The important story of the week – on how there are no rules or regulations for water tankers that most apartments, especially those outside the core city area, are dependent on. Nobody monitors whether the water tankers are safe enough. What water are we drinking?

Some good news after that shocker – plastic ban trending across the city. Koramangala, HSR Layout, Sanjay Nagar – who is next? We track the various citizen-led single-use plastic bans. And The Green Ogre counted the birds in our backyard and neighbourhood, and shares his observations on our lovely  feathered friends. All this and more…

This week’s highlight: Water tanker regulations

A map on the number of water tankers in Bengaluru wards, based on RTO data – 2014. Map by Anirudh Rajashekhar.

How many private water tankers are operating in Bengaluru? Is there anyone monitoring the legality of water tankers? How does one ensure the water in the tanker is safe? All this answered here: Water tanker ply without permits.

Tanker data collection

Please add the details of any water tanker supplier you know of, for this crowdsourced list. Click here »

BBMP’s new Pet Dog rules

Only one pet dog per flat, every dog to have a collar, badge and microchip, clean up after your pet. Rottweilers, Pitbulls and other aggressive breeds to be muzzled in public places. These and some more new rules are part of BBMP’s draft by-laws for pet dog licensing. More details>>

The heroes among us

A senior citizen volunteer in Koramangala joins the anti-plastic drive enacting the choking of earth by plastic. Pic: Shanthi Tummala

Across the city, citizens are leading campaigns to ban the use of plastic. From asking people to carry their own bags, and reject single-use plastic bags, to helping shops switch to eco-friendly alternatives, there’s plenty going on. Citizen Matters tracks what is happening. Read: Bengaluru is being swept by citizen-led plastic bans.

Street dogs typically feed on garbage. But here’s a couple that actually cooks food for 100+ strays. Bismi and Anil are the good samaritans of Whitefield whose work with strays, is awe-inspiring and inspirational. Read: The hands that feed over a hundred strays

In the ‘hood

In November 2015, residents of Indira Nagar 2nd stage were delighted when BBMP agreed to clear up a garbage dump that had piled up over the years on an empty plot in the area. Today, the pile stands as is, and BBMP claims it will cost Rs 50,000 to clear the garbage!

An RTI response reveals that most commercial establishments in the residential streets of Indira Nagar do not have a trade licence. RWAs in the area are now waiting for the BDA and BBMP to act. Read: RWAs say no to commercialisation on residential streets.

The Supreme Court has earlier said Aadhar card was not mandatory to have a LPG connection, and LPG suppliers seemed to follow it. Deepa Mohan says that Indane is once again forcing some consumers to have an Aadhar card.

Food for thought

A two-wheeler rider was mowed down by a speeding lorry near Thippagondanahalli, who finally died donating his eyes. Here’s a poetic interpretation of the whole incident. Read: The Me, My gadget, My video generation.

Ideas for change

Imagine if Bengaluru were to get yet another Cauvery… Would that quench the city’s thirst? Ashwin Mahesh explains how it is possible. Read: Matthondu Cauvery.

Urban wildlife

Branches creak under the sheer weight of this flock of Rosy Starlings. Pic: Bijoy Venugopal

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count is an event that birders across the globe wait for. A birding enthusiast recounts his experience at the Great Backyard Bird Count 2016, and on the joys of birding solo. Read: Great Backyard Bird Count, it’s a wrap!

Also read: Backyard birding at Kaikondrahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes.

Culturati

INTACH Bangalore is calling for entries for the 2nd edition of its Heritage Awards. If you know of old buildings which deserve to be recognised, don’t miss nominating them. Read: Showcase Bengaluru’s heritage.

Chitra Srikrishna draws attention to an age-old phenomenon at Carnatic concerts; where the audience steps out for a break even before the performance is over. Read: Thani Avarthanam or Restroom Break?

From co-existing with cows, to worshipping in public places, Kiran Keswani takes us through what happened at the Everyday City workshop. Read: The story of everyday practices.

The week that was

• In the Swachh Bharat ranking (Swachh Survekshan survey) released by the Central government recently, Bengaluru fell to the 38th place. The poor rank reflects on the growing garbage menace in the city.
• In order to promote the use of LED bulbs, BBMP officials have started distributing the bulbs in slums and EWS quarters. The State government had directed BESCOM to give 100 LED bulbs to each of the 198 wards.
• The Hebbal bye-election results are out. BJP candidate YA Narayanaswamy beat his Congress counterpart Abdul Rahman Sharief by a margin of over 19,000 votes.
• BWSSB has recently made a recommendation to the government to make it mandatory for apartment complexes with more than 20 flats to set up Sewerage Treatment Plants. So far, it  was mandatory only for apartments with more than 100 flats.
• A junior engineer of BBMP was arrested by the Lokayukta police, in connection with a case pertaining to the misuse of work files. He was arrested and surrendered before the Magistrate on Monday afternoon.
• The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has suggested that the State government to keep autorickshaws off the Central Business District. KSPCB wrote a letter in this regard to the Transport and Environment departments, BBMP and the traffic police.

Events this week

• Udupa Music Festival, featuring artists like Sivamani, Trilok Gurtu and others is happening at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall on February 19th.
• Go on a Blind Date with Books on February 19th and 20th at the Goethe Institut library.
• City Scripts, the very first festival dedicated to urban writing is taking place at IIHS from February 19th to 21st.
• Learn about solutions to manage your waste end-to-end at What Rubbish! at Milton Park on February 20th.
• Make your way to Alliance Francaise on February 20th and 21st for Tortilla Theatre Festival which will feature 40 short plays/performance.
• Bangalore International Centre is hosting a panel discussion on Indo-Sino Relations on February 23rd.
• Learn how to make delicious French dishes with eggs from Chef Alexandre of Cafe Noir at AF Cookout, happening at Alliance Francaise on February 23rd.
• Watch What the Fields Remember, a documentary on the Nellie massacre of 1983 at Bangalore International Centre on February 24th.
• Mallika Taneja exposes the contradictions at the heart of India’s stunted social progress at Thoda Dhyaan Se, a solo theatre performance at Goethe Institut on February 24th.
• Treat yourself to an evening of short films at the Cine Forum Melies, happening at Alliance Francaise on February 25th.

To know more about events in Bengaluru, click here

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