Bellandur residents have got RTI responses from BDA on status of three projects - flyovers at Bellandur and Devarabeesanahalli junctions, and an underpass at Kadubeesanahalli junction.

The two flyover projects, which took off in September 2009, were supposed to be complete by the end of 2010. BDA later extended the deadline by another year, to December 2011. Work on Kadubeesanahalli underpass was to be complete by June 2011. But all three projects are still going on.

Here is an RTI response from the BDA in December 2011 on status of the project, penalty imposition, project monitoring etc. According to this, all these aspects have been taken care of.

Another RTI response in December mentions that 60% and 55% of work has been completed on Bellandur and Devarabeesanahalli flyovers respectively. As of December, Rs 36.2 cr has been spent on both flyovers and the estimated total cost…

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Citizen Matters had earlier covered Kaikondrahalli lake being threatened by road widening plans and illegal building encroachment. The temple is only a few metres from the lake, which violates the rule that a buffer zone of 30 metres be provided around lakes. Also, pillars of the temple have been erected only a feet away from the neighbouring Elements Layout compound.

K N Devaraj, Joint Commissioner (Mahadevpura zone) had said that he stopped the construction work. The temple builders had obtained permission from the Tahsildar earlier and not from BBMP. "They have applied to us for plan sanction now, but we are not going to approve it due to the buffer zone rule," he had said. 

However the illegal temple construction continues,  often at night,  despite petitions to the Jt Commisioner, Mahadevapura and Commisioner BBMP. The foundation is complete and the pillars are up. See the progress over the last week. 

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Today's a day of acknowledging our dependence on our tools and equipment. Vehicles are cleaned and decorated with banana leaves, sandalwood paste and kumkum. 

The fire engines in the station at Sarjapur Road, were duly spruced and worshipped. Indeed they are life saving 'Ayudhas'.

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As you all know, the local community has been working very hard on rejuvenating Kaikondrahalli lake - it has come a long way from the days it was a garbage dump to an acclaimed water body that has been appreciated by one and all.  Our community has been very active on this front. The last two days have been traumatic for us.

Just when our complaints about SJR Watermark constructions’ letting in sewage and worker sheds encroaching were having some effects, this new problem has risen.

This weekend, BBMP decided to replace the old broken fence on the main bund facing Sarjapur road. Parts of the bund fencing were removed and new poles erected. Some land owners along with local goons (of all political hues) came in and uprooted the new poles, they threatened to continue doing so if poles were laid in the same place as the old fence.

They insisted the whole main…

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Kaikondrahalli lake has been restored to its current condition after great efforts and regular clean up campaigns. Now it is undergoing the 2nd phase of renovation in which various works have been undertaken by the BBMP.

However, since the past few months, a nearby apartment complex construction activity has been harming the lake. Not only an eyesore to the serene surroundings, the builder (SJR) has been letting in untreated sewage into the lake.

This is mainly due to poor amenities provided to the construction workers - lack of proper toilets and no soak pits. All the sewage has been flowing into the lake.

Some parts of the construction of the apartment complex (SJR watermark) is very close to the lake, less than the mandatory 30 metres distance.

Mamatha, Environment Engineer, BBMP (Mahadevpura zone) has confirmed that SJR Group has been served numerous notices by BBMP and the Pollution Control…

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The Outer Ring Road Companies Association has advised commuters to avoid the Outer Ring Road at Bellandur and Intel junctions in the coming week. 

In addition to the flyover work at Devarabisanahalli and Kadubisanahalli, there is also pipe laying work by BWSSB and GAIL. BDA is working on asphalting the stretch.

The ORRCA team had earlier met Minister Suresh Kumar to discuss ways of reducing the inconvenience for commuters.

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Many Bellandur residents have been enthused by the anti-corruption campaign. They are organising small and large local rallies, candle light vigils and protests.

It started earlier this week itself - Aug 16th saw a human chain and singing of the National Anthem on ORR.

One of the organisers of a protest on 19th August, Geetha Arvind, shared this on our federation mailing group, "Started at around 9am with one person and kept growing with time and by 11am there were more than 60-70 people... Cab drivers joined, auto drivers joined... Many junta from softzone companies were present". Another march from Iblur Junction to Marathahalli happened on 19th August at 3 pm.

This evening, I attended a 6:30 pm Candlelight vigil opposite Total Mall, Sarjapur Road. The group was about 100 strong. There was slogan shouting, from the usual "Corruption Down Down", 'Bharath matha ki jai' to 'Anna tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath…

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Update from Priya Ramasubban, one of our active residents, working on improving Kaikondrahalli Lake.

As most of you who frequent the lake would have noticed, we now have security guards in place and lots of deweeding and maintanence work going on.  Phase II of BBMP’s work – i.e. leveling the pathways, creating a separate cycling path, putting up the new fence and gates; creating play spaces and exercise spaces; etc. – has started last week and we are hoping the contractors will finish the work by the end of the year.

The lake post-rejuvenation shows vast expanse of water. Pic: Sohel Mohamed/BR Srivatsa

Also, the toilets that Wipro has sponsored are also being constructed near the school. So there’ll be a buzz of activity for the next few months. And after that, we’ll have the peace and quiet we are used to at the lake, but with…

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Sohel Mohamed and B R Srivatsa are both Birdwatchers with interest in wildlife conservation residing in HSR & BTM Layout respectively. They have shared the following report on the Avifauna Biodiversity of our Kaikondrahalli Lake.

We have been visiting the lake for over 3 years and keep a track of the birdlife there. We have even tudied the changes pre and post-rejuvenation.

Observations [between November 2010 to June 2011]
1. The number of species seen went up from 42 (pre-rejuvenation) to 53 (post-rejuvenation).
2. Bird populations started building up post monsoon of 2010.
3. Drastic increase in Spotbill Duck population (have seen around 250+ at one
time).
4. Garganey Teals (25+) seen at the lake post-rejuvenation.
5. Noticeable increase in Purple Moorhen Population (up to 80+ seen).

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BBMP has shared this info on property tax collections in our revenue zone.

Of the remaining Property Tax to be collected from Mahadevapura zone, 24 crores was collected in March 2011. As of 31st March 2011, 56.43 crores of property tax is yet to be collected. Of which 20.82 crores were collected by the end of June 2011. (Golf link Software Challaghatta - 8 crores, Bhagmane tech park, Garudacharpalya - 1.56 cores)

More than one lakh property owners are yet to pay tax amounting to 24.02 crores. This shall be collected within the next 3 months.

Signed
K N Devaraju
Joint Commisioner,

BBMP, Mahadevapura Zone
Dt 6 Jul 11

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Mahadevapura MLA Aravind limbavali is organising a job mela for Mahadevapura residents on July 9th and 10th.

Applications can be forwarded to the Personal Secretary to the MLA in his office at  Mahadevapura junction or Contact Vanisri Pradeep at 9448493497.

Enclosed application form.

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Cycle On Cycle Onwards growing healthy. All members are participating with their hearts out in promoting Cycling.

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Process to get UID

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To bring about more awareness about traffic rules and make Bangalore city more traffic friendly, Outer Ring Roads Association (ORRCA), an association of IT and ITES in the city companies is planning to observe 9th of every month as ‘Traffic Day’ beginning this June.  
ORRCA is urging citizens of Bangalore to enlist as volunteers and stand at major road junctions where they manage traffic, the ‘Munnabhai’ way.

What you can do as a volunteer
As a volunteer, if you find anyone violating traffic rules such as, criss-crossing on road, triple riding, using mobile phones while riding or driving, please stop him and give him a rose and request him not to do it next time. Help can be provided to get roses or they can be bought at down-to-earth prices at University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal.

Please do share how many people you found violating traffic norms and if…

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With the drainage lines from Ambalipura clogged, sewage has backed up near the Ambalipura Lake. Residents and members of Forward150 federation are trying to get the authorities to act, but no response till date. 

Here is the text of the letter we are sending to the Commisioner, BBMP

~~~

To, The Commissioner, BBMP, Bangalore.

From, Residents living around Lower Ambalipura lake, and Federation of Resident welfare Associations of Ward 15, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore.

Sub: Sewerage contamination of recently restored Lower Ambalipura Lake

We, the concerned residents living around the Lower Ambalipura Lake, near Iblur Junction, Sarjapur Rd, would like to bring to your attention a matter that needs your urgent consideration. 

This lake was recently rejuvenated and has turned out as per most Limnologists an excellent effort worth the BBMP funds spent. The lake is home to many migratory birds…

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Our Forward150 federation is working on getting khatas for our properties. Each apartment or layout group, which have either the Panchayat Khata or Occupancy Certificate from BBMP/BDA, has formed a team and are applying for the khata together. They have been assured support by their MLA Arvind Limbavali (Mahadevapura constituency) in their drive to get the papers without any bribes. They start with one member visiting the Registrar office and applying for No encumberance certificate for all owners of their community apartment/layout. Another member visits the lawyer to get the documents notarised. Till date many groups have submitted the documents in batches. Here is the story shared by Sachin Mulay of Redwood apartments.  Currently the mood everywhere is about corruption having pervaded every aspect of our lives. In this context getting a Khata transfer of your property done was always an uphill task. It required a series of bribes with regular follow ups with the officials to…

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Thousands turned out in support of Chikka Bapu (Anna Hazare) for Jan Lokpal bill at Freedom Park, Bangalore

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After starting to use BMTC buses, one of our federation members, Jayvant Anantpur, wrote a nice article why we should still use BMTC instead of our personal vehicles in Bangalore. He gives wide range of examples that will benefit you through out our lifetime. :-) Enjoy reading!

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The 2nd ORRCA Marathon is to be held on March 19th.

The event will be flagged off by Minister R Ashoka, ACP (Traffic) Praveen Sood and BMTC MD Zameer Pasha at 8.15 am at RMZ Ecospace visitor parking area on Outer Ring Road.

BMTC has arranged for special bus-services for participants attending this event from across the city on a first come first serve basis.

ORRCA company employees and neighbouring community residents are invited to register for the run. There are prizes to be won too.

Runners are requested to assemble by 8.10 am on March 19th at the Visitor parking area for a briefing on rules/routes/policies. There are two runs: ORRCA Short Run Marathon and ORRCA 10K run marathon.

Please get in touch on 9972630616 for more details.

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A new firestation has come up on Sarjapur Road opposite Kaikondrahalli Lake. The firestation has been built by CREDAI, in a Public-private partnership (PPP) model, on government land of about an acre. B K Hampagol, Deputy Director (Technical), Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services says his department did not have to spend any money.

Two fire engines and about 14 firemen, will be stationed here initially. The department plans to purchase more vehicles in the future and station more personnel.

The firestation has been ready from late last year but could not be inauguration due to the Zilla Parishad elections that were held this January.

The Fire Station is now going to be inaugurated this Saturday, February 19th, at 10 am.  The Home Minister, R Ashoka is expected, and officials welcome residents from our ward to join in as well.

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