscreants removed it again (residents suspect auto drivers). After that, the divider has remained broken and the case is in suspended animation ever since. It is more than 60 days but there is no resolution to this problem.
There is some confusion over BBMP’s rule of 10 kilos or 50 units rule. Some apartment owners in Somasundrapalya are saying that they are using a commercial service provider even though they are less than 20 units. BBMP sources in HSR Ward say that such cases are happening in the neighbouring 190 ward of MG Palya.
Resident activist Kavitha Reddy believes that this idea of having separate vendors for commercial and domestic users by the BBMP is a money-making racket to inflate costs of waste collection. “It’s a totally stupid idea. My point is if two vehicles are coming on the same road, one to collect from houses and another to collect from apartments, it sounds silly.”
“We have to wait and see the final proposal,” says resident S Sankar. “Earlier, it was considered as 50 units and above. But again at ward wise, 20 units and above is given to an exclusive vendor by the corporator. I am not sure if this will be continued or do we have to opt for approved vendors from BBMP. If that’s the case, the apartment owners might have to pay more.”
“In HSR, apartments that are close to 40 or above units are categorised as commercial if the garbage generated is above 10 kilos every day,” said HSR health inspector Vinodh GM. “This is only where the entire building is owned by one person as the garbage generated will be considered bulk. However, we do take garbage from flats independently owned by people.”
Apartments like 60-flat Aakruthi Silverline in Sector 2 are giving the waste to Hasiru Dala as they are categorised as bulk generators. Many more surrounding apartments like Mahaveer, Manar, and DSR Rainbow are also handing their waste to commercial garbage vendors, and have had no problems with them.
However, there is still some issue with the neighbouring Ward 190. “In apartments, no daily collection happens anyway. The wet waste and reject waste collection is only once in 2-3 days and dry waste is once a week,” says Sankar. “Sometimes, all goes together in the same vehicle. This is the state for the last one year. Much discussion was done and supervisor Vasu said that it’s corporator’s decision to have different vendors for 20 units and above. Either go with that or go with BBMP-approved vendor which is expensive. This is the state in many of the wards, and there is nothing new.”
BBMP officials say that if certain apartments are being categorised as commercial, it could also be because the segregation has not happened. “Commercial vendors take non-segregated waste and apartments find them more convenient,” said a BBMP official.
BIOGAS AND FERTILISERS
Is the commercial vendor sending the waste to Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC)? No, they send it to Carbon Masters, a city-based waste to energy startup in Doddaballapur & Malur. The Malur plant was shutdown due to some political interference, but it should re-open soon, according to our sources. “We send 5 tonnes of garbage every day from Ward 174 to the Doddaballapur unit,” says Vinodh.
The water purification unit installed at Agara Govt School
Biocon, B.PAC (Bangalore Political Action Committee) and HSR Layout’s Kaagaz Foundation have paid and installed water purification units in six government schools in and around HSR Layout. Only a few days ago, the sixth one was installed at the Agara Government School. All the logistics and planning was done by the HSR-based non-profit group.
A month ago, the units were installed in Govt PU College and Govt Degree College in HSR Layout. In the last week, the other schools got them too – Somasundrapalya Govt School, Bandepalya Govt School, Ellukunte Govt School and Agara Govt School. Each unit costed Rs 60,000, taking up the total cost of the installation to Rs 3.6 lakh.
There is quite a mixed reaction from people about the state government’s proposal for an elevated corridor in the city. While some advocate it vociferously, the others decry the proposal for being a crony capitalism model.
“The answer plainly is efficient public transport,” said one resident. “And, in that ‘the bus’, the most versatile of the modes, is today incapacitated by the archaic Contract Carriage Act, disallowing the genuine public (as different from the “public sector”) to come up with solutions – ZipGo being just one. Agreed civic activist Mukunda N: “Yes, it is right that the archaic contract carriage act is one of the main culprits. Because this commuter unfriendly act has a mafia that has developed under it. The bus owners are paying a hefty hafta to the transport department and the traffic police. These agencies have virtually formed a nefarious cartel leading to traffic hazards on a daily basis. BBMP cannot plan for a bus stand for these buses because it is illegal and therefore officially non-existent. This has been going on for more than a few decades. Needs cleaning up fast.”
Resident Radhakrishnan chimed in: “Most countries with an efficient public transport system also have an excellent road network. It is a pleasure to drive on those roads. However, the public transport is so good that one chooses to take it. One big factor that works in its favour is good last mile connectivity. So u can’t and should not curtail car usage. Instead make public transport the obvious choice. And at the same time ensuring a good and efficient road network for those choosing to use it. For me that is the way forward.”
Koramangala resident activist Nitin Seshadri had this to say: “Totally agree. Bangalore has about 1/3 of the road network it needs. Which means, we need roads and we need them quick. And since we can’t get them by widening unless we are prepared to acquire, demolish and inflict misery all around, the only choice is to go vertical. It’s not that the 35000 cr elevated roads we are talking about will be a silver bullet. But it’s a start. An important step forward. And it’s a step we should support.”
Nitin does not stop there. “We also have too many people reading from American and European hymnsheets,” he says. “Which is why the words like ‘induced demand’ and ‘car driven model’ get bandied about. We don’t have a single study showing induced demand in India. We don’t have a car driven model. At best we have a motor cycle model. (but as I said that sounds less sexy and won’t win invitations to seminars in New York, so our academics don’t want to go there !).”
HSR Layout’s civic activist RS Murthy says that the project conceived over a decade ago should be understood in the right perspective: “Activists must realise the advantages accruing in implementation of this project. All right-thinking Bangaloreans should welcome this decision of the state government. Posterity will remember this. Everyone of us have experienced the inconvenience due to chaotic traffic all over the city’s roads. I strongly feel that technical and design suggestions and changes can be resolved with the government across the table. The project must ensure safety and smooth traffic across Bangalore.”
Pushpa S has a divergent view on this: “Why not regulate the petrol guzzling, pollution compounding and traffic jamming private vehicles on our roads? Yes, we need roads for so many categories of road vehicles – including buses – but the elevated roads will only cater to the private car owners because of the very nature of their construction! Of course, speedy improvement in public transport – Metro, Surburban Trains, Regular and Dependable Bus Service – are the projects that must be prioritized. After which, as in the other countries, people will prefer to use public transport because it will be less nerve-racking, more comfortable and more convenient and, finally, less expensive, too! That’s the way to go, but it doesn’t mean that those who are aged and infirm will be prevented from using their personal vehicles at all. It’ll just mean that the numbers of pollution-producing vehicles will be brought down, and the resultant air pollution levels will allow us to live reasonably disease-free lives.”
But R Ravindra disputes this: “On what basis do you say that only pvt vehicles will use the elevated roads? On the elevated road to electronics city, on Hosur road, all categories of vehicles except for autorickshaws use this road. Do only private cars fuel guzzle fuel or cause pollution? If that is a valid argument, then all vehicles, public or private should be drastically reduced on our roads. But that’s obviously not possible. Helicopters as private vehicles are a soft target, hence they are relentlessly hammered. But they are hardly the elephant in the room! Incidentally, taxis and autorickshaws are also public transport. In Bangalore, Ola and Uber – to name just the biggies – contribute hugely to public transport.”
There is news that buses which have a carrying capacity of about 16 times (average) that of a private car cannot use these corridors. But nothing is concrete yet. Says Ravindra: “There have been suggestions that buses be allowed on these elevated roads, with appropriate bus bays/ stops, with access to grade level below. Its improbable that there will be kilometres-long elevated roads in both the axes of the city and buses not be allowed on them. It will be hugely unpopular and governments are populist if nothing else. I think it is but fair to let the Karnataka government unveil its detailed plans for improvement of road infrastructure, examine its pros and cons in a pramatic manner before making pronouncements.”
But architect Naresh Narasimhan doesn’t think buses will be allowed on this corridor. “Buses need to stop every 1.5-2 kms (like metro), but that means a up/down ramp or an ugly elevated station( a la Metro)… it will never happen,” he says.
Gayatri Kapur had another take on this: “Buses from point to point on elevated roads is not a bad thing … if we can get from Silk Board to Hebbal in 30 min by bus, many would gladly use it instead of the car, but if the bus stops every 1.5-2km on the corridor, and it takes 1.5-2 hours, then how many will drop private cars?” And this is precisely why some residents feel that buses should not be allowed to have so many stops on the corridor, if they are allowed at all.
Nitin says, “This thought process of #beda (saying ‘no’) all the way is regressive. Build the infra. Stop further IT parks and large buildings in Bangalore. Build public transport and then disincentivize.”
Ravindra agrees to this by saying, “Absolutely. Go the Mysuru way – they didn’t become Bangalore’s clone and hence Mysuru is still a livable city.”
With arguments coming both in favour and against the elevated corridor project, the residents are asking the government to thrash out the differences, get the best experts from both sides and have a neutral jury to give their verdict on this proposal. Suffice it to say that the venerable Indian Institute of Science has questioned the usefullness of the project. Not to mention, the environmental impact of erecting a 102-kilometre six-lane elevated corridor criss-crossing the city. The argument continues while the people suffer from traffic chaos and ‘moderate’ pollution levels across the city.
UPDATE, Feb 21, 2020: After more than a year of sitting over this issue, and a change in government, the elevated corridor project is again being talked about in the corridors of power. And again, the same argument continues. According to the IISc study, extending the Metro is more feasible than the elevated corridor as it will lose its value within five years with the increase in its carrying capacity, if 6.67% traffic growth rate is taken into account.
The other day, HSR resident Suresh Bhaskaran’s car was damaged due to an errant auto driver. Captured on CCTV, it clearly shows him colliding with his white car neatly parked in front of his house. His wife is also seen in the video. Before she could raise a voice, the auto driver takes a U-turn and flees.
Says Suresh: “The auto rickshaw fellow was probably looking into his mobile navigation and crashed into our parked car. Sensing that only my wife was there, he just drove away.” He has also lodged a police complaint. However, even though the act was captured on CCTVs, the number plate was not traceable due to the sun’s reflection. “The police officials advise that the moment such guys crash into your vehicles, you should take off their ignition key. I don’t think it’s practical with their rough behaviour. All I would say is that it is a thin line to be human, legal and ethical.”
This morning’s mishap on Sarjapur Road after Wipro
JANUARY 23
This morning, there was an accident involving a water tanker and a cyclist on Sarjapur Road, after the Wipro office. “We need water and we need regulation of water tankers,” says a member of Bellandur Jothige, an apolitical group of residents working towards ensuring civic amenities for the residents. “Else, the cost we pay for water may prove too high: accidents and lives.”
JANUARY 22
Yesterday, there was another accident, this time on Bellandur flyover when a tipper lorry rammed into a car from behind at around 9.30am.
Dinu Anand (28 years) was driving his car on the flyover towards the Silk Board when Chinnappa, a tipper lorry driver collided his vehicle with Dinu’s car, significantly damaging the back portion of his vehicle. The HSR cops have registered a case of rash driving against the lorry driver.
JANUARY 17
Forty-year-old Nithin Singh was involved in an accident on 24th Main near Maramma temple at around 8.15pm.
The resident of Kudlu was riding on his Honda activa scooter and headed towards Parangipalya when another two wheeler rider rammed into his vehicle from behind and scooted without stopping to check what happened. The impact was such that Nithin fell of his bike and injured his face and left leg. Looking at the blood wounds, the onlookers took him to the nearest NH Narayana hospital for first aid. Later, he was taken to Sakra hospital where his leg was operated upon. The cops have registered a case of rash driving and causing hurt in addition to fleeing without providing medical help to the victim.
From January 13 to 18, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, invited residents to tweet about their green habits to inspire the others. With the theme of ‘My Green habit’, there were many residents who shared their daily routines. One of them happened to be Pinky Chandran, a resident of Teacher’s Colony and the co-founder of a community radio station in Bangalore. To know more about her many accomplishments, read our detailed profile on her HERE.
Coming back to the Swach Sarvekshan campaign, this is what Pinky shared on Twitter: “MyGreenHabit #1: Composting at home. As an individual, I think it is extremely important to reduce valuable resources going into the dumpyard/landfill. I am using the HoneyBee composter. My Green Habit #2: Flower collection from the streets. This makes for excellent compost. My #3 habit is to grow my kitchen garden. Eat healthy, eat seasonal food. Opt for a farmers market. I also carry my own bottle, coffee mug, plate, spoon, straw and cloth bag, container, while traveling within the city or outside. Similarly, takeaways is my own dabba. That’s not all. I also make my own natural cleaners – Orange and lemon peels along with soapnut and salt. It’s healthy, safe, and guilt free.”
Dentist Bhairavi Joshi shared her habit: “I cycle to work and carry a cloth bag everywhere. I use compost at home, and use steel glasses and suction tips in my clinic. My best was to collect all the bottles of Valsad Marathon and turn them into dustbins.”
HRD professional Amit Madan had this to say: “For weekend shopping, I carry at least half a dozen cloth/ jute bags and refuse plastic bags offered by grocery stores, fruit & vegetable vendors! I also carry spare cloth/jute bag on a daily basis while leaving for office!”
Palak is recycling pens in the same manner: “I haven’t been throwing pens once they’re finished ever since I started using pens. I get them refilled. It started because some pens were too pretty to throw, but later I realised how it was actually eco-friendly.” In addition, she keeps three different sets of dustbins for various types of garbage. “It is not only important to throw garbage into the bin, but to throw the garbage in the correct bin so that garbage disposal is done efficiently!”
Tulika Shukla reuses plastic bottles and how! This picture says it all.
And who better than composting queen Vani Murthy, an urban farmer, to have the last word on this: “Composting needs no excuses, space can hardly be a constraint. In my small balcony I have so many Composting systems. Both aerobic and anaerobic.” And how can we forget the series of green campaigns by the ministry on green habits?
The issue of secondary collection point (SCP) on the service road of Outer Ring Road reached a flash point the other day. The amount of garbage removed from the service road that is home to Mantri Sarovar apartments went on to show the extent to which the drains are regularly being clogged by garbage, sludge … Read more
27th Main and 17th Cross witnessed two thefts last Sunday
Last Sunday, two diners in HSR lost valuables worth thousands of rupees when they parked their car and went to dine at restaurants nearby.
FIRST INCIDENT
Thirty-two-year-old Rajat Bhat, a resident of Purva Fairmont apartments on 24th Main in Sector 2 lost items worth Rs 50,000 when he went out to eat at a restaurant near Pepperfry Studio. On January 20, at around 8.30pm, he parked his car opposite Pepperfry Studio on 17th Cross in Sector 2 and stepped out to eat at a nearby restaurant. When he came back at 10pm, the rear passenger window was broken and his laptop and wallet containing ID cards, bank cards and jewellery, all the items being worth Rs 50,000.
SECOND INCIDENT
Nitin Tom Paul, a 27-year-old resident of Huskur was in for a shock when he went out to dinner last Sunday.
He had parked his Honda Jazz car in front of Bricky’s restaurant on 27th Main and went inside to have dinner at around 9.15pm. When he came out at 10.45pm, somebody had broken the passenger side of the window and stolen the Apple MacBook pro 15-inch laptop and the bag kept on the seat.
The HSR cops advise everyone to not keep anything valuable inside the car and venture out. Don’t even keep an empty laptop bag, because some thieves broken the window glass and stole that too in one such incident two years ago.
The cops have registered a case of theft in both the cases and are investigating.
Charcoal Eats is a chain of eateries and yet they are ignorant of the law
Wicked Cup is next to Charcoal Eats
Despite shutting down a few basement eateries in the last few months, there are two more new eateries that have come up on 27th Main Road. This is despite 36 closure notices being issued by the BBMP to basement businesses on this road alone.
Incidentally, Charcoal Eats is a chain of eateries. The residents are wondering how such a franchisee store is unaware of the basic rules of operating a business. “It is this ‘chalta hai’ attitude that has congested roads and also threatened lives of people,” said one resident on condition of anonymity. “There was a fire mishap at Patra Bhandaar building on 27th Main, but the BBMP did not take action despite media reports.”
Compared to basement shops that are only encroaching the space meant for parking, the eateries are violating the Karnataka High Court order of more than a decade ago that does not allow kitchens in basements as it violates fire-safety norms.
In a rare case of a Gail gas engineer being booked for inconveniencing the public, the HSR traffic police has achieved a one-of-a-kind feat. When residents called up the cops to complain that the road in front of Motherhood hospital on Sarjapur Road was dug up and left as it is by Gail Gas, the cops rushed to the place the next day to fix it as traffic movement was badly affected.
The call from the resident came on the morning of January 17. However, the cops acted on this complaint on January 18 when traffic movement was majorly hindered. Therefore, assistant sub inspector Narayanappa C got his people to smoothen the road surface for vehicles to move.
Since the Gail gas officials had run away from their duties, a case is lodged against the supervising engineer of the company. The case is filed under Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code that relates to violation of ‘no parking’ rules.
