Lakes Development - Misguided policy says Forest Department

Sometime back, I had written about Hebbal lake deterioration and Nagavara lake commercialisation. I had also mentioned in the comments about the recent fencing and deweeding happening recently at the Hebbal lake. There's an excellent article in www.citizenmatters.in on this issue. Read on.

City of Power cuts

“There will be no power from 9 AM to 4 PM in the following areas -”, a small column on the second page in the newspaper announced innocuously. A column that my father read only after the power did not come back in an hour. My mother fretted over the fact that had she seen the news item, she could have filled all the water bottles with sufficient drinking water.
As the day goes by, the mood is pronouncedly morose and they cast anxious looks at the clock. At four in the evening, there is still no power; it comes at five and plays hide and seek until seven pm. In effect, there has been a power outage for the entire day in many parts of the city. This was yesterday. Karnataka Electricity Board had scheduled power shut downs for the maintenance work, upgrading work etc in most parts of East and North Bangalore.

Karnataka was once a model state, not only to our country, but also for all English colonies. Bangalore was the first city in India to get Electricity. We have come a long way from there. Now power outages seem to be a regular affair, especially in summer since we generate electricity through hydro projects. This summer however, the government bought extra power from Jindal and promised that there will not be any power cuts in the city/state. However, it is more a quick fix solution. The city’s growth is exponential and so is its power demands. We cannot manage with hydro electricity alone. We should expand or innovate. A few thoughts on how we manage our power crisis.

IT Think Tank:

This is a technology city of the country. IT sector have huge business knowledge of power generation and transportation from working for power clients across the globe. If the IT sector and the present government collaborate, they can produce a long-term solutions.

Power Generation Plant for Bangalore:

We should have a separate power generation plant for the city. Bangalore's growth in the last few decades has been tremendous. Its power needs have also increased hugely. We should stop usurping more than our share of the state's power. WHy not have a separate plant in Bangalore for Bangalore.

Underground Electric Cables:

Every monsoon, there is a power cut when it rains heavily. The KEB fears that the overhead transformers or cables might break and hence better live in the dark and be safe. Even the new residential layouts that abound in the Airport vicinity use the older technology. Why dont we look towards underground network rather than overhead cables. We pay higher taxes, cess, compared to the rest of the metros; use this for developmental benefits for the city.

I hope the new government, which has special plans for the city executes its promises. I hope our city becomes a model for the country now just like in past. And I hope for our sake, that the party holds the office for its full term and is not brought down in a number game by its rivals.

IPL 2008

Courtesy www.24timepass.com/sports
India Today, a leading news magazine, describes the event as Cricket’s Greatest Show. Shashi Tharoor in his article in ‘Times of India’ daily defines the Twenty20 game, aptly – an American Sport accidentally invented by India. The teams' names takes us back to monarchy; Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab etc. With all the hue and cry about its success, what is the common man’s take on this mega event? I set about asking ordinary people – the middle class and lower middle class working lot – taxi drivers, housewives, average white-collared office-going person, teenagers, grandfathers (who have enjoyed Viv Richards’ powerful team annihilating the rest of the world) and tried to assimilate this event, perhaps India’s best sitcom of the year.

Before even this event began, many cricket fans had been hooked to ICL, a parallel initiative to BCCI, led by Zee Telefilms. The Twenty20 idea germinated in England and became hugely popular here during the World Cup Series, when India won the match in a thrilling finish. I became aware of the ICL trend, when going in a taxi across the city. The driver changed the radio channel from a popular hindi movie song to a standard cricket commentary. Piqued, I asked him whether a Ranji game going on. He smiled and enlightened me - “Hyderabad heroes and World XI are playing today madam. Very interesting match”. Back home, I enlightened my family on this and suggested we watch the game. We watched for sometime, until the elders decided to switch over to their daily staple of sitcoms. The game had a lot of energy, colourful costumes but very low-key. Orphaned by major cricketers who had been duly warned by their respective cricketing boards, the team consisted for retired and rebel players. Still, it had a huge TV audience, as assured by the taxi driver that day.

As IPL arrived in January 2008, it announced itself with a lot of hoopla. The players auctioned like commodities, the auction itself shown live on TV an entire day drew a lot of flak and admiration from everyone. Most importantly, it drew publicity. An uncle was glued to more than his daily share of news trying to digest the pay checks for the cricketers. Still everyone had their own doubts as it had to share the primetime with many sitcoms that drew a faithful audience. Also, six weeks of cricket is a little too much.
The first match between Bangalore and Kolkata saw a full house at the Chinnaswamy stadium. During the McCullum blast, when my father called to say that ‘our team’ are clueless and failing, I knew IPL had touched a chord.
In the following weeks, when politicians turned their moral policing on the cheer leaders, the girls had something to cheer. Housewives now found an interesting diversion. I’ve always noticed sitcom loyalists observe the actresses’ clothes and accessories more than the pace less script. An aunt, a sitcom loyalist, now turned her attention to the cheerleaders’ dress, after the controversy. The fact that these girls weren’t shown on the screen often made it more alluring. Of course, youngsters loved it. With good cricket, fast paced, colourful personalities, it grabbed their attention. The camera could sometimes be accused of showing more footage of Preity Zinta than the cheer leaders.

Being a purist and having watched Test matches sitting beside my father, I still could not come to terms with this form of cricket. It resembled, I argued with anyone who cared for a debate, a form of cricket we played during school, Book cricket. On the last day, I sat to watch the finals, more interested in the closing ceremony acrobatics than the game. As the match started, I was slowly drawn towards the underdog, Team Chennai. I loved Dhoni’s batting, dumbstruck to see Suresh Raina drop Yusuf when he was yet to make a mark, cursing at Balaji’s wide during the last over, even though technically it was very difficult for him.
As Rajasthan team won and rightly so since they were the better team on that day, I realised that IPL had won.

Hebbal – Where is the Lake?

Every time we cross the Hebbal flyover, I invariably have a sinking feeling as I glance towards the lake. Water hyacinths have covered much of the lake and the soil dumped on the lake periphery towards Bellary Road looks very ugly. Since there is no fencing, the sand may affect motorists now that the monsoons have started.

I went though lot of articles in several newspapers, blogs, and magazines (both online and print). There are some beautiful insights on the lake in Praja Bangalore and Citizen Matters. Sadly they do not carry a single article on the current state of the lake. The public is still in the dark on the maintenance of the lake.

For the uninitiated, Hebbal and its adjoining Nagavara lakes in North Bangalore, have a 150 year old history. Built by Kempegowda, these were man made and served as water beds for the population living around here. The lakes attracted migratory birds from Himalayan and Central Asiatic regions. Over recent times, the numbers have diminished due to city’s development in this region. Last year, there was a furore by the environmentalists, when Lake Development Authority (LDA) leased the lake to the Oberoi Group for a 15 year term. They took this decision to court and won the battle.

After the court decision, the information on these lakes is zero. Zilch. Who is now responsible for the lake’s development and preservation? Certainly not the LDA - which just has grandeur plans of conservation of (hold your breath) 17 lakes in the city. Certainly not the green group - who just win high court battles but in the aftermath do not write and create public awareness about the lake’s development.

I have been to the Nagavara lake which is now maintained by Lumbini Gardens. The lakeside is now a huge amusement park. With a lot of entertainment, food courts and of course the water body, the lake provides respite to a lot of people around the area. To give due credit to Lumbini, the lake is clean; sign boards, with messages to the public such as "Keep the lakeside clean" and "Do not throw food to the fish", are displayed along the bank. But does it help the eco-system? Do migratory birds flock here now that the lake side is populated by people? (Motorboats operate even after sunset) I have my own doubts about it. Now consider the Hebbal Lake. It has a nominal entry fee. There is no amusement park. I am not sure on the boating facilities. Even if it has, how can one go boating in a lake covered with weeds?

With no public private partnership and laxity in lakes development by the LDA, my fear is that Hebbal Lake, sadly, might turn into another Subashnagar bus stand. Environmentalists, LDA, private companies please come round with a solution. Every one of us has a social responsibility towards the fragile eco-system – profit or no profit.

Bangalore Walks

Since its conception in 2005 by Arun Pai, I always wanted to go on these walks - more out of curiosity than any real inclination to know about the city. What can one know about Bangalore since it has a very young history. Bangalore city was planned and created by Kempegowda, a local chieftain in 16th century. It housed a British cantonment colony in the 19th century and its famous Gardens - Lalbagh was conceptualised during the reign of Tipu Sultan, a muslim warrior with a love for roses. Apart from this, I couldn't think of anything worth a mention.So, it came as a pleasant surprise that we could discover a lot about the city’s history in a short walk on MG Road. Some quiz questions to churn your grey cells and induce you to discover in the walks.

• Did you know that there is a Victoran house with a tennis court on this busy commercial MG Road? With soaring real estate prices, it’s really commendable of the owner to maintain his private space on the most commercial of all streets in Bangalore.
• The building facing ‘The Estate’ on Dickenson Road has a unique history - connected to electricity. (I have worked in 'The Estate', but never knew this building's significance)
• Have you given a thought to the statue facing away from Mayo Hall? What is his significance?

To find the answers to these and discover other interesting facts in the city's tale, take the Victorian Walk with the Bangalore Walks guide. The walk starts from Trinity church and ends at St Marks Circle and is a short distance of 2 km. The pace is relaxed and it ends with a sumptuous South Indian breakfast at a venue with fantastic view. The venue name is not revealed till the end.

My personal recommendation to anyone interested in the city's history and culture, do take the walk. Sure, its at 7 am on a weekend, when most of us relish that extra slumber – but its worth the effort. With few vehicles at that time, it’s a pleasure to drive to the venue and you come away knowing a lot more about the city at the end of the tour.

BIAL Airport - at last

After 10 long years of red tapeism and bureaucracy, our city finally has a fully functional airport of International standards - BIAL. Mr Brunner, MD, BIAL, has received both praise and flak from a lot of commuters.

Being a Banglorean, I was naturally curious about the new airport. So when I got an oppurtunity to fly to Bombay last week from this airport, excitement and curiousity were on an all time high. Some good things about the airport -

* Its a fantastic feeling to see the 'trumpet exchange' (flyover), airport, runway. The whole look & feel gives it an international flavour.

*I just loved the fact that there are 50 check-in counters - no more long waits to check-in.

*The food stalls outside, the metered taxis, buses to commute all catered to people friendliness

And there are a few shortcomings too, which if corrected at this stage would help in the long run. Some main points -

1. Extend the Airport - If I was given magical powers & full control of BIAL I would stretch the building twice its size in both length & breadth. Given the traffic that would only increase & needless to say about our population the airport is woefully small. Its smaller than the airport in Auckland, a city with only 2 million people.

2. Give a cultural touch - I admire Bangkok's Suvarnabhoomi Airport with its Buddhist Stupa & Hindu Samudra Manthana and Thai local wares being sold in all shops. Give us some shops like Sapna Book Stall, Mysore Sandal products and Cauvery Sandalwood artifacts. This is the only place in the world that grows Sandalwood. Veerappan, an infamous smuggler, lived and died in these jungles.

At the entrance, a Shantala statue or a BR Hills Elephant would be more apt than a Louis Vuitton Suitcase. Sure we need to have the international look, but i dont want my airport to pretend its in Europe!

3. Taxes - A plate of Idly costs Rs 80/- Parking charges are an exorbitant Rs 50/- for every 15 minutes! I paid Rs 200/- while waiting to receive my hubby, who reached on time but got delayed due to airplane parking & baggage collection delays. The gora at the coffee shop has an attitude of the French and doesn't take my latte order directly - its through an Indian assistant. Oh, how I long for my coorg coffee!

4. Aircraft Parking, Baggage Collection delays - I dont want to speak much on this. Mr Mallya, the UB Baron quotes the same sentiment.

So Mr Brunner, can you please hear to our angst and address the issues? I love the airport and would like it even more then. And yes, please dont rename it as KempeGowda, Local flavour is great, but not local personalities(with due respect to Kempegowda) - then there's no end to it.