Governance

In the light of inconveniences expressed by the readers due to taking up of emergency works at Torekadanahalli on June 12th, matter was taken up for review by the Chairman, BWSSB. The inputs expressed by Chief Engineer (K) are as follows. 1. Linking between Cauvery water supply stage 4 phase 1 and phase 2 pipelines at Netkal balancing reservoir and at Torekadanahalli.2. Charging of stage 4 phase 2 pumping station power line by KPTCL from 220KVA station.        3. Repair works at Torekadanahalli stage 1 pumping station. 4. Linking of pipelines at Harohalli and Tataguni from Cauvery water supply stage 3…

In the light of inconveniences expressed by the readers due to taking up of emergency works at Torekadanahalli on June 12th, matter was taken up for review by the Chairman, BWSSB. The inputs expressed by Chief Engineer (K) are as follows. 1. Linking between Cauvery water supply stage 4 phase 1 and phase 2 pipelines at Netkal balancing reservoir and at Torekadanahalli.2. Charging of stage 4 phase 2 pumping station power line by KPTCL from 220KVA station.        3. Repair works at Torekadanahalli stage 1 pumping station. 4. Linking of pipelines at Harohalli and Tataguni from Cauvery water supply stage 3…

As some of you know, ABIDe member and urban affairs strategist Ashwin Mahesh is running for a seat in the Karnataka Legislative Council under the graduates constituency this month. He is campaigning on a Lok Satta party ticket.We must also let you know that Mahesh is one of the directors of Oorvani Media, the firm that publishes Citizen Matters (this print and online magazine covering Bangalore) and India Together, the national e-magazine covering public affairs and development. All over the world, it is true that politicians starting media outfits, and media, have tended to play a dubious role in politics.…

As some of you know, ABIDe member and urban affairs strategist Ashwin Mahesh is running for a seat in the Karnataka Legislative Council under the graduates constituency this month. He is campaigning on a Lok Satta party ticket.We must also let you know that Mahesh is one of the directors of Oorvani Media, the firm that publishes Citizen Matters (this print and online magazine covering Bangalore) and India Together, the national e-magazine covering public affairs and development. All over the world, it is true that politicians starting media outfits, and media, have tended to play a dubious role in politics.…

 Dangerous section of Harlur Road needs quick action.Many of us who live on this road may have noticed this deep ditch by the side of Harlur Road; but it took Krishna Gurumurthy, from Coimbatore, who visits Bangalore regularly to take this seriously and send this note to Citizen Matters. Harlur Road. Pic: Meera K Gurumurthy writes:When you go from Haralur road to Sarjapur road, just before turning to left, there is a very narrow section where vehicles pass. There, if vehicles drive too far to the left, they can fall off the road; if they are  heavy vehicles like buses…

 Dangerous section of Harlur Road needs quick action.Many of us who live on this road may have noticed this deep ditch by the side of Harlur Road; but it took Krishna Gurumurthy, from Coimbatore, who visits Bangalore regularly to take this seriously and send this note to Citizen Matters. Harlur Road. Pic: Meera K Gurumurthy writes:When you go from Haralur road to Sarjapur road, just before turning to left, there is a very narrow section where vehicles pass. There, if vehicles drive too far to the left, they can fall off the road; if they are  heavy vehicles like buses…

 Prashanth Nuggehalli Srinivas writes on Facebook:   "Bangalorean friends - For sometime, I have been following MD Bescom. You will be amazed at how Manivannan, the present MD has used facebook to provide an open platform to directly address queries to him. Indeed, the same person who put up a live video feed of his office to make an example of transparency in public service and the also the same officer who in his earlier assignment used to personally supervise medical audits of infant and maternal deaths.Just reading the exchanges on his wall is so informative. An amazing initiative by a…

 Prashanth Nuggehalli Srinivas writes on Facebook:   "Bangalorean friends - For sometime, I have been following MD Bescom. You will be amazed at how Manivannan, the present MD has used facebook to provide an open platform to directly address queries to him. Indeed, the same person who put up a live video feed of his office to make an example of transparency in public service and the also the same officer who in his earlier assignment used to personally supervise medical audits of infant and maternal deaths.Just reading the exchanges on his wall is so informative. An amazing initiative by a…

Chairman of BBMP Accounts Committee, A L Shivakumar, has pointed out discrepancies in the Accounts department in a press release dated March 26th. The Accounts Committee held an inspection in the Accounts office on 26th. They found that many letters and documents had been lying pending in the office's Receiving Section for 6-7 months; some had been pending for over a year.More serious matters were found. A letter from the Chief Secretary of Urban Development Department termed ‘very urgent’ has been lying pending for more than three months. In cases where employees had paid off loan amounts, installments were still…

Here are details on property tax payment for 2012-13, as per BBMP's press release: • Financial year for 2012-13 begins on April 1st.• As there has been no revision in taxes, tax can be paid as per last year. There is no change in self-declared tax and building depreciation.• Property tax can be paid at all BBMP offices and Bangalore One centers on all working days. Payment hours are from 9 am to 12.30 pm, and from 3 pm to 7 pm.• If the entire year's property tax is paid by 30th April, you can get a rebate of 5%.…