Despite HC order, Bengaluru civic body yet to make private layout in Whitefield public

Urban Planning

This, despite a Karnataka High Court order, directing BBMP to take over the entire layout and make it a public layout, with public thoroughfare accessible by March 2020.

Soumya Chatterjee

Even though the Karnataka High Court gave much-needed relief to the residents of the Jatti Dwarakamai Layout in Bengaluru’s Whitefield (situated off ECC Road), the civic agencies are yet to act on the orders to take control of the layout. In 2007, the layout was developed and residents had started living there. However, till date, the developer — Jatti Engineering — had been preventing the owners of houses and residents from using the common areas of the layout, such as parks, walking paths and rounds. While these amenities should be considered as common property, the builder is charging huge amounts as maintenance charges from the owners of the houses. Jatti Engineering is run by the descendants of former Indian Vice President BD Jatti. His son Danappa and daughter-in-law Lakshmi Jatti were one of the respondents in the HC case. TNM had earlier reported how in September 2017, Danappa had allegedly flashed a gun at one of the residents over the dispute of common amenities in the layout. Read:Former Vice President BD Jatti's son flashes pistol at Bengaluru residents, gets booked Further, disregarding the due norms, the real estate company was not allowing the residents to form a society or association, further harassing them in many other ways, including criminal intimidation. While in December 2019, the Karnataka High Court gave a favourable verdict by ordering Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take over the entire layout and make it a public layout — with public thoroughfare accessible by March 2020 — no action has been taken by the civic body yet. Over the years, they have been trying to engage with the builder and resolve the matter amicably but the builder refused to accept their demands. Forced by the apathy, the owners jointly approached the Karnataka High Court in 2019. In December 2019, they were successful in getting the favourable order. Speaking to TNM, one of the residents who wished to remain anonymous, said their calls and meetings with the BBMP and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials have so far been in vain. “We are now thinking of approaching the court again and filing a contempt case against the civic body,” the resident said. Venkata Challapathi, the Mahadevapura Zonal Commissioner of BBMP, said that he will verify the High Court orders again and take necessary action in the coming days.

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Fire breaks out at furniture store in Bengaluru, goods worth lakhs destroyed

Fire

Visuals from the incident show smoke rising from a small group of stores near Elements Mall in Thanisandra.

TNM Staff

On Sunday, a fire reportedly broke out in Bengaluru’s Thanisandra area at a furniture store. The fire was doused by officials from the fire department after a 5-hour long struggle. Visuals from the incident show smoke rising from a small group of stores near Elements Mall in Thanisandra. The fire, which originated from the furniture store, later spread to five other stores nearby which struck fear and panic among those in the vicinity. Reports have stated that furniture and goods worth lakhs of rupees have been lost in the fire. Major fire on #thanisandra main road near #elementsmall @timesofindia @BangaloreMirror @the_hindu @htTweets @IndianExpress @NewIndianXpress @tv9kannada @ChethanKumarTOI @lalita #RepublicDay2020 #Bangalore pic.twitter.com/tYKki2Aueb — Mohammed Zeeshan Fatmi (@mdzeeshanfatmi) January 26, 2020 The fire started around 9.30 am on Sunday at the furniture store belonging to a man named Nasir Hussain, according to reports. Before fire and safety personnel could arrive, the fire has slowly begun spreading to nearby structures and buildings. Police officials from the Sampigehalli police station in Bengaluru rushed to the spot, however the fire had begun spreading by then, aggravated by the fact that the buildings were reportedly made of plywood. Fire and safety officials worked to contain the fire as soon as possible. While no casualties have been reported, the owner of the furniture store, Nasir, allegedly stated to media personnel that the fire was not an accident. He claimed that there was a legal property related dispute which had been in court since 2011 and he believes that this may have been a deliberate attempt to destroy his shop. The efforts to douse the fire took a significant amount of time, as a result traffic was congested for a few hours as officials worked to put out the fire. Nagawara and Saraipalya roads were blocked following the incident. While the police have yet to determine a cause for the fire, they have collected the CCTV footage and are currently investigating what may have caused the fire. No complaint has been filed yet.

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Bus lanes in Bengaluru: Two months since launch, officials unsure how to enforce rule

Transport

Lack of enforcement has meant that other vehicles enter the bus priority lane, blocking their way and thereby rendering the plan ineffective.

Soumya Chatterjee

Two months after the bus priority lane in Bengaluru was launched amid much fanfare, the project has turned out to be a damp squib, simply due to lack of enforcement. The idea was to ensure priority access for buses over private transport and in the process motivate people to ditch their own vehicles. This, in turn, was expected to reduce overall congestion in the city. While the bus lanes were rolled out in mid-November, an event titled the Bus Yatra was held on December 11 which saw Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) Managing Director C Sikha and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Special Commissioner Randeep D participate alongside residents and citizen activists.  As part of the system, the left-most lane of the entire Outer Ring ROAD corridor between KR Puram to Silk Board was supposed to be reserved for buses. Later the pilot phase was limited to between Iblur Junction and KR Puram. Based on the success, 12 other major roads were also proposed to have similar lanes. Even though the initial days showed encouraging results, lack of enforcement meant that other vehicles enter the bus lane, blocking the way and thereby rendering the plan ineffective.  A fine of Rs 500 for the first offence and Rs 1000 for subsequent offences was notified by the Commissioner of Police but traffic police officials on the ground say they have not been asked to carry out specific drives against bus lane violations. The central office of the Traffic Police Department claims that police are penalising violators but do not have specific data for such violations.  The BMTC has also installed 70 cameras on buses to help identify motorists who violate rules and use the lane designated for buses only. It is, however, unclear if any action has been taken based on this either. Joint Commissioner Traffic Police BR Ravikanthe Gowda could not be reached for a comment. But more than two months into the pilot, the authorities remain undecided about how to make the system more potent. Speaking to TNM, BBMP Commissioner Anil Kumar said that plastic bollards which will create a physical barrier to stop entry of other vehicles will be installed in the coming 7-10 days. Incidentally, the BBMP was keen on installing metallic bollards but later the plan was withdrawn with reports of accident and the threat it poses to other vehicle users. Later plastic bollards and physical barricades were also installed in some stages. But they were also withdrawn after some vehicles rammed against them. However, a senior officer, who is also a stakeholder said the move of installing bollards is yet to be decided formally. “It is true, we have received feedback that the system is failing due to lack of enforcement. Soon in the zonal review meeting we will discuss the issue. We have to assess which is the best way to enforce the system. The solution can be installing bollards, or deploying BBMP marshals or a combination of both. We are open to suggestions, and will shortly come to a conclusion,” he told TNM. Srinivas Alavilli, co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru and a staunch advocate of the bus priority lanes says without bollards or any physical barrier the system cannot be made successful. He said, “Without enforcement, how will the bus lane work? There are supposed to be cameras on buses issuing fines. Where are they? The bollards are supposed to be installed months ago. Why is it taking so long? How can traffic police enforce bus lane without technology and physical barriers? The marshals can only work to some extent and we can’t keep them standing on the road inhaling pollution and putting their lives at risk. Most people follow the rules - the bollards make sure that they won’t enter by mistake and deter those that don’t obey the bus lane.”

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‘Could not believe it’: Karnataka fruit seller who started school awarded Padma Shri

Education

Harekala Hajabba started the school with his earnings at a mosque in the village of Newpadapu.

Harsha Raj Gatty

A day ahead of Republic Day, the central government named Dakshina Kannada-based Harekala Hajabba among the 21 recipients of the Padma Shri award for 2020. The 68-year-old fruit seller has been named for educating poor children in his village of Newpadapu through his organisation for over a decade. A fruit seller at the Mangaluru city-based Hampankatta market, Hajabba through his own initiative shared the proceeds of his earnings for the maintenance and upkeep of the school that was initially located at a mosque in Newpadapu. When he was earlier asked what motivated him to start the educational institution, Hajabba, who has never received a formal education, said it was a chance encounter with foreign tourists that showed him what he had missed.  “The couple were asking me the price of oranges, but then I did not understand. Despite my best efforts, I could not talk in anything besides Tulu and Beary language. The couple walked away. I felt very bad, and felt that at least the children of my own village should not be in a similar situation. I realised the manner in which communication can help one to progress in life, and at the same time bring people together,” he said. Initially, Hajabba convinced locals and well-wishers to help him to set up the school at a local mosque. “Besides, he also made it a point to sweep the school premises, boil water for the children to drink. However during his leisure, Hajabba used to camp at the Zilla Panchayat office in Dakshina Kannada, about 25 kilometers from his native, and repeatedly pleaded with the officials to formalise the educational facilities,” a local reporter said. As Hajabba’s efforts and popularity grew, the District Administration stepped in and by 2008, the 14th new school under Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School was created at Newpadupu village. Meanwhile, Hajabba, fondly known as Akshara Santa (saint of words), also setup an organisation to streamline the effort and funding of school. “Even after the new school was built, the 68-year-old continued to wake up early in the morning, sweep the campus, boil drinking water and saw to it that both the faculty and the students didn’t have anything to complain about. He treated the campus as though it were his own home,” Nazeer, a nephew of Hajabba, said. Although since 2014, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) AB Ibrahim had put forth the idea that Harekala Hajabba was one of the deserving recipients of the Padma Shri award, subsequent efforts by the DK administration had not materialised. "In fact, DC had also told me in 2015 that he had sent my name as a recommendation to the Union government, but after that I don't know what happened," Hajabba said. Hajabba, also expressed his interest to set up a pre-university college in the same premise for the children of his village. On being asked if he was satisfied with his present accomplishments, Hajabba adds that education never stops, so neither he could. “I hope the government starts a PU college also, so that students can continue education. Mostly, they discontinue after 10th standard, as higher educational institutes are in the city,” he said. Over the years, the campus also expanded. Encouraged by the increased intake, the DK administration also added a high school to the campus in 2012. “The class rooms are named after Indian achievers like Kalpana Chawla, Rani Abbakka, Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishna (staff room), Swami Vivekanada (laboratory), with an idea to inspire the members to aim for higher accomplishments,” Hajabba  said. A local celebrity, Hajabba’s life story is already a part of the undergraduate program at Mangalore University and he has already received several local awards. However, the father of three said that he was surprised when he was informed of his Padma Shri award on Saturday morning. “I received a call from the Union Home Ministry. They spoke in Hindi, I could not understand, but later someone from the DK DC’s office told me that I was selected for Padma Shri award. I could not believe it or dream of it, but I was happy,” he said. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)

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New anthem by Lucky Ali urges Bengalureans to keep city clean

Civic Issues

The 3-minute video features the city's landmarks like Karnataka High Court, KR Market, Hebbal Flyover, Majestic bus stand and Town Hall.

Prajwal Bhat

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has received its fair share of flak for its failure to fill up Bengaluru's infamous potholes and clean the city's garbage. In an effort to highlight the cause of keeping Bengaluru clean, the BBMP launched an anthem sung by noted singer Lucky Ali.  The song is sung in Kannada and English and the three-minute video is shot in different parts of the city. It features the Bengaluru's landmarks like the Karnataka High Court, KR Market, Hebbal Flyover, Majestic bus stand and Town Hall. There is no mention of the BBMP Head Office.  It also shows drone views of the city's iconic buildings and busy traffic spots along with video clips of pourakarmikas, BBMP officials and the city's residents striving to clean the city.  The song further mentions that the ultimate goal is to make the city's streets 'heavenly'. BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar told reporters that efforts were being made to improve Bengaluru's ranking in the Swachch Sarvekshana. Bengaluru is currently ranked 194 out of 500 in the rankings. The song was released as part of the awareness drive to encourage citizens to keep the city clean.  "The wait is over! Namma Bengaluru has its own anthem titled Jotheyagi, meaning together. BBMP urges citizens to take the first look at the anthem here," Anil Kumar tweeted following the launch of the anthem. The wait is over! Namma #Bengaluru has its own anthem titled ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿ (Jotheyagi), meaning together. #BBMP urges citizens to take the first look at the anthem here https://t.co/bfxA4h6ta7 Advisory:required for clarity.#SwachhSurvekshan2020Bengaluru #NammaOoruSwachhaBengaluru — B.H.Anil Kumar,IAS (@BBMPCOMM) January 24, 2020 BBMP also announced English and Kannada messages will be spread through social media on topics like garbage segregation, public urinals, and keeping spaces clean. The BBMP recently installed mirrors on walls in five places in the city including in the busy Church Street area at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh. The mirrors, BBMP said, were installed to discourage men from urinating in public. The civic body is looking to install more such mirrors in high footfall areas in the city.  The BBMP also fined the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Rs 50,000 as part of its ongoing efforts to curb the use of single-use plastic in the city. The civic body had earlier fined eateries including McDonald's for the same offence. 

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Fisherfolk in Karwar end stir as Karnataka HC stays expansion of port

Protest

The fishermen said that stopping the expansion of the port is a question of survival for them since it will affect traditional fishing families.

Prajwal Bhat

The fisherfolk in the port town of Karwar in Uttara Kannada district ended their two-week-long agitation against the proposed expansion of the Karwar port on Saturday.  Hundreds of fishermen had taken turns to spend the night under a stage erected next to the Deputy Commissioner's office, facing the Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar. But after the Karnataka High Court issued a stay on the proposed expansion on Friday, the fisherfolk decided to end the stir.  “This does not mean we will go back on our demands. We will stick to the same demands. We want the expansion of the port to be stopped at all costs,” KK Tandel, a member of the fisher community in Karwar, said.   Tandel's words were in response to the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Harish Kumar's suggestion that the fisherfolk were divided over their demands to stop the expansion of the port.  "The protesters are changing their demand and are allowing for the expansion project to go ahead as long as Tagore beach is preserved. I have requested the officials concerned to have another round of discussions with those opposing the expansion," the DC had said last week after the fisherfolk called for a bandh in Karwar.  Read: Why fisherfolk in Karnataka are protesting against the expansion of Karwar port  The protests started after workers began the construction of the breakwater structure close to Rabindranath Tagore beach in Karwar. The fishing community feared that this is the first step in the proposed expansion of the port, which they say will wipe out traditional fishing families, irreversibly damage Rabindranath Tagore beach and affect the movement of fishing boats in and out of Aligadda and Baithkoli beaches.  The fishermen said that stopping the expansion of the port is a question of survival since it will affect traditional fishing families in Baithkol, Tagore beach and Aligadda beach, the three major spaces left in Karwar for the profession.   The first phase of the second stage of development of Karwar port is under the control of the state government. Even though it was planned 15 years ago, no companies came forward when tenders were floated in 2004 or 2008. It was later funded under the Sagarmala project of the Union government. 

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Police find white powdery substance in bank locker of Mangaluru bomb suspect

Crime

Rao, who was taken by the team on Saturday to the bank in Udupi besides a few other places he had frequented in the past, told the police that that powder was cyanide.

PTI

File image

A Mangaluru police team has retrieved a box containing a powdery substance from the bank locker of Aditya Rao, the man who is suspected to have planted a bomb at the Mangaluru  airport last week, police said on Sunday. Rao, who was taken by the team on Saturday to the bank in Udupi besides a few other places he had frequented in the past, told the police that that powder was cyanide. The probe team, led by ACP K U Belliappa, sent the box to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination, police said. The man, a native of Manipal, had the locker at Kunjibettu branch of Karnataka Bank in Udupi. A family member had reportedly mentioned to the police that the 36-year old Rao had wanted to commit suicide by consuming poison. Rao was also taken to Malpe near Udupi from where he had made the hoax call to the airport that a bomb had been placed in the IndiGo flight to Bengaluru on the same day he placed the bomb near the ticket counter of the airport. He confessed to the police of having made the bomb threat call to the terminal manager, police said. After the call, he dumped the SIM card and left for Bengaluru where he surrendered to the police on January 22.\ Police, however, could not retrieve the SIM card. Rao, under ten days police custody, will be taken later to Karkala where he worked in a restaurant, police said. A 'live' explosive device was found in an unattended bag near a ticket counter of the departure gate of the airport here on January 20, triggering a scare before it was defused at a nearby open ground. Police had released a picture of a man captured on CCTV camera as the suspect who placed the bomb and Rao later surrendered.

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