HSR Layout Residents Watch - October 2018

HSR LAYOUT

OCTOBER 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

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DITORESIDENT

RW news channel!

This month, we but also hear audio complete six years of stories and watch reporting on HSR video captures. Just Layout through our download the monthly magazine ‘Frontpage’ mobile on HSR Layout. I app from Play Store thank the residents, (Android phones) or civic activists and App Store (Apple our advertisers for devices), scroll down making this possible. After informto the ‘Residents And now, we are ing you on our Watch (HSR taking this to a whole printed edition Layout)’ channel. new level. We are Still difficult? Just and digital redefining how hyper versions, we give us a missed call local news should be on this number are now a daily delivered. We are (080-33946975) and news mobile coming on to your you will get a link to channel. smartphones, so we our mobile app. We can reach maximum have made it so people with a swipe effortless for our of the finger. Importantly, we readers. In just a month, we can broadcast news as it managed to generate close to happens. All these are radical 300 stories on HSR Layout, a changes compared to what you record-breaking milestone, if have been accustomed to there was one. Come on over earlier, like reading our news and experience the new face of on the Residents Watch website hyper local journalism. and social media platforms in Welcome to the ‘Residents addition to our print edition.

Watch’ channel on the Now you will read it on our ‘frontpage’ mobile app. It’s mobile channel in more ways available on Android and than one. Not only do you get Apple phones. to read text and view photos, Happy reading, and viewing!

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Vol 6 | Issue 12 | October 2018 RNI Regn No: KARENG/2013/50327 Cover Image courtesy: Freepik

Write Wing Media 294, 15th B Main, 19th Cross Sector 3, HSR Layout Tel: 98805-85748 www.residentswatch.in Chief Advisor HM Javali Editor Zahid H Javali Design Write Wing Media Advertising & Editorial Queries 98805-85748 residentswatchmag@gmail.com

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NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

WASSUP HSR

Residents clean up Mangammana Palya Lake Plogging is Swedish for picking plastic while walking or jogging. It's a new fitness trend that has cleanliness at its very heart. And that's precisely what HSR residents have adopted of late. And last month was no different. Besides the Plog Run at BDA Complex, there was another round of plogging at Mangammanapalya Lake premises near Hosapalya on the same day.

The residents teamed up with the BBMP and cleaned up their surroundings. Importantly, they used a handheld loudspeaker and went from house to house around the lake to spread the concept of cleanliness and hygiene. "We did a garbage segregation awareness campaign along with plogging," says resident Lalithamba BV. "The waste pick up started in the areas close to the lake at 7.30am. Basha and the pourakarmikas (sweepers of BBMP) were of great help and highly appreciated."

But all is not hunky dory here. Says lake activist Kavitha Reddy: "Mangammanapalya Lake is in a bad shape, even though BBMP spent a lot of money to revive it due to lack of political will. Full fencing, a gate, proper timings and a lake keeper is all that is needed to keep the lake clean!"

LED lights & automatic sensors for residents of Sector 5 & Sector 6 Saraswathamma attended a pooja programme to provide 65 LED lights for the entire ward. And these also include automatic sensor switches that will automatically turn on during sundown, saving precious electricity.

Many might not know this but the Jakkasandra ward includes areas of Sector 6 (the area behind the Silk Board bus stand right up to Teacher's Colony) and Sector 5 (the area between Teacher's Colony and 14th Main Road near Greenview Hospital).

"Our area got about four automatic sensors," says Mohan Govindiah, secretary, Namma Teacher's Colony Residents Welfare Association. "The LED street light The residents of Jakkasandra ward 173, including fittings and control switches in residents of Sector 5 and Sector 6, can expect their Jakkasandra Ward are being given under streets to be better lit in the coming days. the MLA Special Grants scheme, and are Last month, MLA Ramalinga Reddy and corporator worth Rs 25 lakh."

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October 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

WASSUP HSR

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

'Ban cycles inside Agara Lake park... people are getting hurt' With several injuries to children and adults alike and many near-misses, some residents are enraged and have been calling the cops to ban the entry of cycles inside Agara Lake park.

While weekday footfalls are not hurting walkers and joggers, it's the 9000-strong weekend crowd on Saturdays and Sundays that's causing much angst among the residents. "The cyclists don't go on the cycle track and take to the mud roads," reasons Kavitha Reddy of Agara Lake Protection & Management Society (ALPMS). "As soon as the charge gets over, the cyclists abandon their vehicles anywhere in the lake premises, giving volunteers double the work of pushing the cycles out of the park." The park caretakers have warned the cycle rental companies (Pedl, Zoom & Yulu) to ensure that the cyclists are told to use the cycle track only for their rides inside the park, and ensure that their clients don't drop off the cycles wherever they please inside the park. "I think it's high time the cycle rental companies geo-tag their cycle parking outside Agara Lake as our staff is stressed with their abusive and irresponsible clients," says Reddy. "If they don't fix the problem, we will be forced to record all of the mess and send them to the cops for appropriate action."

280 STORES 180 TOWNS

#1/A, 27th Main, Sector I, HSR Layout, Bangalore, PH: 2258 0557 RESIDENTSWATCH.IN October 2018 07

CRIME

Community policing has stopped in HSR To restart by the end of the year, say police sources

By NIRMALA G The community policing initiative at HSR police station is no longer being done. The contract with Janaagraha, an NGO, that was enabling this initiative with the the cops has expired. However, the community policing will restart once the community liaison officers (CLO), the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector, are identified at the police station.

Janaagraha began this initiative five years ago and was operational in around 20 police stations. The HSR wing was close to two years old before it was stopped in January 2018. Today, Janaagraha's initiative is still operational but only in two stations. "Now, the police are going to carry on with community policing by themselves in a couple of months," informed Deepak Nayak, manager, community policing, Janaagraha. "We are there as their knowledge partners only."

HSR field associate Kiran for Janaagraha was moved out in December 2017 itself. "The CLO nomination process is going on," said Nayak. "After that, Dr SP Ganesh (retired DG & IGP, Karnataka) is going to train the CLOs who will run community policing in their respective stations."

The entire exercise will be spearheaded by Nanjundaswamy, the Additional Commissioner of Police, who will also be the nodal officer for community policing in Bengaluru.

HSR inspector transferred HSR inspector DR Nagaraj is now transferred and the new 08

October 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

person is yet to take his place.

Nagaraj had completed one year and eight months of service at the police station before he was transferred late last month.

Nagaraj will head the Bommanahalli police station after the new person in charge of HSR takes over. Until then, he will stay put in HSR. Picture caption: An awareness program organised by the community policing wing of HSR at the Government School in Parangipalya.

[ [ HELPING THE COPS This is an essential component of maintaining law and order as the police force is always short of hands. If residents join in, things can only get better.

PEOPLE

Deaf & mute man goes missing in HSR Found after four days in Electronic city in a bad state

By QAMAR HJ Tanmay Rath (39 years), the deaf and mute differently abled resident who went missing on September 16 and was found on September 20, was hit with rods by unidentified people and was even stripped of his clothes. He was later treated at Malathi Manipal Hospital in Jayanagar.

"When we found him, his clothes were completely different from what he was wearing when he went missing," his younger brother Tapan told Residents Watch. "He was hit by rods on his leg and hands. There are some infections around his neck due to some allergic reactions.�

Tanmay was not able to explain how he was beaten up.

"He didn't sleep at all as he was scared for his life," said Tapan. "Somebody stole his pants when he went to answer nature's call. A person threatened and took his shirt and slippers. Someone donated a pant later. He has gone through a hell of a time. He has spent four nights in a shady area where there are construction workers.

He even begged for money and food and somehow survived. He would even write some number and ask the people to call his brother with his sign language, but he didn't know my number, so he would just write some number, expecting people to understand him."

Luck was on Tanmay's side. "If he had any valuables on

him, or even a phone, people could have killed him or kidnapped him in the hope of asking for a hefty ransom," said Tapan.

Having stuck over 3000 A4 size posters all over HSR, Koramangala, Electronic City and Hosur, and sleeping just a couple of hours every night, Tapan was helped by his family and friends. On Thursday, even Tapan's company allowed ten more staffers to help with the search operations in Hosur and Electronic City.

Finally, their hard work paid off. One battery shop owner Zakir Khan, saw Tanmay taking shelted at his shop from the rain. Sensing that he appeared to be lost, he offered him tea and food, took his picture and whatsapped it to the Hebbagodi police station, who in turn, whatsapped it to Tapan. Once Tapan identified him as his brother, the cops took Tanmay to the station where the family was reunited. "It was either Zakir's intuition or he had seen our poster," said Tanmay. "And it was lucky that it was raining which made my brother halt at his battery shop."

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

09

PROMOTION

Reaching for the stars!

Ninestar Suzuki celebrates its 5th anniversary

By OUR CORRESPONDENT What began as a small beginning in 2013 has become a big player in the two-wheeler segment of Bangalore. No wonder, Ninestar Suzuki has stood the test of time and is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. “The USP of Ninestar is trust, integrity, adapting to and being sensitive to customers’ needs and being technology driven,” says its founder Dharma Teja. “We have multiple sources of taking feedback which directly reaches the CEO and is worked on continuously for a better customer experience.”

The latest offer is that if you buy any Suzuki bike from Ninestar, you get Paytm cashback of up to Rs 7000 and a free helmet.

The future plans Ninestar Suzuki has received a lot of love and Dharma Teja affection from its customers, and this has resulted in Trends in automobile the growth of selling business. No The auto buying research has wonder, this largely moved online. upwardly However, automobile selling still follows the convention- mobile trend has helped the company al trend of selling, partly because of the lack of supportive win four national awards in the last five ecosystem, and partly because of the lack of efforts from years. “We are India’s Number 1 dealer the sellers. “We at Ninestar have carved a niche for in the spare parts and Number 3 in ourselves in online selling,” says Teja. “We deliver at overall performance,” signs off Teja. least 25 bikes every month to customer’s homes, and the funds are transferred electronically.”

NINESTAR SUZUKI Branches: Hosur Road, Sarjapur Different schemes of Ninestar Road, Bannerghatta Road Ninestar was a pioneer in teaming up with Paytm for a Phone: 080-44554447 cashback scheme which is now prevalent across India.

Email: info@ninestarsuzuki.com The store also runs retail promotions on a regular basis.

Website: www.ninestarsuzuki.com The most popular is their customer referral scheme where old customers are rewarded for referring new customers.

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October 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

[ [

PROMOTION

Sumptuous delight Birbal Biriyani and Gabbar Chai dazzle the tastebuds

By OUR CORRESPONDENT What do you say to a chai shop that is sitting cheek by jowl with a restaurant serving the best cuisine? And the proprietor happens to be the same for both? The icing on the cake! And that's precisely what you get at Birbal Biriyani and Gabbar Chai.

you feel like living the good times, with red upholstered sofas fit for a king.

Gabbar Chai is no distant cousin to Birbal Biriyani when it comes to what it has to offer.

Why would anyone travel 18 Besides the luxury of kilometres from HSR Layout to either sitting outside or sample the food out here? Well, to begin with, it's inside its air-conditioned setting, it's just perfect as a weekend retreat. Ample parking, sumptuous what the casual conversationist wished for. food, and about 25 minutes of driving during non-peak From an eclectic English breakfast hours, the winsome twosome dazzle your tastebuds. (omelette, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, fries, drink, bread and butter) to From starters to biryani to seafood and desserts, Birbal the 'hangover remedy' (spicy scrambled Biryani serenades you with its Mughlai ambience eggs topped with chilly, cheese, coriander complete with cutlery and paintings. However, it's the and served with two slices of bread, butter customer service and food that wins you over. and a drink), Gabbar Chai delivers its punches. The chai itself comes in other When we sampled the food out here, we loved their flavours like ginger and masala. And if you chicken 65 and chicken wings. Both their chicken and are a group of ten and above, they serve tea mutton biriyanis were to die for. Aromatic, tender and in a kullad (earthen glazed terracotta) that blended with the right spices, it can make you a foodie adds to the earthy flavour. Not to forget, overnight. Their Chilly Paneer took the cake and the Iced tea, Iced coffee, mint mojito, pakoras, bakery too. momos, sandwiches, burgers, French fries, gulab jamun and ice creams.

Wash down your meal with either lassi, milk shake or Birbal Biryani & Gabbar Chai their signature offering, Gabbar Chai. We went in a group and sampled them all. And each one of us swears 53/3, Sompura, Sarjapur Main Road.

Phone: +91 89510 74702 by their menu. The ambience at Gabbar Chai will make RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

11

CIVIC

‘When will we get automatic light switches?’ HSR residents want the corporator to install sensors

By NIRMALA G After the news broke that the neighbouring BTM Layout constituency MLA has given control switches to Ward 173 that automatically switch off the streetlights at dusk, the residents of HSR Layout are demanding similar facility in Ward 174.

developing the parks and fixing the street upkeep issue. "The sweeping is spotty at best in HSR," he told Residents Watch. "Under the previous Congress government, the system of payment to garbage contractors was changed. Now For a long time now, the residents have been manually BBMP is paying the sweepers (pourakaroperating the lights. Sometimes, the lights stay on all day mikas) and labourers themselves." if the resident in charge of doing it is out of town. Many residents have suggested in the past that automatic We spoke to HSR garbage contractor sensors would be a great way to save electricity. When Roopesh Reddy, and he admitted to the they read about our report on our daily news channel that dismal scenario. "Under the new scheme Ramalinga Reddy had used his MLA funds and spent Rs of the previous government, the 25 lakh to install LED lights and control switches, the labourers who were aged over 60 years residents are asking MLA Satish Reddy and corporator or had only one year experience were Gurumurthy Reddy to do the same. When we asked removed but no new people were hired BESCOM officials (Bangalore Electricity Supply to replace them," he told Residents Company) about it, they said that their job is to only Watch. "There is a labour shortage of supply electricity while the BBMP has to provide the almost 50%. The result is that while the control switches. door to door garbage collection is going on like before, the sweeping is not being "We will decide about the control switches after our done properly."

BBMP Council meeting on October 10," corporator Gurumurthy Reddy told Residents Watch. "With the COMMON SENSE mayor just getting elected, there are a lot of development Call it misplaced intention or lack works to be done for HSR Layout. No matter how much of common sense, but the BBMP is we ask, they will only give Rs 3 crore." yet to install sensors so that the streetlights can automatically However, the corporator said that he will request for work, saving precious electricity. more money because it is required for laying nearly 3000 culverts in HSR ward, changing the sanitary lines, 12

October 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

[ [

CIVIC

RW Impact: BBMP fixes bad road overnight Within hours of reporting about it on our daily news channel

By ZAHID H JAVALI On September 29, our daily news channel on ‘Frontpage’ app wrote about the death trap at HSR BDA flyover. A portion of the service road next to the flyover near BDA Complex in HSR Layout was treacherous. No matter how much you fill it up, the potholes were formed yet again due to stagnant rainwater caused by bad planning of the BDA. When the water wasn't getting drained into the nearby stormwater drains, potholes were always cropping up. And many vehicle users had harrowing experiences out here, particularly when it rained and they had no clue that there are potholes underneath the water waiting to surprise them.

stormwater drain."

Senior BBMP officials informed Residents Watch that the proposal to fix all the major roads in Bangalore have been given to the state government in March 2018, and are awaiting approval. More than Rs 5 crore has been requested for the stretch between Silk Board and Agara flyover.

Despite bringing this sorry state to the attention of the Major Roads department of the BBMP by the residents, nothing was done to fix the waterlogging issue on this thoroughfare. This was particularly dangerous as it's a major portion of the Outer Ring Road and any mishap could make the BBMP officials directly responsible for it.

According to them, the stretch was handed over to the BBMP by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2016, but besides cleaning, they admit that no development work has taken place here under the BBMP regime. "Once the government grants the money for the major roads, all the service roads and flyover roads would be fixed," the official said.

Said resident Kavitha Reddy, "It's been in a bad shape for many years. The key problem is that there is no gradient and when it rains, the water stagnates upto 2ft, and the road develops killer potholes. All that the BBMP has to do is give a gradient while aspalting the road, so that the rain water reaches the Agara Lake through the

What about the immediate step of fixing the potholes? "This September 14th, a tender has already been granted to fix the roads in Bommanahalli and this road will also be taken up," he said, and that very night, the road was fixed.

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

13

UTILITIES

When you feel helpless and need a helping hand, this is the section you cannot do without. From numbers of civic agencies to conceirge and odd job services, it’s a bit of everything in two pages.

Make the most of it.

If there is an error in the listings or you have a new listing to add, email: residentswatchmag@gmail.com

BBMP: 99453-49068 (Asst. Engineer) Police Whatsapp No: BBMP (Garbage): 98456-00457 (Roopesh), 90086-92345 (Anil) +919480801000 Police control room: 100 BBMP (Advertisements): 99456Fire service station: 101 68835 BBMP (work inspector): Traffic control room: 103 99021-66884 Sanjeevini (accidents): 102, 1062 BBMP (snake rescue): 2222-1188 Health helpline: 104 81230-00008 (Jayraj), BBMP Joint Commissioner 90361-11007 (Rajesh), (Bommanahalli): 94806-83433 99018-97733 (Bhavesh) (Veerabhadraswamy, Stray dogs/pigs: 98452-73175 jcbhalli@bbmp.gov.in) Hearse van: 94806-83495 BBMP Chief Engineer: 94806Electrical Division: 94806-85413 83438 (Bettegowda) (assistant executive engineer), HSR Ward corporator: 9945894806-85340 (executive 90672 (Gurumurthy Reddy), engineer) Street Light BBMP MG Palya/Somasundrapalya 91640-09891, 94806-83443 corporator: 94483-88585 99868-35425 (JE, Ramesh) (Shobha Jagadish) Park Development Division: BBMP Joint Engineer: 9986894806-83436 (superintendent) 35425 (Ramesh) Forest Department 58888, 1912, HSR Police Station: 2294-3467 Hoysala Police Patrol: 2294-3000 94806-85038 (supervisor) BESCOM complaints 58888, 1912, HSR Police inspector: 948082258-5287, 94498-44826 (AEE), 01626 94498-40476 (AE) Police Commissioner’s office: 2294-2222/3322 BWSSB: 2294-5154, 98454KSRTC control room: 2225-5720 44154, 98454-44037/9 (AE), Passport office: 2570-6101 98452-28559 (inspector), BBMP Helpline: 2222-1188 98454-44037 (AEE) BBMP Grievance Cell: 94806-85700 BMTC: 2295-2253 BDA Office (HSR Layout): Railway enquiry: 131, 132 2572-0264, 2572-5932 BangaloreOne: 2295-5517 Post Office (HSR Layout): BBMP: 98459-87467 (executive 2572-0744 District registrar: engineer), 94806-85199 2525-3505 Registrar of (assistant executive engineer) Companies: 2553-7449 BBMP (Horticulture): Registrar (marriage): 2559-5977 94806-83594 BBMP (Health): Sub Registrar office: 2535-2907 98446-29911 (Vinod), 9480685280 BBMP (PRO): 2212Ananth Kumar, MP: 2656-8483, 8409/2297-5523 98443-08554

USEFUL NUMBERS

14

October 2018

Kupendra Reddy, MP: 99800-55599 Lok Ayukta: 98450-00022 M Satish Reddy, MLA: 94480-51616 Police officials Twitter IDs: @cpblr, @blrcitypolice, @dcpsebcp @ccbbangalore, @crimebangalore HSR Club: 2572-3928 BBMP Whatsapp No +9480685476 BBMP HSR Ward Whatsapp No: +917022372923 Traffic Whatsapp No: +919480801006, Public Eye (phone app) Traffic Control Room (East Bangalore): 080-22943131 HSR Traffic inspector: 94488-78220 (Rajshekar) BDA engineers: 94805-89835 (Satish), 94496-49915 (Krishna) Online BBMP Complaints: http://bbmp.sahaaya.in BBMP Chief Conservator of Forests: 94806-85414 (Brijesh Kumar), 2297-5707 CM’s Office: cm.kar@nic.in HSR Club: 99161-10458 (S Somashekar, president), 98451-62692 (Shankaranarayana Reddy, secretary)

HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous: 98455-87507 Helping Hand: 2353-5787 Children’s helpline: 1098 Women’s helpline: 1091 Elders helpline: 1090 Women’s & Kids Helpline: 91084-45555

For daily news updates on HSR Layout, give a MISSED CALL to: 080-33946975

Carpenters: 88847-28709, 81476-21037, 99458-47344 Painting: 99001-99081, 9880325969, 87928-23079 Trees for free: 98454-49703 Plumbing: 98800-04624, Asha Foundation:2354-3333 97380-08158, 90191-36181 Dream A Dream: 6534-9980 Massage for women: 96320-11732 Samarthanam Trust for the Borewell service: 98450-14845, Disabled: 2572-1444 96632-07070 Mitra Jyothi (for the blind): Electrical works: 98803-25969, 2258-7623/25 87928-23079, 2572-0758, Petcare: 2294-7300 (CUPA), 2860-3986 (PFA), 90366-70771 81971-47041, 94800-81117 Rainwater harvesting: 2572-3911, (Vets Society for Animal Welfare 98457-88308 and Rural Development) Solar: 2572-1355, 4121-7676 Swakruta Charitable Trust (for Key makers: 99722-30096 women entrepreneurs): 98860Water treatment: 99455-95251 46987, 2255-5227 Water testing lab: 2573-1142/81 Pan card: 6653-4014 RESIDENT WELFARE Mineral water suppliers: 96866ASSOCIATIONS 13943, 6547-1197, 99804SECTOR 1: 92421-33907 21388, 99861-08869, (Jayaram Reddy, President), Pest control: 99027-39891, 98450-05094 (Muralidhar, 4131-5656, 92411-12071 Secretary) Water tank cleaners: 73492-88470, SECTOR 2: 94495-71949 98802-16085, 94485-13352 (N Gopalakrishna), 98809-87339 Security services: 3329-8000 (HE Chandrashekar) Matrimonial services: 3255-7963, SECTOR 3: 98440-23561 2255-5227, 98860-46987 (Sadashiva), 98440-89956 Legal services: 99456-88974 (Chandrashekar Reddy) Forex services: 96205-42691 SECTOR 4: 99807-13619 Financial services: 4208-3339, (Vijayalakshmi), 99800-08418 2572-3911 (Chandrashekar) Private gas agencies: 4917-6006, SECTOR 5: 97395-54350 (MKN 99165-12242, 97416-37096, Acharya), 95357-00255 (Jyothi 6683-0900, 4917-7144, 4960Prabhu) 8777, 2573-5807, 4915-3659 SECTOR 6: 94483-88912 (Raje Packers & movers: 98455-5000, Urs), 91418- 52084 (Deshmukh) 99807-03399, 98440-57216, SECTOR 7: 98800-91609 93421-55380 (Munivenkatappa), 99001-24477 Water suppliers: 96114-37370, (Prem Kumar) 98809-60881, 98454-20534, FEDERATION OF HSR RWAS: 99016-66688, 2691-2004 99809-00017 (BNR Reddy, mrhomecare.in: Cleaning, pest Chairman), 98809-87339 control, plumbing, carpentry, (HE Chandrashekar, Secretary) electrician: 090220-70070 Drivers on hire: 8046-8686, ODD JOBS 92417-74565, 90360-04565, 94499-87140, 98867-07140, Dripler Automatic Watering Care: 6534-3434, 4240-0000, 73535-50077 3291-9714, 98865-18108, Odd jobs: satyaapan.com 98458-55386, 74119-78123, (90350-11316), aurospaces.

74113-36800 com (Whatsapp 97425-57757): Day & Night Drivers Service: Housekeepers, cooks, office boys, 80888-08876, 6547-4747 electricians, plumbers, painters, Mattress sanitising/upholstery, carpenters, pest control, appliance carpet cleaning: 87222-72777 repairs and more.

Steel cutlery on rent: Mosquito mesh: 94482-64511, 99862-03156, 94480-63776 99166-68957 HELP

RECREATION  BASECAMP ADVENTURES

227, 31st Main, 7th Cross, Sector 1 % 93420-16482

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 EARDRUMS MUSIC HUB

2628, 1st Floor, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 4212-1122

 GNAN SRISHTI MUSIC ACADEMY

19th Main, 17th Cross, Sector 1 % 2258-2002, 97385-79940

 SOULTRENDS PYRAMID MEDITATION CENTRE

No 551, 14th Main, Sector 7 % 99025-88500

 KARNATAKA YOUTH CRICKET ACADEMY

58/4, Harlur Road, Zee School campus % 73533-08833

 GEETANJALI HARMONICA INST OF MUSIC

20, 2nd Floor, 24th Main, Sector 2 % 81972-91483

 SUTRA HUB

% 6533-3399, 99455-18534

 NATYAKALA DANCE & MUSIC ACADEMY

2339, 17th Cross, 24th Main, Sector 1 % 2258-2888

 INNOVATORS CHESS ACADEMY

579, 15th B Main, 14th Cross Sector 4 % 98863-58313

 JK SNOOKER ZONE

No 65, 24th Main, Sector 2 % 9738550555

 THRILLOPHILIA

4th Floor, 2628, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 4213-4915

 JUST BOOKS

2628, 1st Floor, 27th Main Road, Sector 1 % 4212-1122, 72599-74251

 DISCOVER KIDS

27, 18th Cross, 9th Main, Sector 7, behind McDonald’s % 98806-50266

 CITY CENTRAL LIBRARY

Samarthanam, 15th Cr, 16th Mn Sector 4 % 94808-09586

 TENNIS ACADEMY

Sector 1 % 99001-79827

For daily news updates on HSR Layout, give a MISSED CALL to: 080-33946975

October 2018

15

WATER BODIES

Agara lake under threat?

High Court's final hearing on privatisation case in November

By ZAHID H JAVALI The controversy over the privatisation of Agara Lake is far from over. On September 10, 2018, the Karnataka High Court admitted an appeal by the Lake Development Authority (LDA) against Biota Natural System (India) Pvt. Ltd who won the case over lake ownership against the LDA in a city civil court in January 2017.

Biota is claiming that the LDA wrongfully terminated its 15-year lease agreement to manage the lake. However, the Karnataka High Court admitted the opposing plea filed by the LDA in April 2018, and has stayed the execution of the earlier city civil court order until the next hearing on November 5, 2018 (Karnataka High Court case number: MFA 3392/2018).

The residents consider this a positive development because with the redevelopment of Agara Lake at a cost of Rs 16 crore by the state government, the case has never been stronger. The Agara Lake Protection & Management Society (ALPMS) has approached the forest department that is now in charge of the lake to make a strong case in their favour. "The LDA was treating the high court case lightly, but when we informed the Forest department about it and also met chief secretary Vijaya Bhaskar (an HSR resident) and Sandeep Dave, the additional chief secretary of Forests, a strong case is now being built up for the November hearing," says Kavitha Reddy of ALPMS. In 2017, the LDA lost the case to Biota, a Hyderabad-based company, because the state advocate 16

October 2018

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failed to make a strong case. In 2012, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed

by Bangalore-based Environment Support Group (ESG) in the Karnataka High Court against the Karnataka government's decision to hand over four lakes in Bangalore to private parties.

The case was won, but only partially.

While the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model of Agara Lake was scrapped by the court, status quo was maintained for the other three lakes - Hebbal Lake, Vengayyana Lake (KR Puram) and Nagavara Lake (Lumbini Gardens). The SC hearing on these lakes is to come up in the next few months.

Based on the High Court order, the LDA scrapped its deal with Biota citing violation of the agreement rules. When Biota lost the case in 2012, they filed a case in the city civil court to get the money they had deposited (Rs 20 lakh) with LDA, including interest. As the argument by the LDA was weak, the government ended up losing the case to Biota in January 2017. Now the LDA has filed its objection at a higher court - the Karnataka High Court - against the judgement of the lower court.

CIVIC

BBMP contractor breaks tiles and refuses to re-lay new ones!

'We will do it' says contractor after this story was out on our daily news channel

By QAMAR HJ The BBMP contractor assigned to redo all the footpaths and drains in HSR Layout made a thoughtless mistake the other day that will cost him lakhs of rupees.

The contractor broke all the tiles laid over the stormwater drain by three shopkeepers on 27th Main Road in Sector 1. Before he realised that he was to only relay the tiles on the footpath and not on the stormwater drain, the damage was done. The tiles in front of three shops were completely removed and the new tiles were partially laid in front of one store, when the contractor realised his folly and stopped the work immediately.

The contractor did not touch the adjacent shop's tiles as they were on an elevation. If he had done so, it would have costed him a lot more.

broke the tiles thinking it's part of the cycle track project from DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport). But now that it isn't, we will fix the footpath if we don't get paid by the government as it's our mistake, and we will be fair to the shopkeepers."

The contractor has no idea about the amount of money he might have to spend from his pocket on this relaying work as the area to be covered is about 1000 sq. ft.

"We broke the good tiles of the shopkeepers, so it's only fair that we restore it back to them," said Panduranga. "We had a discussion regarding this matter with senior BBMP officials and we came to an agreement that in case we don't get the money from the grant by DULT, we will fix it ourselves."

However, the damage is done and the contractor has no recourse but to repair it. "Whether it costs Rs 1 lakh or Rs 5 lakh, the contractor has to relay the tiles as BBMP Download Our Mobile Channel is not going to give him any money for his mistake," said Our magazine will no longer be in print. It a senior BBMP official to Residents Watch. is now a daily news channel. Just download the ‘Frontpage’ app, scroll down the menu, After this story broke on our daily news channel, the and hit the ‘follow’ button for ‘Residents contractor made a dramatic turnaround. Speaking to Watch (HSR Layout)’ channel. Everytime, Residents Watch, contractor P Panduranga said, "We there is news, you will be the first to know.

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

17

COVER STORY

The future of hyper local journalism is here!

Residents Watch is now a daily news channel on your smartphones!

By ZAHID H JAVALI After six years of reporting on HSR Layout in a monthly magazine format that was being uploaded on our website as a digital version in PDF format, Residents Watch is now a daily news channel on your smartphone. Which means, you not only get news every day but also in various formats: text, photos, audios and videos. It’s what every resident wanted but didn’t know that such a product can exist. Well, the unimagined has materialised, thanks to the ‘Frontpage’ mobile app.

[ [ CONTACT US NOW! Want to work with us, have a news tip or interested in advertising with us? WhatsApp us at 98805-85748.

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October 2018

THE JOURNEY SO FAR… Our daily news channel journey began on September 8, 2018.

Within a month, we had close to 300 stories on HSR Layout alone. That shows the passion with which we pursued stories and unearthed facets of this neighbourhood that not many might have known about. From doing follow-up stories on a deaf and mute person who had gone missing for four days before being found to stories of ‘underground wells’ to recharge groundwater, to people making a difference in their localities, many of our stories went viral, some of which are printed in this edition of Residents Watch.

But what pleased us most were two factors. Some government officials and several residents became our informers, and we would like to call them ‘citizen journalists’. No matter how many reporters we hire, you cannot underestimate the power of every other resident sending us eyewitness accounts through photos and videos. We had residents walking along roads and documenting bad roads and sending the videos to

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

us. We had people riding cycles on busy thoroughfares and documenting the treacherous stretches of Outer Ring Road. We had residents sending us videos on making clay Ganeshas or before-after photos of garbage blackspots turned into clean and green footpaths with benches, painted walls and plants.

at 11pm), so they could postpone or take a different route. In addition, we had several stories on temperature changes, pollution alerts, events around the neighbourhood, and much more.

What pleased us most was that some of our stories even brought immediate relief to residents. Our biggest success story was our When the rains inundated HSR last month, on coverage of the bad stretch of service road a single day, we had produced 19 stories, an adjacent to the BDA flyover. For over two years, the pothole had only become longer and more all-time record. That shows the consistency with which the residents reported issues to us, treacherous to vehicle users. And when it and helped us fulfil our job of conveying that rained, unsuspecting users had hurt themselves information to all the people and authorities by riding on that stretch. The video footage and talking to the concerned officials at the BBMP concerned. Similarly, there were people who head office not only prompted the authorities sent us videos of garbage being burnt. Our reporters captured the sad state of BBMP to take notice, but they ended up asphalting the grounds after every major non-sports event entire portion of the problematic stretch on the very day the story was reported on our daily that happens out there. And then, there was news channel. the story of a central government agency damaging an adjacent house while excavating their empty site to build their headquarters in OUR MOTTO HSR. The foundation had come loose and was We don't promise that we can fix every issue hanging in the air and the two bedroom walls faced by the neighbourhood. That depends on were cracked all the way. several factors: political will, budgeting, honesty and integrity of our local netas and Similarly, when one resident took two hours to government officials. What we can do is 'name and shame' the agencies, so they do their job. reach their office in Eco Space from HSR And some works that don't require much Layout, they asked us if there’s any problem. money do get done speedily, but a few others This prompted us to locate the problem near that require much more than just a willingness Marathahalli where a school bus had broken to fix the problem, take a long time. down and all the traffic was being diverted, resulting in a massive traffic jam that BE PART OF OUR WORLD stretched up to Electronic City. One resident, instead of reporting to the cops, communicat- Residents Watch is the world's one and only daily news channel on HSR Layout. And you ed to us about a disturbing incident. Apparwill be making history by being part of this text, ently, a stranger on a bike parked his two audio and visual medium. How can you help us wheeler in front of the house where his wife to help you? By endorsing and 'sharing' your had come out to answer a phone call for lack favourite stories on our channel to as many of reception inside the house. Finding her people and platforms on HSR Layout as alone in the afternoon, he not only exposed possible. And importantly, by giving us your his genitals to her, but also began to fondle himself. Shocked and scared, she called out to opinion on what you want from this app, what did you like about it so far, and how you want her husband. When he rushed out, the the future of this app to be. miscreant scooted away. Our point? People feel more comfortable sharing their stories HOW TO DOWNLOAD THIS APP with us than the cops. And the truth is also For daily news and updates on HSR Layout, just that not all complaints made to the cops become First Information Reports (FIRs). They give a missed call to: 080-33946975. You will receive an SMS with a link. Just click on it and remain simple police complaints that are download the app. Whenever there is news usually not acted upon. about HSR layout, you will be the first to know!

We also alerted residents to major congestions Welcome to the new face of hyper local journalism. around the neighbourhood (one incident was RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October

2018

19

WATER BODIES

Part of Agara Lake jogging track caves in Took five days to be restored back to the joggers and cyclists

By Our Correspondent On the morning of September 24, a section of the jogging track at Agara Lake caved in after torrential rains the previous night.

According to the park caretakers, this was because there is a BWSSB sewage line under the track, a leakage of which collapsed the mud.

"A small pit became a 20 feet pit," said Kavitha Reddy of the Agara Lake Protection & Management Society. "We However, cyclists were allowed a few blocked off the area... the entire track was in a precarious days later. condition. Thankfully, the sewage from the BWSSB pipeline did not enter the lake."

"The Agara Lake track is fixed and people are using it," said Reddy. "On the The caretakers are not sure about the quality of the first two days, the sewage water was BWSSB sewage pipeline that runs along one side of the pumped out from the leakage, and later jogging track. However, this incident clearly shows that it was filled with mud and gravel. Due to there has been some leakage that has softened the mud, continuous rains, this part of the track leading to its collapse. was slushy, but once it dried up, it was evened out, and the tiles on the cycle Five days later, the Agara Lake jogging track was restored track were put back.� and began to be used by the walkers and joggers again.

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POLLUTION

KCDC stink covers HSR and surroundings MLA promises a shutdown soon on his social media handle

By QAMAR HJ On September 26 and 27, the stink from the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) had become stronger, and was felt in several parts of HSR Layout, Sarjapur Road, Singasandra, Mangammanapalya, Kudlu, Harlur and Bandepalya. Adding to the stink were the rains and the wind direction.

When we wrote about this on our daily news channel on the ‘Frontpage’ app (you can download it from Play Store or App Store), the stink came down dramatically in the next few days. Residents felt that perhaps the biofilter, which wasn’t working for the last few months was operational again.

"The fact that the RDF (refuse derived fuel) is being removed, and it's raining continuously definitely gives out the smell which we cannot avoid as waste mixed with water does make the smell intolerable," said one official. "However, the smell is also from the stormwater drains as they are also carrying sewage in many areas, so it may not just be the KCDC responsible for it."

THE BACKGROUND Before we wrote the story on our Frontpage app, MLA Satish Reddy had also stated on social media that the waste was being removed to eventually shut down the KCDC unit.

The KCDC officials also contend that they are sending back mixed waste, almost every other day, and following the protocol strictly. Reacting to the MLA's statement that the plant will be shutdown soon, the officials said that the matter is in court, and only the court can take such a decision.

When the stink was all-pervading in September, the residents of Somasundrapalya who live closest to the polluting composting plant, however, felt that the tonnage might have gone up in the previous week.

However, KCDC officials denied the allegation to Residents Watch on September 27.

NOT LIKELY! The MLA is lying as the BBMP commissioner has ruled out shutting down any of the seven composting plants in the city.

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RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

[ 21

LUNG SPACES

The Herbal Park in Sector 3 is in a mess Resident association promises to resolve it, but no one knows when

By NIRMALA G Some time ago, the Herbal Park in Sector 3, behind the Sai Baba temple, was inaugurated with much fanfare by MLA Satish Reddy himself. However, the initial enthusiasm waned over time, and the tussle between who will take control of it led to its current dismal state where weeds have grown and it's unwalkable at the moment.

People are cautioned from stepping inside due to the presence of snakes by the residents managing the park.

So what happened, really? Explains resident Madhu Krishna whose house is right opposite the park. He is not able to look after the garden along with his neighbour on a consistent basis, as it requires atleast Rs 10,000 a month to engage a gardener and maintain it. "I am just able to water it regularly, but that's about it. And whenever we get the time, my wife and I try to remove the weeds."

The residents allege that the tussle about who will take over the herbal park led to the current state of affairs.

"The Sai Baba temple authorities wanted to take care of the garden, but the Sector 3 Residents Welfare Association said they would. However, the association has no money, and this is the state today," said Madhu. If you would like to help or have any ideas for its survival, you 22

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can call Madhu at 98450-28623.

Residents Watch spoke to Prof Sadashiva, the president of the Sector 3 Residents Welfare Association about this. He contends that the temple went back on their promise to take care of the park.

When we said that both the association and the Sai Baba temple authorities have been given BBMP approvals to maintain the garden, he said, "Yes, that is true. In the next association meeting, we will take a decision on this. The association will hire a person for the park’s upkeep."

[ [ HELP REQUIRED Both the Saibaba temple authorities and the Sector 3 association want to maintain the park, but eventually no one is doing it. Such is the state today.

CRIME

Power cuts? Can't file FIR at HSR police station However, if it’s petty thefts, you can file online

By QAMAR HJ The HSR Layout police station is suffering an odd problem of sorts.

Whenever there is no electricity, they cannot register the First Information Report (FIR) online as their computers conk off too. Since everything is now centralised through the internet, you cannot file an FIR without internet or electricity.

Just yesterday, one person was not able to file an FIR due to a "technical problem". When probed further, we realised that the problem was Bescom. So how do the cops tackle such situations? They just take it down on paper and ask the complainant to come back later to file an FIR. Why can't Bescom ensure uninterrupted power supply to essential services like police stations? Bescom officials in HSR informed Residents Watch that they cannot give 24-hour power supply to the police station, particularly on 27th Main Road, due to the many new high powered connections being given to offices and shops in this commercial part of the neighbourhood.

"They have to go in for a long-lasting UPS system as a solution since we cannot provide power to them without a break," said one Bescom official.

We urge the police station to get a backup UPS in place to ensure that no complainants are inconvenienced.

Sources tell us that the UPS systems that the station has right now are only for keeping the lights on.

Minor Document and Phone Theft Complaints Can Be Lodged Online Just download the E-Lost Report mobile Android app and the iOS Apple app by the city police to lodge complaints of missing items or recovered goods to get a digital receipt, which you can use for insurance and other purposes.

But please note that every other complaint has to be lodged physically at the respective police station, be it a missing person's complaint, a major theft, burglary, eve-teasing, rape, murder, assault and so on.

That's because these require investigation by the police whereas the ones lodged on the app are only to issue a digitally-signed acknowledgement copy to the complainants, so they can get the RTO to issue a duplicate driving licence or the university to issue a new marks card, or an insurance company to process the lost phone claim.

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

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23

ROADS

Accident prone 22nd Cross-17th Main Traffic police should install humps & disallow parking

By SINDHU PR Sector 3 resident Karunaprasad Kanavi was witness to an accident last month involving three cars on 22nd Cross right in front of the house where he stays. This mishap happened before the showers inundated HSR Layout.

Thankfully, no one was grievously injured in the accident.

"At this same spot, there was an accident on the first day of Ganesha festival in 2016, resulting in the instant death of a motorcyclist," he told Residents Watch. "The residents have been asking for a scientific road hump on both the sides of 22nd cross and 17th Main junction for a long time in addition to a 'no parking' zone near the junction on all the sides."

'ONE OF THE MOST ACCIDENT-PRONE JUNCTIONS IN HSR' The many reasons for this junction becoming accident-prone could be many. Says Kanavi: "It might be rash driving and speed. No one follows the 'stop & proceed' rule at this junction. There is no such thing like giving way to the vehicles. The drivers just want to proceed straight first and then take a turn. Therefore, road humps on both sides of the junction are required to reduce the speed at this accident-prone spot.

“It is a complete 90-degree turn (both left & right) for the vehicle users coming on 17th Main and joining the 22nd 24

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Cross. It is a partially blind curve and further compounded by the parked cars on all the three sides near the junction.

It becomes quite narrow for the buses and trucks. Taking a turn for them is a nightmare here."

We hope the traffic police take note of this and do the needful. History bears witness to this road’s vulnerability to mishaps.

In 2014, there was an accident that got the cops to rush to the spot. In 2015, there was a minor accident. In 2016 during the Ganesha season, a motocyclist died on the spot.

[ [ QUICK ACTION, PLEASE Speedy remedies are the need of the hour, but the traffic police seems to be taking ages to resolve this simple issue with humps and ‘no parking’ signboards.

TRAFFIC

Speed beakers & humps, please!

19th Main & 27th Main are accident-prone, top cop promises action

By QAMAR HJ

On September 4, the residents of HSR Layout tweeted to the city traffic police about fixing the messy and dangerous gridlocks on 19th Main-11th Cross Road and 27th Main-7th Cross. Additional Commissioner of Police R Hithendra immediately responded that he would have the situation examined. The Traffic East police division was activated who, in turn, asked the HSR cops to look into the complaint.

Now the local traffic wing has promised to inspect the spots during peak hours and figure out ways to fix the gridlock and avoid accidents. "We asked the cops to take action as there have been accidents due to reckless speeding on 19th Main and 27th Main," says Sector 1 resident Kavitha Reddy who had tweeted to the top cop. "We have suggested 15-metre road dividers and speed breakers for smooth flow of traffic, and to reduce road rage and accidents."

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FIXING TRAFFIC ISSUES Since the Outer Ring Road traffic goes through these roads, it’s important to install road dividers and speed breakers quickly.

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WATER BODIES

Somasundrapalya lake work delayed by rains The water body should be ready by end of November

By OUR CORRESPONDENT If all goes well, the Somasundrapalya Lake near Sector 2 will be rejuvenated and open to public by November, according to BBMP sources.

public workship place," said Rao. "In Kempambudhi lake, our own BBMP staffer has encroached the lake bed area, but we will throw him out too and turn The electric poles near the lake will be shifted to ensure that house into a toilet and a reading that there are no live wires near the waterbody. There will room for senior citizens." be a 13-feet road for the residents surrounding the lake to travel through. The lake will be barricaded from this The rains have delayed the works as the pathway to ensure that the waterbody's jurisdiction is desilted material takes a long time to maintained. In addition, the temples that have come up dry. "The oily content doesn't dry in the lake premises will be demolished. quickly, and we cannot load this wet material on to the vehicles. That has Speaking to Residents Watch, Jagannath Rao, the Deputy been our major constraint," said Rao. "In Conservator of forests, Lakes, BBMP, said: "We will addition, there are many other mercilessly demolish all the encroachments in the lake pollutants that cannot be left in the premises just like we have done in the waterbodies of lakebed. We have to remove them all.

Sownkere, Deverabeesanahalli, Kempambudhi and The leachette (from the Karnataka Ambalipura earlier. We will also ensure that the people Compost Development Corporation) has living nearby will not be inconvenienced and provide a spoiled the mud underneath. It has pathway, so they can move around the waterbody without turned into solid blocks of red, yellow disturbing the lake visitors. We will be shifting all the and grey. We have to keep removing this utilities like electric poles that could be an obstacle in the soil until we get good earth." lake area to ensure that nothing goes inside the lake."

According to the BBMP, the soil is being Regarding the 10-year-old encroachment of Ayyappasremoved layer by layer and the wamy temple that is right next to the major stormwater machines are working round the clock. drain, the BBMP has written to the tahsildar as it's an All the rainwater is being diverted to the issue to be taken up at the level of the Deputy CommisOuter Ring Road stormwater drain sioner. "We will definitely demolish it and ensure that the through 24th Main. "By November, we lake boundary is for the lake only. If need be, we will will rejuvenate and fill the lake with build a gym or a yoga platform, but definitely not allow a rainwater and open it for the public."

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CRIME

Man flashes in front of housewife Scoots away when she calls out for her husband

By QAMAR HJ A housewife who came out on the road to talk to a friend on phone due to poor signal reception was flashed by a stranger on a two wheeler last month. Not just that, he also stroked himself when he saw that no one was around to catch him in the act. Thankfully, the offender's face was captured on a CCTV shown above.

This incident happened on 12th Cross in Sector 1. When the husband rushed out to nab the culprit, he had made good his escape. Thankfully, his neighbour had installed CCTVs, so he took his help to nail the rogue. While the vehicle number wasn't identifiable, his face was more visible from the side as shown above. "One building didn't have the CCTV, so the act was not captured on video," the husband of the shocked housewife told Residents Watch.

Here is what he has shared with this news channel, so the residents can be on the alert for this man who is going around the area "looking for women who are alone at home during the afternoons".

Recalling the horrifying experience, the husband shared the story as follows: "In front of our house, around 2:30pm, one guy who looks like a delivery boy misbehaved with my wife. She was on call with her friend near the gate because of poor signal inside the

house. This stranger came on a bike and stopped in front of her on the road, took a look everywhere nearby to make sure nobody was watching. And he shagged his tool in front of her. She called me about this horror while I was inside the home. By the time, I came out, he had escaped."

Psychology Behind ‘Exhibitionism’ Power, control, and a pathological desire to elicit fear all play into why a man might engage in exhibitionism, says an article by NBC News. It goes on to say that "exhibitionism is not about sex. It's about purposely provoking shock and fear in a female."

[

OBNOXIOUS! Flashing and masturbating in public isn’t new, but when it happens closer home, you feel disgusted and outraged.

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CIVIC

Cycle track delayed for non-payment!

DULT hasn’t paid three bills of contractor

By ZAHID H JAVALI The 9.7-kilometre dedicated cycle track in HSR Layout that was supposed to have taken off more than two years ago is delayed yet again. If it was last year's record rains and this year's drain works, it's now the turn of non-payment of dues.

BBMP contractor P Panduranga told Residents Watch that the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) is yet to clear three bills. "We have completed all the drain works along the cycle tracks but DULT is yet to pay for those works," he said. "We have now stopped all the work because we have no money left to do anything further unless they pay our dues."

BBMP sources at the headquarters informed us that the contractor has spent three-times the amount and is awaiting payments. "The delay is due to the excessive paper work that this project involves... the file is being passed around like in any government office," said one BBMP official. If DULT releases the payments immediately, the cycle track should be ready in two months, according to the BBMP contractor.

The cycle track will come up on a 9.7 kilometre stretch of the following roads: 14th Main, 17th Cross, 19th Main and 27th Main. According to the plan, all the signboards on these roads will change. With the cycle track on one side, there will be pelican signals (pedestrian light 28

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controlled crossing on poles installed on the footpath) for easy movement.

The cycle tracks themselves will be green pigmented concrete surfaces, which are long-lasting. There will be one-feet high medians to separate the main road from the track, with bollards at every entrance point, so only cycles can go past them.

[ [ DELAYS & CONFUSIONS Are these just payment delays or are there ideological differences between what DULT wants and what BBMP wants? It’s time, they cleared the confusion.

ROADS

Decongest Agara Lake Service Road Residents want the RTO checks to be done elsewhere

By QAMAR HJ The Agara Lake Protection and Management Society has written to the authorities to shift the Road Transport Office (RTO) checks that happen on Agara Lake Service Road during the early mornings. Citing traffic jams and inconvenience to lake visitors, they want this removed from this vicinity also because of the alleged antisocial activity of the drivers who assemble out there the previous night itself.

hours, due to FC vehicles, there are numerous traffic jams. The parking space meant for lake visitors is occupied or blocked by the FC vehicles.

"I have been interacting with the traffic police officials, and they too feel that the RTO FC has to be moved out to a different place," says Reddy. "Safety, security and "The citizens are facing serious issues due to the RTO wellbeing of the citizens is paramount, so fitness checks (FC) at the Agara Lake Service Road," says we request the Joint Commissioner of Kavitha Reddy, the Co-Founder and Vice President of Traffic and the Transport Department to the Agara Lake Protection and Management Society, a intervene in this matter to ensure that the citizen group that is monitoring the Agara Lake in necessary steps are taken to relocate the coordination with the Forest Department. "Any public RTO FC from the Agara Lake Service Road transport vehicles like lorries, buses or tempo travellers at the earliest." have to be checked before registration and re-registration to undertake these fitness checks."

The key concerns of the residents are as follows: 1. The vehicle drivers come as early as 10 pm the previous day and indulge in anti-social activities causing security issues for the lake. The vehicle drivers urinate in public, causing not only a health/cleanliness concern but also offend women visitors at the lake. Due to heavy vehicles, the entire Service Road is full of potholes and garbage thrown all around. During traffic

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SHIFTING IS THE ONLY WAY! With the service road clogged with traffic at midnight and early morning, the lake visitors are highly inconvenienced.

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CIVIC

Resident fights traffic menace in Sector 5 Erects barricades & signboards to prevent heavy vehicles

By NIRMALA G A Sudhakaran, a Sector 5 resident activist is fighting a lone battle for the last two years.

Not only is the 50-year-old installing streetlights on his own, but also erecting barricades on the service road of Outer Ring Road to stop trucks and other heavy vehicles from entering the narrow thoroughfare. With mobile snatching happening between the 14th main junction and Swathi restaurant, he has erected streetlights on alternative poles too.

When Sudhakaran's efforts to seek help from the authorities and the Sector 5 Residents Welfare Association didn't work, he took up the matter in his own hands.

"He started off with just barricades and it was seen that nobody actually cares about it," said his son S Srinivasan.

"He erected solid girders, which go around 3 feet inside the ground, but someone damaged it. He put signboards to stop HTV vehicles, but all efforts are in vain as even buses travel by this route."

When the flyover was constructed, the street lights worked well in the first year. But after that, they stopped working completely. This prompted him to install the 30

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streetlights on alternative poles to compensate for the abject lack of participation from the authorities.

'BDA flyover service road needs to be relaid' Resident S Srinivasan says that the entire stretch from the BDA junction on 14th Main to the point where the flyover lands on Outer Ring Road near Swathi restaurant, needs to be relaid. It's not a pothole but a pot road.

"When it rains, the water collects over here, causing the road damage," he reasons. "There is no more proper drainage system in the adjacent buildings and on the road. And at night, it's also a vulnerable spot for mobile phone snatching."

The bus and truck traffic has worsened the situation. "We installed an arch with the permission of the traffic police, to prevent larger vehicles from using the service road,� says Srinivasan. “But those have been removed forcefully by some people and even the cops say they are helpless as it is next to the main Outer Ring Road.�

CIVIC

The sad state of BBMP Grounds Crumbling under too many non-sports events!

By QAMAR HJ Residents are angry that the BBMP Grounds in Sector 2 are being used more for religious and political functions than sporting activitities. Not only are they at the receiving end of noise and air pollution due to the many functions that happen here but also upset that there is no upkeep or maintenance being done to restore it to its original state after the activities are over.

The government officials are just as fed up with this but express their helplessness as most of these events have the backing of local politicians. Despite the Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association expressing their open displeasure on a number of occasions more than two years ago, nothing is being done to contain the systematic massacre of this open space. The ground is now uneven, and dug up at some places; the weeds and grass are coming up in patches all over. The ground is giving way to a jungle, if proper measures are not taken by the BBMP in maintaining it. It should also only grant permissions to sporting events.

When Kumaraswamy was the chief minister in his earlier avatar, he had granted this patch of land to the High Court judges to build their quarters here. That's when HSR residents united as one and filed a petition in the court. After much patience and perseverance, they won the case and the land was handed back to the BDA,

the original owner of the land. Later, the BDA handed the land to the BBMP as HSR is now under its jurisdiction.

However, the BBMP is ruled by the local corporator and MLA. Despite many assurances, the local politicians, be it corporator Gurumurthy Reddy or MLA Satish Reddy, haven't been able to say 'no' to the many event organisers who come in all hues and colours - political and religious. Votebank politics is at play here, and they agree to such events despite knowing that the residents are opposed to the idea. The residents have no other option now but to move the court again and take back what is rightfully for sporting events only.

[

[

ONLY SPORTS EVENTS, PLEASE! The BBMP should only allow sporting events on BBMP grounds and also prevent the erection of permanent structures by private parties for commercial purposes.

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

October 2018

31

HEALTH

If you are not well, the world isn’t well. But if you are, the world will be such a happy place. Here is a select list of places where you can pamper yourself and get treated when the need arises. Take care of yourself, so you can take care of others.

If there is an error in the listings or you have a new listing to add, email: residentswatchmag@gmail.com

SALONS/SPAS

FITNESS CENTRES

HOSPITALS

 VLCC

 BOOT CAMP

 NH NARAYANA MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL

 NB NATURALS BEAUTY

 SNAP FITNESS

1660-1661, 27th Main, Sector 2 241, 17th Cross, 9th Main, Sector 6 % 6999-3334

 TONI & GUY

2607, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 2258-4884

 NATURALS

3, 2nd Floor, Opp BDA Complex, 14th Main, Sector 4 % 88846-88846 l 331, 1st Floor, Sector 2 % 88846-11122 l

 CHIK MIK BEAUTY PARLOUR

2623, NIFT, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 2258-3485

 JAWED HABIB

2633, Liss Arcade, 13th Cross, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 49535502, 74066-60462 l 1202, 14th Main, 22nd Cross Sector 3 % 97422-14141

 YLG

434, 27th Main % 4213-4462

 LAKME SALON

 484, 17th Cross, 27th Main, Sector 2 % 6638-9590  40, 14th Main, 7th Sector % 6066-4444

 PLUM & SUGAR

2631, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 4242-0606

19th Main, Sector 3 % 99000-69882/27827 17-T, 1, 17th Cross, 19th Main Road, Sector 3 % 9900003242, 90081-10110

 VIVA FIT

433, 3rd Floor, 17th Cross, Sector 4 % 94800-10044

 GOLD’S GYM

No 2631, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 4242-0606

 APPLE FITNESS

23333, 17th Cr, 24th Mn Sector 1 % 72596-06666

 ZEST FITNESS

257, 14th Main, 2nd Floor Sector 7 % 97393-72233

 FIFTH GEAR FITNESS

107, 24th Mn, 26th Cr Sector 2 % 4814-4411

 PHOEBUS FITNESS

13,29, 24th Mn, near ICICI Bank Sector 2 % 79750-49447

DENTISTS  CONFIDENT DENTAL CARE

2630, 27th Main, Sector 1

% 6565-0016

 AESTHETE LIFESTYLE DENTISTRY

117, 13th Mn, near Devi Eye Hosp Sector 5 % 3319-3598

 DR AN REDDY’S DENTAL CLINIC

581, HSR Club Road, 22nd Cross Sector 3 % 99801-58914

Opp. HSR Club, Sector 3 % 186-0208-0208, 7111-2244

 COLUMBIA ASIA HOSPITAL

Sarjapur Road % 3965-6565

 VASAN EYE CARE HOSPITAL

Sector 7 % 3920-7900, 2572-0499

 DEVI EYE HOSPITAL

157/A, HSR Outer Ring Road, Sector 5 % 4111-2604, 4099-3805

 GREENVIEW HOSPITAL

20&21, Kalpa Vruksha, 14th Main, Sector 5 % 6792-7777

 SAKRA WORLD HOSPITAL

52/2 & 52/3, Outer Ring Road, Opp Intel % 4969-4969

 QUEEN’S HOSPITAL

11/B, 19th Main, 25th Cross, Sector 2 % 2572-6684, 88845-57171  SANTHIGIRI AYURVEDA & SIDDHA HOSPITAL

314, 7th Main, 14th B Cross, Sector 6 % 2572-4112  LOTUS HOSPITAL

24th Mn, Sector 1 % 6999-9911

CLINICS  MATOSHREE KIDNEY STONE CENTER & URO-NEPHRO CLINIC

281, 5th Main, 15th A Cross Sector 6 % 96202-23336

 8AM TO 8PM WOMEN & CHILD CENTER

2nd Floor, BDA Complex, Sector 6 % 186-0208-0208

 MOTHERHOOD

1000, 9th Mn, Sector 7 % 6451-9191

32

October 2018

For daily news updates on HSR Layout, give a MISSED CALL to: 080-33946975

PET CLINICS

HEALTH

 VAIDYARATNAM

No 2335, 17th Cross, 24th Main, Sector 1 % 2258-0020

 DR GOVIND’S MEDICAL & DIABETES CENTRE

 MY PETS CHOICE

 AMEYA HEALTHCARE

 HERRIOT’S CLINIC & PET SHOP

541, 17th Main, 4th Sector % 2572-5378/6450

41/A, 12th Main, 14th Cross Road, Sector 6 % 98451-18585, 2572-2999

 NH NARAYANA MULTISPECIALITY CLINIC

1st Floor, HSR BDA Complex, Sector 6 % 186-0208-0208

 HSR DIABETIC CENTRE

1197, 22nd Cross, Sector 3 % 6050-6688

 EXCELA MEDICARE

No 1320, 1st Floor, 24th Main, Sector 2 % 6555-5655, 97408-51726

 KITES

2345, 17th Cross, Sector 1 % 2258-6700, 99800-67000

 AANVII HEARING SOLUTIONS

358, 25th Main, 22nd Cross, Sector 2 % 4228-6600, 98868-22115

 EXPRESS CLINICS

244, 17th Cross, Sector 7 % 2572-7771

 NATIONWIDE

1172, 24th Main, 25th Cross, Sector 2 % 6565-0030, 90350-77924

 THE APOLLO CLINIC

54, 1st Floor, 12th Main Road, HSR Layout % 2572-4235/36

No 541, 3rd A Main, 16th A Cross, Sector 6 % 2572-6989

 SAMATVAM HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTRE

1, 19th Main, Sector 4 % 2572-4449, 98452-99502

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

No 61, 11th Main, Sector 6 % 2572-1500  DR BATRA’S

No 419, 27th Main, Sector 1 % 2258-3860/61

 ENERGY NESTS

13A, 4th Floor, 14th Main, Sector 5 % 98455-33655

 SALT WORLD

 DR SILPA HOMEOPATHY CLINIC

No 1, 2nd Floor, 18th Main Sector 3 % 98801-03741

 KEVA AYURVEDA HEALTH CARE

600, 15th Cr, 14th Mn, Sector 4

% 4151-0441, 5005-6033/44  NATURE’SMART SKIN & HAIR CLINIC

216, 20th Cross, 27th Mn Sector 2 % 93430-14711

 DR LALITA’S HOMEOPATHIC CLINIC

1694, 1st Floor, 19th Main, Sector 2 % 77607-57025

DIAGNOSTIC LABS

No 440, 28th Main, Sector 1 % 99000-95973

 SHATHAYU AYURVEDA

1017, 27th Main, 13th Cross, Sector 1 % 2258-1171

 BHOOMI DIAGNOSTICS & PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE CENTRE

495, 24th Main, 17th Cross, Sector 2 % 2258-5550/51, 73377-22229

 INSTITUTE OF CLINICALLY APPLIED HIJAMA THERAPY

 MAGNUS DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE

 EARTH AYURVEDA

 SPANDANA

 PIONEER PHYSIOTHERAPY

 EBISU DIAGNOSTICS

1000, 9th Main, near Union Bank Sector 7 % 6451-9191, 99021-36791

No 24, 14th Main, Sector 4, % 4114-5125

No 816, 27th Main % 6599-1476

No 143, Sector 5, HSR Ring Road % 6570-0609 No 776, 19th Main, 23rd Cross, Sector 2 % 98449-55866

 AKSHAR POWER YOGA

1778, 19th Mn, 13th Cr Sector 1 % 97410-82121

17th Cross, 24th Main % 2258-5555, 2258-7777

 APOLLO DIAGNOSTICS

10/8/8, Parangipalya, Sector 2 % 080-44442424, 91009-11354

Organic & Eco-Friendly Products Serving HSR Layout Residents since 2012

A one-stop shop for fresh organic vegetables and fruits, desi cow milk, organic groceries, gardening supplies chemical-free cosmetics & gift items # 1018, 13th Cross, 24th Main, HSR Layout, Sector 1, Bangalore 560 102.

Shop Online

www.theecostore.in

(Landmark: Next to Shathayu Clinic)

Phone: 080–2258-0132, 98456-89551

For daily news updates on HSR Layout, give a MISSED CALL to: 080-33946975

October 2018

33

PROMOTION

Organically yours!

The Eco Store for all your organic and eco-friendly products

By OUR CORRESPONDENT The Eco Store, the oldest organic store in HSR Layout, celebrated its sixth anniversary this July. Today, there are many more alternatives in the neighbourhood, but this shop stands out for sticking to promoting high-quality products produced by farmers and farming groups. As its founder Seshu Maringanti says, “We carefully select our products so that they are healthy and harmless to our body.”

The store gets vegetables five days a week (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun), as soon as they are harvested in the farm.

Their grocery section has a wide range of products ranging from rice, millets, pulses, and so on. Their gardening section has organic products that are required to grow an organic garden in one’s courtyard/balcony. In addition, they have kitchen waste management products like khambhas, microbes and remix powders. “Our cosmetic products are one of the best,” says Seshu. “They do not have chemicals like SLES that harm the skin.”

In summary, The Eco Store is a one-stop shop for all organic and eco-friendly products. They also have an e-commerce website (www.theecostore.in) to provide the convenience of online transactions. “When we started our store in 2012, our customers used to ask us ‘What is Organic?’”, he says. “Now, there is no dearth of awareness, but customers demand authenticity.”

Today, the organic food space has become quite crowded and competitive. “The trends that we saw in the regular FMCG market like deep discounts started to surface here 34

October 2018

RESIDENTSWATCH.IN

too,” says Seshu. “Entities with deep pockets and high business aspirations are entering this market. This is not good for genuine farmers and retailors.

One trend that I noticed consistently is that people who are expanding beyond their sourcing capacity are forced to compromise on the authenticity of their product.”

Future plans “My expansion of this business will always be in line with the capacity of the authentic sourcing that I discover, especially fruits and vegetables,” says the techie who quit his full-time job eight years ago to become an entrepreneur. “I am focusing on expanding our online reach. I might also open another store in the near future.”

[ [ THE ECO STORE No 1018, 13th Cross, 24th Main, Sector 1, HSR Layout Phone: 080-22580132, 98456-89551.

Website: www.theecostore.in