June | 2019 | | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Rate your ward councillor for CfB’s ‘Corporator No 1 Awards’

June 30, 2019 Srinivas Alavilli

Citizens for Bengaluru will award the city’s best corporators in a ceremony on July 14th. The awardees will be selected based on citizens’ rating through an online survey form

Bengaluru Buzz: BBMP ward delimitation soon | No decision yet on garbage contractors | High Court action on noise pollution

June 29, 2019 News Desk

Delimitation of BBMP wards before the council polls next year, High Court directs state government to give details on noise pollution control, no consensus in BBMP about having separate contractors for wet and dry waste collection – here is a roundup of news in Bengaluru this week

Bengaluru’s street vendors: A vibrant community deprived of rights

June 28, 2019 Bhargavi S Rao

Carts of street food that offer a quick snack, little stalls selling just what you were looking for – street vendors are an integral part of life in Bengaluru. But why isn’t the government implementing the law that upholds their right to work?

“Govt decision to replace AC buses welcome, but not enough”

June 28, 2019 Vinay Sreenivasa

The recent government decision to replace Volvo AC buses with regular buses is welcome, but more should be done to provide quality service to all commuters, says the collective Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike

Here are four cool things Bengaluru scientists invented recently

June 25, 2019 Tanika Deuskar

Bengaluru is a hub of research institutions, but how many us know of the scientific breakthroughs made here? From a new catalyst to generate hydrogen, to a potential cure for pancreatic cancer, here are top findings from the city over the past year

GAIL plans 100 CNG refill stations in Bengaluru

June 25, 2019 News Desk

GAIL Gas will soon have 13 new CNG refill stations in the city, in addition to nine operational ones. CNG produces lesser emissions, and offer higher savings for all types of vehicles, say GAIL officials

‘Cities and Canopies’, a book on trees in urban India, released

June 24, 2019 News Desk

‘Cities and Canopies’ explores the science, history, culture and imaginations around trees in our cities.

Bengaluru Buzz: CCTV cameras around lakes | Kamakhya-Ittamadu flyover proposed | Kempegowda museum closed

June 22, 2019 News Desk

High Court directs CCTV camera installation around all lakes, another flyover proposed in Outer Ring Road, BMTC to open the first 50 counters to issue student bus passes – read more on what happened in Bengaluru this week

Elevated corridors: Environment Clearance was issued in just two weeks

June 22, 2019 Varadarajan Raman

The EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report of elevated corridors spans 345 pages, but it took authorities just two weeks to approve it and issue Environment Clearance to the project. This is despite the EIA avoiding a detailed study of many environmental impacts

“Why do they need two brooms every month?”

June 20, 2019 Zibi Jamal

Our spaces have been designed to only cater to a certain segment of the population – the able-bodied. Making matters worse, is our complete ignorance of how life is for people with disabilities

Towards water security: How to set up a greywater treatment system

June 19, 2019 News Desk

Greywater – that is, wastewater from bathrooms, washing machines etc – can be treated and reused for non-potable purposes. A greywater treatment system can meet about 40 percent of your household’s water requirement. Here’s how to set up the system

Can a security guard in Bengaluru aspire for more?

June 17, 2019 Deepa Vaishnavi V M

Security guards are ubiquitous in the city. But how well do they earn, and what options for career growth do they have? Here is the story of Merajul Hoque who migrated from Assam five years ago, to be a guard in Bengaluru

Bengaluru Buzz: Transport Dept against carpooling apps | Report on waste processing plants | NEERI may audit city lakes

June 15, 2019 News Desk

Transport Department opposes new carpooling platform, expert recommends changes to waste processing plants, NEERI may audit city lakes – read more on what made news in Bengaluru this week

All about BMTC’s relaunched student bus pass service: From online application to collection

June 14, 2019 Akanksha Choudhary

BMTC has relaunched its online student bus pass service again, after its failed attempt last year. Read on to find what’s new this time, why BMTC believes it would work, and how you can apply for your pass

Bellandur and Varthur lake revival speeds up, public meeting on June 21st

June 13, 2019 Jagadish Reddy

After decades of neglect, Bellandur and Varthur lakes are now on the fast track to being revived, after the intervention of a NGT-appointed committee. The committee will also hold its first public meeting this month

Remembering Girish Karnad

June 12, 2019 Kishan Ramamurthy

A theatre artist remembers how Girish Karnad’s contributions to literature, theatre and cinema has inspired him over the years. The greatest tribute to Karnad would be to celebrate his works, says the author

How to pick the anti-pollution mask that’s right for you

June 12, 2019 Prahlad Saldanha

As Bengaluru’s air quality is worsening, anti-pollution masks can reduce your exposure and the resultant health impacts. Here is a guide on the type of masks available in market, and pointers to pick one that’s right for you

Girish Karnad, the wordsmith who never shied from stating a contrary opinion

June 10, 2019 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Karnad has been the voice of a generation that fought against religious dogma. He championed dissent, even when it was against him, teaching us about the quiet dignity of being adversarial without being disrespectful.

Bengaluru Buzz: Property tax hike planned | 65,000 buildings yet to have RWH | Peenya units flout pollution norms

June 9, 2019 News Desk

BBMP plans to hike property tax, most industrial units in Peenya found contaminating groundwater and soil, BWSSB takes stock of rainwater harvesting systems – read more on what made news in Bengaluru over the past week

All about Bengaluru’s action plan to fight air pollution

June 8, 2019 Arza Safiya

Recently, a 44-point mega action plan was drafted to tackle air pollution in Bengaluru. The plan assigns tasks to multiple government agencies, to be completed in a time frame. Read more for details of the plan