How to manage swine flu; Averting city’s electricity crisis; Highlights from Lake Alive and Aero India

 

Bengaluru this week

February 26th 2015

 
 

CITIZEN MATTERS
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Before we get into our stories, here is a short summary of what happened in the city:

  • Six months after shifting to the Peenya bus stand, KSRTC has shifted its operations back to the Majestic bus stand, citing losses.
  • Even beeda and pan shops maintain better records than BBMP, said Justice Subhash Adi, Upa Lokayukta, in a hearing on illegal hoardings. 2700 files related to hoardings are said to be missing from BBMP records.
  • Did you know that rear view mirrors in autos are illegal? Transport department and city police are planning a crackdown on autos with rear view mirrors.
  • BESCOM has accepted suggestions by Whitefield Rising and the Ugly Indian group to replace the protruding transformer poles on footpaths with sleek, non-intrusive, low cost design.
  • The Bengaluru edition of the Pinkathon held on Sunday February 22nd, saw participation from around 11,000 women. The annual event is conducted to raise awareness for breast cancer.
  • Cash-strapped BDA has failed to collect cess to the tune of Rs 3.17 crore from a housing co-operative society in south Bengaluru that came up in 1995.
  • With the city gearing up for summer, the BWSSB has stated that it is more concerned about getting uninterrupted power to pump water, rather than shortage of water itself.
  • The State Police is all set to launch the Student Police Cadet project on March 2nd. 1,500 students from across 35 government schools will be chosen to take part.
  • Karnataka’s Social and Educational Survey, commonly referred to as the ‘caste census’ is scheduled to be held from April 11th to 30th.

This week’s highlight: How to manage swine flu in Bengaluru

Swine Flu has so far claimed the lives of 11 people in Bangalore Urban alone. The Health Department pegs the total number of disease-affected in the district at 207 and critically ill patients at 8. Here is our guide to understanding Swine Flu – what you should look out for and what precautions you should take.

Read: How you can manage swine flu in Bengaluru.

City news

The High Court has directed the BBMP not to issue any documents such as Commencement and Occupancy  Certificate to six plans sanctioned after the government amended the BDA master plan rules in December. Read: Govt to allow commercial activities only in roads 40 feet or wider.

A citizen questions BESCOM’s power price hike proposals, and proposes alternative solutions to recovering losses. Read: How Bengaluru’s electricity crisis can be averted.

Guides

The brand name of a hospital is not an assurance of the accuracy of medical reports. Here is a case that calls out why it is important to be aware of the procedures. Read: How to deal with faulty test reports from medical labs.

If you have pets at home and have had to shifted cities/towns, you are possibly aware of how challenging it can be to find information about moving your pet by air. Read: Anand Sarkar’s experience of transporting his cats from Bangalore to Delhi.

The heroes among us

Lalbagh requires a little more than 2 million litres of water every day. With the existing infrastructure meeting only one-third of the required demand, here’s how Lalbagh produces 1.5 million litres of water every day from waste!

The good people of Bellandur continue to contribute towards the upkeep of the area. With an anti-plastic campaign, a tree planting drive and a spot-fix in the offing, Bellandur is truly buzzing.

Citizen reporting

Ameen Ahmed questions the state of policing in Bengaluru, after a group of policemen, mostly in civilian clothing, barged into his apartment complex, behaving like gangsters. Read: The state of policing in India’s most liveable city.

Food for thought

Divya Sreedharan shares a poignant post about a young school-going lad, who also works to earn money to support his family. Read: The Potter’s Boy.

The week that was

Puttenahalli lake played host to the second edition of Lake Day on February 21st. Here is what transpired at Lake Alive, the Puttenahalli Kere Habba.

Last weekend, Bengaluru skies were witness to some gravity-defying acrobatic stunts. Here are some of the highlights from Asia’s premier air show, Aero India 2015.

Events this weekend

  • Starting February 26th, Alliance Francaise will organise Ciné Forum Méliès,a special cinematic programme. Today’s programme includes the films screenings of  Le Voyage dans la lune by Georges Méliès and Jules & Jim by François Truffaut.
  • Vidushi J K Yoga Kirtana will be singing Carnatic compositions on Lord Muruga at Bangalore International Centre on January 27th.
  • Janapada Suggi, an initiative to promote the rural folk culture of Karnataka, will be held at Allasandra lake on February 28th, 6 pm onwards. 
  • Waiting for your builder to handover your new apartment? If yes, then AIMM’s workshop on Builder Handover is a must attend. The three-hour workshop is taking place on February 28th.
  • This weekend marks the last of the Little Cloud Story-telling sessions for children at Ranga Shankara. Do take your kids along for a fun and entertaining morning on February 28th and March 1st.
  • The Bengaluru Queer Film Festival will be held from February 27th to March 1st.
  • Fancy stuffing your belly with south Indian breakfast delicacies? Make your way to Basavanagudi for the Idli-Dosa walk on February 28th to fill up on yummy food, as well as delectable tales of local history.
  • Bangalore International Centre is organising a panel discussion on the Union Budget 2015-16 on March 2nd, soon after the Finance Minister presents it.

 

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The News Desk at Citizen Matters puts out Press Releases, notifications and curated information useful to the urban reader.