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City news that matters
Wishing you a happy Gowri-Ganesha festival!
Here is our Bengaluru This Week roundup. But first, our curation of latest city news for you.
The news that Nandan Nilekani might get a role in state government seems to have excited many. Many including BPAC’s Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw have said Nandan can transform Bengaluru in five years, hence he should be given the role of incharge minister for city’s development. Pai, however, had a different view of Nilekani, when he contested MP election from Bangalore South.
Bangalorean business leaders Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Biocon) and Azim Premji (Wipro) have been invited to visit Japan, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are in interesting company – Ambanis, Adanis and others have been invited too!
And now, hold your breath: KSPCB has recommended that the government ban the entry of autos into city’s central areas, and stop registering new vehicles! This is after the High Court rapped KSPCB on the inactiveness of the body in controlling air pollution. Would this impact you? If yes, write to us and let us know what do you think.
The Madiwala market gets new organic waste converter. It remains to be seen how this would be maintained once it starts working, as it is tough to maintain such projects without proper monitoring. We already have the example of Organic Waste Converter in Malleswaram that is not being used to its fullest extent, and the compost generated hasn’t impressed gardeners and farmers.
Bangalore Rounds, the sight-seeing bus service by BMTC is suffering huge loss, as not many are not using it. Anyone with ideas to get it to viability, write to us and we’ll pass it on the BMTC through an article.
The term of BBMP mayor, deputy mayor and standing committees is ending on September 3rd. And many people have already started lobbying for key posts.
Cricket fans and runners are both going to be delighted with this bolt from the blue literally! The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, makes his first trip to India and will participate in a cricket face-off against Yuvraj Singh at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on September 2nd.
In other news, Bengaluru Bulls to play against Jaipur Pink Panthers at Kanteerava Stadium today – on August 27th. This match will be a decider to see if the team makes it to the semi-finals of the Pro Kabaddi League.
This week’s highlight: Go Green for the Gowri-Ganesha festival
While many courts have deemed that Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris cannot be banned, civic and pollution monitoring bodies say the onus of making the celebrations eco-friendly lies with people. How will you choose to celebrate?
British stuntman James Kingston recently visited Bangalore, only to dangle several hundred feet above the ground from a crane. And what did he see? A spectacular view of Ulsoor Lake!
>> It’s Spain? Italy? No – it’s a street in Namma Bengaluru. Residents of Museum Cross Road found their street was not well-maintained by BBMP – what did they do? Read: Pothole-ridden road transforms into beautiful lane.
>> Are you involved in your local RWA or Apartment Association? Whatever your answer may be, consider this food for thought from Ashwin Mahesh – Solving public problems isn’t the job of a few!
>> For 15 years a gentleman has been feeding stray animals at a Basavanagudi temple. What prompts his to do so?
Around the city
>> Septic tank waste is allegedly being dumped near Ulsoor lake, in front of a school, by a tanker, posing a health threat to students and residents. Read: BBMP assures action against dumping near Ulsoor lake.
>> If you are in any way involved in creating content for children, attend Jumpstart, a conference cum workshop covering topics such as storytelling, writing for children and illustration, on August 28th.
>> Participate in a discussion on the book, Makers of Modern Asia, along with Ramchandra Guha, Nirupama Rao and Nitin Pai on August 28th at the Bangalore International Centre.
>> Watch Bangalore Little Theatre’s adaptation of Antigone, which they took up for this year’s Summer Project On Theatre (SPOT) on August 29th at Alliance Francaise.
>> Want to know how creative ideas can be implemented to mitigate and adapt to climate change? Attend the Climate Maha-Satsang on August 30th and 31st.
>> Yoga sessions, street games, skateboarding, cycling games, and of course, cycle rides – plenty in store at the second edition of the Cycle Day in Indiranagar on August 31st.
>> For a dose of hearty laughter, watch comedians, Kanan Gill and Kenneth Sebastian, at their show, Sketchy Behaviour, on August 31st at Alliance Francaise.
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In this week’s edition read about how young working women from small-towns are faring in Bengaluru, the status of Phase I of Namma Metro, what authorities have to say about the fish kill incident at Ulsoor lake and more.
In this edition of the newsletter: Uncertainly about elevated road project from Ejipura to Kendriya Sadan; When layout developers don’t give up Civic Amenities sites; BBMP asks for extension of tenure; Neralu Tree Festival and lots more.
