Arts and Culture

Togalugombe in Chitra Kala Parishad

The next time you visit Karnataka Chitra Kala Parishad, you may be welcomed by Togalugombe dolls featured on the walls of the institute. About 60 dolls of this art from North Karnataka and Hyderabad are presently on display. Togalugombe has more than 500 years of history and was very popular in the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishnadevaraya. ( Kannada Prabha , Sunday, July 6 )

Business

Coffee house to waft new aroma from Avenue Road

Sad news awaits coffee lovers for whom Coffee House on M G Road holds sweet memories. This 50 years old building has been the meeting place of innumerable personalities and has been frequented by the likes of late Dr Rajkumar and Rajinikanth. However Coffee House has lost a case and the owners have set a deadline of six months for the premises to be vacated. Coffee House is now expected to shift to Avenue road. ( Prajavani , Monday, July 7)

Designer boutiques for wedding

The ready-made dress culture has almost killed the festive mood of weddings. But the days of people shopping together for clothes are returning. A number of boutiques and designer shops are coming up to meet the demands for traditional wear. They cater to the needs of the people and offer to deliver the garments to their doorsteps too! ( Vijaya Karnataka , Sunday, July 6 )

Crime

Teacher turns cheater

Vani, a convent teacher, has been cheating a number of poor families in Suddaguntepalya and Bogi colonies in Mico Layout police limits. Vani managed to convince a lot of families to part with Rs. 10,000 as advance for the total amount of Rs. 70,000 towards housing, giving the names of the chief minister and MP Anantha Kumar as reference. She even went to the extent of forging the CM's signature, before the public wisened up to her fraud and handed her over to the police. ( Kannada Prabha , Wednesday, July 9 )

Economy

BPOs move away from Bangalore?

Bangalore's romance with BPOs seems to be over. No new ones have started in recent times; Chennai, Noida, Kolkata and Kochi are the new destinations for BPOs. Lack of infrastructure in Bangalore is quoted as the reason behind the exodus from the city. Managers of existing BPOs have urged the government to initiate action immediately to build a conducive atmosphere for them to function. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Wednesday, July 9 )

Environment

Encouraging alternative fuel

The central government has initiated a new programme to encourage use of alternative fuels and control use of non renewable fuel sources. This programme will be implemented in Bangalore too. A national action plan has been prepared to study and control vehicle flow, energy use and climate change. If effectively implemented, the plan will prove to be a boon to the Bangalore's commuters who are grappling with pollution. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Saturday, July 5 )

Hasiru Seve programme launched

The forest department has launched a unique programme called Hasiru Seve to encourage the public to grow plants. They can buy a plant from the department, plant it in government land and claim ownership of that tree. The department is expected to sell about two lakh plants towards the drive, until August 15 this year. For further details call 4206 7027 or log on to www.karnatakaforest.gov.in ( Prajavani , Saturday, July 5 )

Least water consciousness among Bangaloreans

Are Bangaloreans conscious in controlling water usage? No, says a report by the social science department of Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College. The department had carried out a survey in collaboration with the Arghya institution. According to reports about 92 per cent of the population are aware about rain harvesting out of which 43 per cent felt that it was not necessary as the BWSSB was supplying sufficient water. 1090 households were interviewed for the survey. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Sunday, July 6 )

Cycling revived

It looks like Bangaloreans have finally woken up to the benefits of cycling. Fuel price rise is making commuters think of cycling to work as a serious option. Labourers have started using this environment friendly commuting option. The BBMP is planning to build separate paths for cyclists on some of the selected roads, like Bellary road and Race Course Road. ( Prajavani , Tuesday, July 8 )

Illegal quarrying on Bannerghatta Road

About 500 familes of Nisarga and Nandanavana layouts and surrounding villages on Bannerghatta Road are struggling to live with illegal quarrying in the area. Quarrying without proper permission was rampant two years ago, but had subsided for a while after protests. It appears to be surfacing again. Houses and temples nearby are developing cracks, due to the blasts. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Tuesday, July 8 )

Government

Number of wards in BBMP to go up?

With the high court directing the government to hold elections to the BBMP within 3 months, government departments and political parties are getting active. Their proposal of increasing the number of wards from 100 to 145 is now with the urban development ministry. No action has been taken so far. MLA and Minister R Ashok, Bangalore in-charge, expressed that certain issues like election of the Mayor (whether he should be elected directly by the people, or members) needed to be clarified before the election. ( Kannada Prabha , Friday, July 4 )

BMTC drivers play dangerous games

Some erratic drivers of BMTC have a tendency to play with passengers. They stop buses wherever they want, making passengers run. People who wait in bus stands never get to board these buses most of the time. Automated doors do not allow enough time for passengers to alight. Bus drivers use this mechanism according to their whims and fancies. This dangerous game causes traffic jams too. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Monday, July 7 )

Misappropriation of funds in the Library department

The T M Kumar Committee has submitted a report about the alleged misappropriation of funds in the government library department. The committee recommended a detailed inquiry into the allegations. The department allegedly deviated from rules for the purchase of books and furniture and book binding. The new BJP government is expected to initiate action. ( Udayavani , Sunday, July 6 )

BBMP election: HC verdict favourable to BJP

The High Court judgement directing the BBMP to hold elections within three months has come as a boon to the BJP. The recent assembly election has made it clear that the situation is conducive to the ruling party. The party has even bagged a majority of seats in Bangalore. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who is in charge city affairs has declared that he will change the face of Bangalore within one year. Party workers feel that if elections are held within three months it will help the BJP to take control of the BBMP, and Bangalore. ( Prajavani , Sunday, July 6 )

e-Textbooks for Karnataka students

Shortage of government textbooks has been making life miserable for students and parents every year. The education department is trying to find an e-solution to this problem. It has now made text books available online. Anybody can download text books of various standards freely from www.dsert.kar.nic.in. The site has been jointly developed by the State Education Research and Training Centre and the National Information Centre. 10th standard text books are already available online, to be followed by textbooks of other classes soon. ( Kannada Prabha , Tuesday, July 8 )

City Life

Sex workers protest new law

Sex workers in the city are up in arms against the new amendment to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act 2006. They have taken to the streets with the slogan 'My Body My Right'. The amendment declares prostitution as an illegal activity. So far the trade was considered immoral, but not illegal. According to Gurukiran who runs Sugama Samsthe, an association for the welfare of sex workers, the amendment may pave the way for dreaded diseases like AIDS and sex mafia to come up. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Monday, July 7 )

Infrastructure

Waste management: BBMP finds a partner

The BBMP is collaborating with a firm to carryout waste disposal in a scientific way. This agreement is likely to put an end to the contractors lobby and make the best use of solid wastes. A waste classification (Terapharma) unit is situated in 130 acres of land near Doddaballapura. The unit is likely to produce power, plastic, Gobar gas and bio fertiliser out of wastes. Waste carrying vehicles are fitted with GPS monitors. This will check the practice of contractors claiming double the number of loads they carry every day. ( Kannada Prabha , Monday, July 7 )

Computerisation of college libraries on the cards

Bangalore University has initiated a unique programme to connect all college libraries which fall under its purview. The programme is called 'bal-net'. This enables students and teachers to have access to all books in any of the college libraries. The university is conducting training programmes to all librarians to carryout computerisation effectively. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Saturday, July 5 )

Majestic Bus stand cries out

Bangalore's Kempegowda central bus stand, popularly known as Majestic, lacks basic facilities. Everybody talks about the BIA and its connectivity, but little discussion is going on about this most used bus stand in Karnataka. The Majestic area houses the BMTC and KSRTC bus stands, bus depots and the railway station. The public however struggle to reach this nerve centre, thanks to erratic traffic. About 6 lakh people pass through Majestic bus stand every day. ( Prajavani , Saturday, July 5 )

Slum development stalled

The state government had planned to develop about 30 slums in Bangalore under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) scheme of the centre. However, for reasons best known to officials, the development is not making any headway. Rate difference in the house construction is said to be one of the reasons for the same. ( Prajavani , Thursday, July 10 )

Dynamite blasts at busy junction

Commuters who travel in the region of Kadirenahalli junction in Padmanabhanagar are now used to blasts that are similar to ones used in mining. BBMP is using dynamites to blast rocks to construct an underpass here. About 50 to 100 dynamites are blasted here every day. Officials claim that adequate precautionary measures have been taken before these blast are conducted, which are necessitated due to a number of rocks encountered here. The underpass which connects Kanakapura road and Mysore road is 388 meters long. ( Prajavani , Wednesday, July 9 )

People

A glasshouse for Dr Rajkumar

Everyone in Bangalore knows about the historic glass house in Lalbagh. And the city is going to have one more soon. The BBMP is constructing this glass house in memory of matinee idol late Dr Rajkumar in its premises. With a 1020 seating capacity, this glass house is in the final stages of completion at a cost of Rs.1.60 crores. The new premises will be used for cultural programmes, says BBMP. ( Udayavani , Thursday, July 10 )

This modern Veerabahu wants to read

Veerabahu is a character in the mythological story of Satya Harishchandra, who guarded graveyards for a living. Praveen Kumar is the modern-day Veerabahu who does the same. He is the son of 'Trivikrama' Mahadeva who is locally known for carrying out the final rites of dead bodies of orphans. Praveen Kumar has so far carried out the final rites of more than 13,000 dead bodies. He has completed graduation and is desirous of pursuing post-graduate studies in social work, with help from donors. His contact number is 9880745899. ( Vijaya Karnataka , Saturday, July 5 )

Justice Cyriac Joseph sets record

Indian courts are known for prolonging cases for years, but Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph set a record of sorts when he cleared 56 cases in just 70 minutes in the Karnataka High Court. He achieved this feat on the same day he delivered the controversial judgement on language policy in schools. This was his last working day in the High Court, as he has now been appointed to the Supreme Court. ( Prajavani , Saturday, July 5 ) ⊕

This article is a weekly compilation of select city news from Bangalore's Kannada dailes. It is compiled by a senior journalist and member of the Citizen Matters team.

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