Governance

Another ‘Cycle Day’ was successfully conducted by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka and BCOS - in Yelahanka New Town next to Allalasandra Lake this 14th September 2014, Sunday morning (6:30 to 10:30 a.m.).   The last Cycle Day was held a couple of months ago and can be read about here. Cycle Days are being organized with the objective of popularizing cycling within the locality thereby helping in reducing motorized traffic, reduce pollution, reduce fuel consumption and improve health and fitness.   Around 4500 citizens including Honorable Speaker of…

Another ‘Cycle Day’ was successfully conducted by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka and BCOS - in Yelahanka New Town next to Allalasandra Lake this 14th September 2014, Sunday morning (6:30 to 10:30 a.m.).   The last Cycle Day was held a couple of months ago and can be read about here. Cycle Days are being organized with the objective of popularizing cycling within the locality thereby helping in reducing motorized traffic, reduce pollution, reduce fuel consumption and improve health and fitness.   Around 4500 citizens including Honorable Speaker of…

With the 5th day of Ganesha Chaturthi (2nd September) past us, the festival in Bangalore has more-or-less ended for the year. Government departments and citizen groups that are closely associated with lakes must be reviewing the impact of the festival on the water bodies. In recent years, the BBMP, NGOs and other local groups have been putting in a lot of effort before the festival, educating people about the use eco-friendly idols, paints and decorations, and encouraging them to do home immersions so that water bodies are not burdened. Most of the lake groups are well prepared for the festival, planning…

With the 5th day of Ganesha Chaturthi (2nd September) past us, the festival in Bangalore has more-or-less ended for the year. Government departments and citizen groups that are closely associated with lakes must be reviewing the impact of the festival on the water bodies. In recent years, the BBMP, NGOs and other local groups have been putting in a lot of effort before the festival, educating people about the use eco-friendly idols, paints and decorations, and encouraging them to do home immersions so that water bodies are not burdened. Most of the lake groups are well prepared for the festival, planning…

I was on my way to a temple in Dodda Mavalli because it was Gowri Ganesh and I had been told it would be a day when devotees would come both to the Maramman temple and the Ashwath katte next to it. I was just curious to see what the rituals were like on this day. The autorickshaw driver abruptly stopped at the end of a narrow lane much before we had reached the temple. In front of us, there was an open space between small houses and there were tempos parked there. Small idols of Ganesha were being carried…

I was on my way to a temple in Dodda Mavalli because it was Gowri Ganesh and I had been told it would be a day when devotees would come both to the Maramman temple and the Ashwath katte next to it. I was just curious to see what the rituals were like on this day. The autorickshaw driver abruptly stopped at the end of a narrow lane much before we had reached the temple. In front of us, there was an open space between small houses and there were tempos parked there. Small idols of Ganesha were being carried…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   This is a continuation of Part 1 - Heaven, that can be read here. We used to get piped water through bore wells which had links to overhead tanks around the area. The responsibility of the water supply and collection of water charges was handled by BEL Residents Welfare Association (BELRWA). A while after the cleaning plant became operational,…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   This is a continuation of Part 1 - Heaven, that can be read here. We used to get piped water through bore wells which had links to overhead tanks around the area. The responsibility of the water supply and collection of water charges was handled by BEL Residents Welfare Association (BELRWA). A while after the cleaning plant became operational,…

That afternoon, we had been looking for the Durga Book Store in Shivajinagar. I had been told that it might still be there, a bookstore where residents of Frazer town and Benson town had shopped in the 50s as had others from the city. There were many who had memories of going there during their school days. It had been the popular bookstore at that time. We found it. It was still there. Just across the road from Russell market. In a little lane off the Noronha road, right at the corner. When we went in there, it was in…

That afternoon, we had been looking for the Durga Book Store in Shivajinagar. I had been told that it might still be there, a bookstore where residents of Frazer town and Benson town had shopped in the 50s as had others from the city. There were many who had memories of going there during their school days. It had been the popular bookstore at that time. We found it. It was still there. Just across the road from Russell market. In a little lane off the Noronha road, right at the corner. When we went in there, it was in…