Bangalore Discussions

[JhonJ]

Bringing home the Cauvery


Ceaseless: The station at Tataguni pumps 590 million litres of water daily to the city but is deceptively small for the immense task it performs

BWSSB spends Rs, 7 crore a month to pump water to the city from the Tataguni pumping station on Kanakapura Road

Perhaps the least known feature of Kanakapura Road is what serves the city the most — the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board's (BWSSB) pumping station at Tataguni, distributing water to the city all day, all week, through the year. Sourcing water from the Cauvery, at the point where its tributaries Kollegal and Kabini meet in T. Narsipur, 120 km south of Tataguni, water is supplied to Bangalore city through three pumping stations on Kanakapura Road. This system forms the famed Cauvery project that the city depends on.

Journey against gravity

“When water flows from the Krishnaraja Sagar to T. Narsipur, part of it is drawn to Thorekadanahalli (T.K. Halli), where BWSSB's treatment and purification plant is stationed,” explained Rama Krishna, the engineer in charge at Tataguni. “From T.K. Halli to Harohalli, where the next pumping station is located, water flows on gravity only and does not need to be pumped, for a distance of 25 km.”

At Harohalli, there are no chemical processes for the Cauvery water to undergo. “From Harohalli, underground pipelines, of 1,200 mm width, bring the water to Tataguni,” Rama Krishna said.

This stretch of the water's journey is steadily against gravity, overcoming an altitude of 1,500 ft. All three stages of the Cauvery water project put together, Tataguni pumps 590 million litres of water a day (mld) to the city.

An engineering feat

“The Cauvery water project is truly an engineering marvel,” exclaimed S. Vishwanath, founder of Rainwater Club. “Pumping water for a whole city over 100-odd kilometres, climbing an altitude of nearly 500 m is a challenge the BWSSB took on and completed successfully.”

The pumping station at Tataguni is deceptively and almost disappointingly small and non-descript for the immense task it performs.

A small winding road leads to the station, amid a carefully landscaped wooded area. Large closed tanks, which still do not appear massive enough to hold water sufficient to quench a whole city, receive water from the pipelines.

The fumes released as a result of chlorine being mixed with the water ensure that people keep their distance.

Energy intensive

A large room is demarcated notionally midway to separate the five pumps that work on stage I of the project from an equal number of pumps that are for stage II. These two stages pump 135 mld of water each, while stage III, which is another series of eight pumps in another room, pumps 320 mld of water, 50 mld in excess of its actual capacity of 270 mld.

“We pay an electricity bill of Rs. 7 crore a month, to do all this pumping,” Rama Krishna said.

“Bangalore attracted people as a settlement, because of its salubrious weather, which it gets by being at a certain altitude,” Vishwanath explained. “As with all hill stations, the city does not have too many water sources nearby to fall back on, and cannot hold much water in its soil.” Hence, such energy intensive processes become necessary to sustain the growth of such a city, he said.

There was the Arkavati, which has now dried up, and supplies very little water to the city. “We should do rainwater harvesting and recharge our lakes, of course. But, water is not an easy resource to access for Bangalore,” Vishwanath said.

Ironically, Thatguni village and settlements near the pumping station do not get Cauvery water as the city limits begin only at Talaghattapura, further up Kanakapura Road.

Alternatives

Rohan D'Souza, who conducted research on water systems in Bangalore last year, however, does not think of the Cauvery water project as a necessary evil.

“If people in the 16th century could think up of a system of tanks to sustain their settlements, we should be able to maintain them and expand them more and not have to pump water from 100 km away,” he said.

“People are sold to the idea of the Cauvery itself coming to their homes,” said Vinay Baindur, a water policy analyst. “It becomes a matter of culture and even religion for them.”

“There were some water recycling plants and other alternative ideas proposed to meet the demands of central Bangalore,” he said. “But, all of it was consumed by the idea of a massive water supply project that is the Cauvery project stage IV, which would focus on the suddenly grown areas of outer Bangalore.”

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3422587.ece

[JhonJ]

Living the urban dream



The lush green Kanakapura Road is under a brick and mortar seizure

“The future beckons Kanakapura Road,” says real estate market analyst Manoj Shetty, pointing to the noticeable brick-and-mortar seizure in the lush green neighbourhood of the 65-km State highway leading to Kanakapura.

Lakes, coconut orchards, ragi fields, vegetable farms, jelly-stone units and vast lakes where cattle leisurely wander; it's like setting up a home at a vacation spot.

The sudden sprouting of tall multi-storeyed apartments, built as exclusive enclaves in the middle of narrow lanes of what used to be villages, is apparent.

Says H.R. Girish, CEO of Vakil Housing Development Corporation, “The road was virgin and offered connectivity to Electronics City, Hosur, Sarjapur and Whitefield on one side, and Magadi Road, Mysore Road and Tumkur Road on the other, apart from its proximity to Jayanagar and J.P. Nagar.”

METRO EFFECT

The prospect of connectivity to the central business districts via Namma Metro, even from as far as Tataguni, seems to have made this road further attractive.

A study by real estate portal 99acres.com revealed that property price trends after the launch of the first reach of the metro have enabled a higher price push in Kanakapura Road and Jalahalli, which will be connected in the next reach.

Land value on Kanakapura Road is upwards of Rs. 3,500 per sq ft in developed stretches, while average flat builders price their residential units at nothing less than Rs. 4,000 per sq ft.

FOR SENIORS TOO

Most of the projects coming up on Kanakapura Road are integrated townships, which attract senior citizens as much as the young working population.

“The quiet environs of this pastoral area are what we want in our sunset areas. Being away from the city doesn't bother us as we hardly go out,” says septuagenarian Padma Murthy, who stays at Suvidha retirement village on Kanakapura Road.

According to Mahesh Khaitan, who heads the research group Sattva Real Estate Solutions, the action begins at Konanakunte Cross and extends even beyond the Art of Living ashram, where builders have already invested in land reserves.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3422596.ece

[JhonJ]

Not everything green is ready to be turned into money yet on Kanakapura Road

As the land-sapped city looks at every corner to find new space to move into, a significant amount of green space, once the city's main identity, is sacrificed. Kanakapura Road is on its way to welcome the city to its lonely corner.

“It is the last neighbourhood in the city to be invaded by civilization and urbanisation,” said Jayaram S., principal of the Valley School. He has witnessed the area's recent transition from boondocks to a real estate hub.

Some of the apartment complexes on the road have been constructed on land that was once the Jaraganahalli lake or the Yelchanahalli tank. Meanwhile, other builders are digging up the land skirting the B.M. Kaval State forest and the Turahalli forest promising buyers a ‘forest view'.

Silt and debris

“The school campus is hundred acres of a dense patch of wilderness. We used to have many streams within the campus,” said Jayaram. “But in the past seven years, with construction activity just outside the school, the streams have dried up. Once we even got our students to clear silt from the streams as an awareness activity but the streams dried up again.”

Extensive drilling and clearing of land at the edge of the forest has also scared elephants into running to nearby villages, said residents.

Kanakapura Road is part of the Anekal-Bannerghatta elephant corridor, which is rich in streams, lakes and woods. It was the abundance of water that attracted the elephants in a different era.

The Forest Department is concerned only about ensuring that construction does not physically encroach on forest land. “We are building a wall to demarcate the forest area from private land,” said G.A. Appu Rao, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Bangalore Urban), missing the irony of using a wall to achieve his goal.

Not integrated development

“The projects being integrated townships, they are not likely to integrate very well with the local economy either,” said H.S. Sudhira, a researcher with the Indian Institute of Human Settlements. “When people do have to go outside for work, they would in all probability use a personal automobile, eliminating even any incidental contact with the other.”

“But, then, the original owner did not sell of his land expecting to be integrated. It made sense for him to sell his land when the right price came along and move to the city, where his future is,” Sudhira said.

Recounting the common sentiment of the villagers in the area, Jayaram said that the villagers are more than happy to give up their land for a good price. “This is mostly true of other areas as well, where the skill sets of the original landowners do not always match the commercial requirements of their buyers,” Sudhira said.

Some of these tracts of land have become farms and resorts, some claiming to be ‘eco-friendly'.

Organic growth

But not everything green is ready to be turned into money yet.

G. Narayana Prasad owns an organic farm on Kanakapura Road where he grows four traditional varieties of local paddy along with turmeric, vegetables like tomato and brinjal, and even mango, chikoo, coconut and tamarind. He sold four of five acres of the farm to a friend but manages all of it now.

“As a development worker, I was always interested in environmental campaigns. Sustainable agriculture fascinated me and I decided to get some personal experience,” he explained.

Kenchegowda, who manages an estate in the area, said, “We grow native crops such as ragi here. The owner of this farm is not willing to give away this land to any builder.”

Prasad felt it was going to be difficult to sustain such farms in the coming days. “It is difficult to find people who will do manual work in a farm. Small farms cannot go towards mechanisation,” he lamented.

While farms promise a greener future for the area, some farmhouses are also becoming primarily weekend getaways. “So close to the city, farms there will only go by what city-dwellers want,” S. Vishwanath, founder of Rainwater Club said. “Because city dwellers wanted exotic vegetables, farms grow that, and also act as homes for them to relax in; tomorrow if they want ragi, these farms could go back to cultivating millets.”

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3422609.ece

[JhonJ]

Dine fine and healthy, south Indian style



At Angana, the menu is decided on the basis of what is good for you

In recent years, many resorts have cropped up on and off Kanakapura Road, offering a wide variety of cuisines from different parts of the world. But at Angana, the menu is decided on the basis of what is good for you.

The food is prepared by local people; it is like the ‘mess' in cities, with a homemade appeal, but of course, offering a fine dining experience.

Antique charm

The restaurant bears a rustic look with kerosene lamps and brass bells hanging from clay-tiled roofs.

Antique tea pots and other utensils adorn the dining area, set on red oxide flooring. Stone pillars surrounding the room give it an old world charm.

Jaljeera, a refreshing drink made with zesty dry mango powder and black salt, is offered on arrival, setting the tone for the scrumptious meal ahead.

A redundant appetiser, lemon panaka, follows and can be avoided especially as it is loaded with sugar.

Wholesome

This is followed by an array of curries, such as green gram or chenna kosambari, beans palya, raitha, ennegai (brinjal curry) and potato, all of which are prepared from vegetables grown around the resort. They are served on plantain leaves, as befitting the south Indian theme.

The brinjal curry, with its medium spice and just the right amount of oil, is a delicacy that one must not miss. It goes well with the whole-wheat phulkas and akki rottis which are served as the first course.

Whole-wheat phulkas are slightly coarse, but a healthy choice.

Cooked on firewood

The next course consists of rice-based dishes such as pulav and plain rice with sambar or spicy rasam.

The pulav is something to look forward to, for its soft texture and light taste.

All these items are cooked on firewood stoves which add an earthy flavour, something new for urbanites.

Cool accompaniments

As is the practice with traditional meals, curd vada, now recognised better as a chat, with mint chutney and a dash of coriander, is served along with the main course.

A dessert of gulab jamoon and ice-cream complete the satisfying meal, along with the healthy element of seasonal fruits. The latter was a better choice as the jamoons came across as a little too chewy.

Angana, the country inn, is located at Pattareddy Palya, Kaggalipura, 25th km of Kanakapura Road. For details call 080-28432888 or email: reservations@anganacountryinn.com.

The resort runs on a package basis and the food can be ordered in advance while booking packages.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3422599.ece

[JhonJ]

Police verification can be done online

In order to expedite the police verification process, the city police have launched an online platform on par with the Sakala scheme, implemented by the state government recently. This is in line with the government policy of simplifying procedures to enable speedy delivery of services to citizens.

Those who are planning to approach the city police commissioner’s office or a police station for verification for various purposes can download a unified form from Karnataka police website www.ksp.gov.in/home/citizen/forms.php or Bangalore city police website www.bcp.gov.in/english/forms. Once the form is filled, it can be submitted online at Bangalore-One portal www.bangaloreone.gov.in or at any

Bangalore-One/Karnataka-One centre or nationalised bank, a release from the city police commissioner said. Besides the charges levied by credit card companies, one has to pay Rs5 as service charge at Bangalore-One centres and Rs7 at Karnataka-One centres.

Once the application is submitted online, one will get a 15-digit acknowledgement number. The documents will be sent electronically from offices of district police officer (DPO) and commissioner of police (COP) to police stations.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/re...online_1689934

[JhonJ]

‘LED’ there be light, and Taiwan in state

After scripting a success story in software, Bangalore is set on emerging as the hardware capital of India as well, and it has already made a promising start by tying up with global hardware giant Taiwan.

The forthcoming Global Investors’ Meet 2012—to be held in Bangalore on June 7 and 8—is expected to unveil a mega project —Taiwan Hardware Technology Park—which will make other states sit up and take note of the immense opportunities waiting to be tapped in the Information and Telecommunication (ITC) manufacturing sector.

“A group of Taiwan-based companies have expressed interest in setting up ICT hardware manufacturing units near Bangalore in the form of an integrated township. About 1,000 acres of land is needed for the purpose and we have identified two sites: one near Devanahalli and another near Narasapura, in Kolar district,” chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda told DNA.

The Taiwan Hardware Technology Park would be an integrated township, with industrial units and residential space. The park would be devoted exclusively for setting up manufacturing units for making semiconductor chips, Light Emitting Diodes (LED), computer hardware and telecommunication equipment, the chief minister said.

Talks with 15 companies have already reached the memorandum of understanding stage. It would be announced at the forthcoming GIM. A 75 member delegation of Taiwan Electronics Manufacturers Association (TEMA) is expected to visit Bangalore in September to visit the proposed sites before finalising the site.

The state government has already announced an electronic hardware policy to woo investments with liberal tax concessions and investment incentives.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/re...-state_1689913

[nandan_ks]

Crossposting

Originally Posted by murlee

eBay India released the Battle of Gadgets Rankings


Phones

* Delhi has bought the most Mobile Phones.

* Delhi bought the most Smart Phones in the quarter

* Bengaluru continues to consume the most Dual SIM phones on eBay India

* Delhi purchased the most value phones.

Cameras

* Bengaluru followed by Delhi and Chennai were the top three cities respectively, indulging in Digital Cameras

* Chennai bought the most compact cameras followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai.

* Bengaluru bought the most long zoom cameras

* Bangaloreans also took up professional photography in a big way and bought the most Digital SLR Cameras.

Laptops

* Bengaluru bought the most laptops in India.

* Bengaluru again features as the top Tablet city.

* Bengaluru, Chennai & Delhi are neck-to-neck on Regular Laptops consumption

TV

* Bengaluru bought the most TVs in India.

* Delhi tops the LCD TV segment followed by Bengaluru and Chennai.

* Bengaluru again is the Top LED TVs city.

eBay Battle of the Gadgets Methodology:

eBay India Battle of the Gadgets January-March 2012 research findings were based on an analysis of all gadget purchases by Indians on eBay India between January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2012. The research report showcases interesting trends of India’s Top Gadget Cities, Models & Brands across 4 popular gadget categories of Laptops, Cameras, Mobile Phones and Televisions.

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/corporate...s-rankings-671

[murlee]

Hi Guys!! Tawang, India banner is up.. Plz vote for it.

http://xl.skyscrapercity.com/?page=banner

[engineer.akash]

Nice one...Namma state seal...and the iconic vidhan soudha

[JhonJ]

Traffic congestion near Nayandahalli Junction

BANGALORE: The city traffic police have confirmed that the ongoing work at one of the busiest junctions, the Nayandahalli Junction on Bangalore-Mysore Road, will take at least another three months for completion.With five civic agencies - KPTCL, BWSSB, BDA, BMRCL and BBMP - undertaking construction works on this stretch, the police have advised commuters to travel on alternative roads - Magadi and NICE Roads - to avoid traffic congestion.
Passengers of KSRTC and BMTC buses have complained that the delay in completion of works has increased their travelling time by at least 40 minutes.
However, the officials claim that diverting routes is not the solution, as they fear locals might object.
“If the authorities concerned write to us seeking diversion of routes, we can consider it.
However, it is not feasible to detour till the traffic conditons improve near the junction,” said a BMTC official.
KSRTC, which runs intercity buses, said Nayanda halli Junction is unavoidable as it is the only short route to Mysore, Ooty, Kerala and Madikeri.
Its officials said KSRTC buses cannot ply through the city, as a large number of buses are in its fleet.
The city traffic police have appealed to the commuters to use alternative routes.
Speaking to Express, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) Dr M A Saleem said, “We have already imposed a ban on heavy vehicles for 8 hours in a day.
Trucks carrying essential commodities have to reach Taragupet and Kalasipalyam within the said time.
As a result, trucks cannot be banned for long duration.
However, this could be solved if RMCs are shifted outside the city.
” With the onset of monsoon, the conditons could worsen, he added.
Saleem ruled out the possibility of asking KSRTC to shift the bus stop to Kengeri and run shuttle services as the authorities had agreed to shift the operation of buses from Mysore Road Satellite Bus Stand, only after a series of negotiations.
The additional commissioner of police noted, by the time a new rule is implemented, the ongoing works could be completed.

THE ONGOING PROJECTS AT NAYANDAHALLI JUNCTION ON MYSORE ROAD * BDA: Two flyovers one on top of the other.
One level will link to the Outer Ring Road, while the other one will run parallel to the Metro line and perpendicular to the ORR.
* Metro: Metro line to Kengeri.
Work Undertaken by BBMP, BWSSB * Repair work on Flyover * Sirsi Circle road widening.
* Drain work at Gali Anjenaya Temple and Kavika * KPTCL: Sub-station work.
* BWSSB: Laying of new pipeline.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangal...on/392831.html

[JhonJ]

Alarm in city alerts techie in US

BANGALORE: A techie’s precautionary measures and a head constable’s immediate action, foiled a theft attempt at a flat in Royal Residency Apartment in RR Layout in Hulimavu police station limits in the wee hours of Wednesday.
According to the police, Suresh, a software engineer, had gone to the US with his family. Before leaving, he had installed a burglar alarm in the house. In the wee hours of Wednesday, some miscreants tried to break into his house and the alarm alerted Suresh.
He immediately called his neighbor Manje Gowda, a head constable with City Special Branch, and informed him about the incident.
“Gowda swung into action and noticed that around five persons were trying to break into Suresh’s residence. He shot two rounds in the air, that scared miscreants away,” police said.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangal...US/392558.html

[JhonJ]

First in country: UAS gets power from biogas

BANGALORE: At a time when power corporations are struggling to supply sufficient electricity to consumers, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Bangalore, has been generating its own power through a biogas plant since March 2012.
The plant, which is the first of its kind on any university campus in the country generates power using around five tonnes of cow dung, agricultural and kitchen waste.
It generates around 300- 320 units of electricity per day which lasts for 16 hours a day and saves at least `50,000 per month in terms of electricity bill.
“The benefit of biogas-based power generation unit is its independence from irregular and costlier power grid.
It ensures continuity of resource due to self -efficiency in power generation and also ensures good quality manure,” said V-C of UAS, Bangalore, Narayana Gowda.
The project is worth `40 lakh and the payback period is around two years.
“The University is also encouraging small farmers to set up similar units at individual and community levels,” said Kumargoud, project coordinator at GKVK.
Narayana Gowda said that based on the success of Bangalore’s pilot power plant, the University aims to replicate the same in other campuses.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnat...as/392845.html

[JhonJ]

Whitefield flats reap high rents in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Tony areas of Gurgaon, Mumbai and Pune have seen high rental value appreciation for apartments for the January-March quarter this year. Bangalore came a distant ninth with Whitefield recording a 16.66% jump in apartment rentals in the same period.

MagicBricks.com, in its PropIndex anniversary edition, said Gurgaon's Golf Course Extension Road grew a whopping 40% with average (apartment) rentals at Rs 15.50 per sqft in the quarter compared to the same period last year. The hotspots in Mumbai and Pune are Kanjur Marg West and Viman Nagar, respectively.

Bangalore's Whitefield continued to be a priority destination for corporate clients. The micro-market absorbed 180,000 sqft in the quarter with a dip in vacancy rates. Suburb Yelahanka recorded a 15.78% rental appreciation with North Bangalore absorbing 100,000 sqft of office space in the period.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13282179.cms

[JhonJ]

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike refuses to collect tax from gated enclave

BANGALORE: In an unprecedented move, BBMP has declined to collect property tax from residents of a gated co-mmunity, Laughing Waters, in Mahadevapura near Whi-tefield. The Palike cited a BDA directive describing the enclave as illegal.

This is alarming news for lakhs of Bangaloreans who own properties in thousands of illegal layouts in and around the city.

BBMP said Laughing Waters figures in a BDA list of 127 illegal layouts. Rosanna Daruwalla, who owns a 50 ft x 80 ft plot there, is deeply worried. "I've paid property tax every year since 1994 when I bought the site. When my mother went to pay tax in April last week to avail the 5% tax rebate, she was told about a notice posted there. It sounds strange not to collect tax," Rosanna said.

Laughing Waters is an elite gated community offering high-end accommodation including luxurious club, sports unit, gymnasium and swimming pool. Its residents are upset about the illegal tag. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, told TOI: "I'm not bothered about BBMP not collecting tax because it will do so later. But the problem lies with BDA and the revenue department terming the layout illegal."

Residents admit there's pending litigation over the legitimacy of a part of the enclave. The layout has allegedly encroached upon 8 acres of gomala (grazing land) in Ram8agondanahalli. Those whose plots fall within encroached government land have mov8ed court. But residents wonder why all of them should be tarred with the same brush when legality of some plots is under question.

A spokesman of the La-ughing Waters Residents' Association, refused to comme-nt on the iss8ue, saying paying tax is a "private issue" which he doesn't want to discuss with the media.

KN Devaraju, joint commissioner, Mahadevapura zone, said the issue had been discussed with BDA and me-asures will be taken to collect taxes. "The entire layout is not illegal and I've written to BDA asking for details of properties wh8ich have allegedly encroa8ched upon on government land. We won't collect tax from those properties. I'm awaiting BDA's reply," he said.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13282128.cms

[JhonJ]

Visvesvaraya’s house gets a facelift

Restoring a legacy

Since the last few days some actitivity has been noticed in the vicinity of the house where Bharatratna Sir M Visvesvaraya was born in Muddenahalli.

There are efforts to give a new look to the house, which is a memorial. However, the original architecture of the house will be left undisturbed. The renovation work is in progress and will be completed soon.

Visvesvaraya’s house in Muddenahalli has hundreds of visitors every day sole in admiration of his work for the society. Most tourist first visit Visvesvaraya’s house and then visit his grave which is located at a short distance from his house to pay their respects.

In the vicinity of Visvesvaraya’s house, a museum is located and in the first floor of the museum building a branch of the State Bank of Mysore (which was founded by him) is temporarily located. The entire complex is managed by the Visvesvaraya National Memorial Trust.

In view of the renovation work the priceless collection in the museum is being shifted to the adjacent building. The bank which was functioning on the first floor now operates for the ground floor.

The work of renovation is completed on the ground floor and is in progress in the first floor. The repair work on the windows and walls are in progress using good quality and premium materials. The renovation work is likely to be completed by two or three months.

“It is intended to maintain the original facade and structure of the building. The work has been entrusted to the Karnataka Land Army Corporation at a cost of Rs 60 to Rs 80 lakh.
The museum will be accommodated in the original location after completion of the renovation work”, said State Bank of Mysore branch manager V Sunil.

To provide better service to the customers in the village, the branch of the bank will be shifted to another location. The search is on for an ideal place.

On display in the museum are awards, titles, certificates presented to Visvesvaraya, his collection of books, passport, items of daily use and a lot more providing a glimpse of the life and times of the great visionary. The entry to the museum, which is open from 11 am to 5 pm, is free.

Tourism plans

The tourism department has plans to promote places of tourist interest in and around Chikkaballapur. Tourist will be taken around in a buy of other vehicles.
A mini tour will be organised taking people to Bhoganandishwara temple in Nandi village, Nandi Hills, Visvesvaraya’s house and grave in Muddenahalli. This plan is likely to be implemented soon, sources said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...-facelift.html

[JhonJ]

A gigantic feat by a school dropout

When engineers and bureaucrats were looking for an artist to create a huge multi-metal Ashoka Sthamba to be placed atop the dome of Suvarna Soudha, a replica of the Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum, they perhaps never imagined the gigantic task would fall upon the shoulders of a third-standard dropout.

Among the bidders from across the country, they were convinced that an unassuming Vishveshwaraiah Tuljaram Naindrakar was the only competent artist who could accomplish the task. The Rs 71-lakh bid was bestowed upon the artist from Gulbarga who can neither read nor write.

That is the unusual success story of the 41-year-old Naindrakar. In his studio at Bhovi Galli on the Filterbed Road, Naindrakar is engaged round the clock to complete the structure in two months.

“Undoubtedly, it is the most complicated and challenging work. But I like challenges. When everyone throws his hands up, I am ready to accept it,’’ says Naindrakar.

Even professionals and experienced artists would sometimes hesitate to accept the work Naindrakar has been assigned by the Public Works Department and B G Shirke Construction Technology Pvt Ltd, the constructing agency of the Suvarna Soudha. But he laid his hands on it without a second thought.

It involves providing and erecting the Ashoka emblem on the top of the main dome of Suvarna Soudha, made in bronze metal with gold paint lacquer and seating arrangement of 8.33 ft diameter on top of the dome with 6.92 ft base diameter of emblem and height of 12.07 ft.

The emblem weighing 6.5 tonnes is required to be made of three metals —60 per cent brass, 30 per cent copper and 10 per cent nickel. The structure will be fitted in five parts by ultramodern cranes.

Naindrakar, after losing his father early in his childhood, had no formal schooling. He failed in third standard and was very mischievous and naughty. He was brought up by his maternal grandfather who was a wood carver.

Knowing his grandson’s inclination, he did not insist on his schooling and employed him in different works.

“I learnt wood carving from my grandfather and used to watch with amazement his pottery making. I would steal clay and make my own models and when the potter readies to bake his products in the kiln, I would throw in my clay models too. And they would transform into wonderful pieces,’’ Naindrakar recalls.

For Naindrakar, being an early school dropout came as a blessing in disguise. “Had I been to school, I would have become some nondescript clerk,’’ he says.

Top politicians, bureaucrats, reputed engineers and others keep coming to his studio situated in the muddy narrow bylanes of Bhovi Galli, to place orders for busts, statues, portraits, etc. He has mastered his art in clay, wood, fibre, glass and metal.
The lasting contributions of Gulbarga’s pride will remain an inspiration for decades to come for young and aspiring artists.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...l-dropout.html

[JhonJ]

Road rage gets CM too

Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Friday got a taste of road rage when his convoy came under attack by two motorbike-borne youths, who were riding behind to avoid traffic snarls along the route.

When the security personnel warned the two riders, they threw their helmet at one of the vehicles in the convoy and fled.

The incident exposed major chinks in the chief minister’s security set-up.

The motorbike riders, however, could not be identified as they shielded the registration number plate of their two-wheeler with a scarf. The incident occurred when Mr Sadananda Gowda was returning to his official residence from Jakkur Airport, where he landed after attending a Scheduled Caste convention in Mysore.

When the chief minister’s convoy reached Byatarayanapura, the two youths, riding a black Pulsar motorbike, started following the convoy to avoid traffic hurdles as the chief minister’s motorcade is given right of way. But when they went too close to the convoy, the securitymen warned the bikers, but they did not pay heed.

When the police warned them again near Kodigehalli, the bikers threw their helmet at the convoy and sped away. But no case was registered till late on Friday night.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ets-cm-too-856

[JhonJ]

State scores a high in SSLC

The SSLC exam results have surpassed expectations this year, with 76.13 per cent of the students clearing the exam, highest number ever recorded in the state. The pass percentage of fresher students — 82.26 — is also a new record. But the performance of Bengaluru North and Rural academic districts has fallen alarmingly.

Bengaluru Rural which had topped the districts in 2011, has fallen to 18th position with an 81.12 pass percentage. It has been overtaken by Udupi academic district, which occupies the top slot this year with a pass percentage of 89.53. Bidar remains at the bottom of the table.

State primary and secondary education minister, Visveswaraya Hegde Kageri, who announced the results on Thursday, attributed the record pass percentage to implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and initiatives like parihara bodhane (remedial teaching). Girls have done better this year too with a pass percentage of 81.16 as against 71.73 among the boys. “Rural students have outsmarted their urban counterparts, private schools have done better than the government and aided schools. Visually challenged students have set a new record with a pass percentage of 85.71,” Mr Kageri said.

Toppers Talk
Navya R. Shetty
State topper 623/625
Scoring 623 out of 625, Navya R. Shetty of SVS English School, Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, topped the SSLC this year. “I knew I would do well but I didn’t expect to stand first in the state,” says the shy girl who believes that there are no shortcuts to success.

Navya prepared for the exam by studying seven to eight hours a day. “I like all the subjects. If I had neglected even one, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this aggregate,” she says, admitting that her interest lies in science. But ask her if she plans to do medicine, and she says a firm “No”.

Although happy for her success, her parents, Rathnaker Shetty, a commerce professor at the Government Boys’ P.U. College, Malleswaram, Bengaluru and Prabha R. Shetty a B.Com graduate, say they did not pressure her to come out on top.

“We are very happy that she topped. Looking at her preparations, I had expected her to do well. She was always a hard worker. But I believe it is also God’s grace and her luck that she got the top rank,” says Mr Shetty

For Navya, studying has never been a burden as she enjoys it. She prefers studying aloneand beats the stress by listening to music and reading books on jokes. She is passionate about sketching and art. Not definite about her future plans, she says, “I am taking one step at a time now that SSLC is done with. I still have time to decide about my future.” Does she have a message for other students aspiring to do well in the SSLC results? “I am nobody to tell people how to do things. If they have the will power and dedication anything is possible,” she replies shyly.

S SUHAS
Have a clear aim in mind and don’t leave things for the last minute, says S. Suhas of Poornapragna School in the city, spelling out his formula for academic excellence. The boy who bagged third place in the SSLC rank list this year by scoring 620 out of 625, hopes to move on to doing PCMB and “achieving great things in life.”

NAMRATA
Namrata of Sandipini High School, Shimoga, too bagged third place with identical marks, scoring 100 in three subjects. Her ambitions lie in applied science and research. “My parents and teachers inspired me but did not pressure me,” she says. Both her father, N.K.Sridhar, an administrator with the KSRP unit at Machenahalli near Shimoga and her mother , Sandhya , are delighted with her success.

NITHIN GOWDA
Inspired by the Puneeth Rajkumar starrer, Pruthvi, Nithin Gowda , the fourth topper of the state in the SSLC exams, has his eyes set on becoming an IAS officer. His performance is all the more remarkable as he is a student of the Kannada medium government high school in Aththalli, a remote village near Bannur in Mysore district. Although he has scored 610 out of 625, he is unhappy with his results and wants to apply for revaluation. “I expected to do better,” says the boy, who is the son of a school teacher, Vishkante Gowda. A taluk level shuttlecock player and a state level Prathibha Kaaranji quiz player, Nithin has no doubts he wants to be an IAS officer, like his hero in the film Pruthvi, although his dad would like him to become a heart specialist.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...-high-sslc-544

[JhonJ]

White collar crimes on a rise

BANGALORE: The city will soon replace Mumbai in recording white collar crime, according to the Borrowers’ Welfare Association.
Whitecollar crime is a financially motivated, economic, nonviolent crime committed for illegal monetary gain.
The association has recorded a dramatic increase in such a criminal activity, especially in the banking sector.
In the last one year, the association claims that the city has witnessed over 5,000 cases of cheque lifting, fake currency printing and fraud committed while granting loans by banks.
Further, they accuse banks of harassing customers who have mortgaged their property.
In order to create awareness about this, the association plans to hold an awareness campaign, starting in Kochi and then moving to Bangalore.
“The banking staff in the city have become too complacent and are very careless.
Cases of cheque lifting, while the cheques are in transition have shot up by almost 40- 50 percent in the city.
While fake currency printing too has increased.
It is a sad state and we want to create awareness among the customers about white collar crime cases,” said Professor M M Kini, President, Borrowers’ Welfare Association.
Explaining the modus operandi of criminals, the association highlighted that when cheques for government agencies and other municipal corporations are sent through post, criminals often get hold of those cheques and manipulate the amount.
“They change a few small details and encash the amount.
This is done when cheques are in transition and postman or courier boys are paid a small sum to get hold of a few cheques. A little bit of smart thinking is applied and a huge amount is stolen.
Currently, both the CCB and police are trying to crack such cases,” he added.
Lashing out at the legal system, the association leader said he believes that it is because such criminal cases are bailable offences, that they are on the rise.
“There is a huge defect in the legal system. Many of the white collar crime cases are bailable offences.
Therefore, such criminals get away very easily by just paying a bail amount,” he said. To highlight the nature of this kind of crime and to create awareness so people can pursue such cases in the legal way, the association has now launched a campaign, where they will be holding seminars in the city.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangal...se/393249.html

[JhonJ]

BANGALORE: Bangalore is an active centre for visual arts. Proof lies in the increase in footfalls at various exhibitions and programmes conducted by National Gallery of Modern Art, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Tasveer Art Gallery and Urban Solace among others. But, the oldest among them all, Venkatappa Art Gallery, has few takers.
The gallery, which started in 1975, was built to showcase the works of veteran artist Venkatappa. The State Government wanted the Gallery to be a prominent centre for arts and to provide a platform for artists. Yet, artists are reluctant to use the facilities and they cite the poor condition of the gallery as the reason for its failure. To begin with, the visitors have to pass through the museum to reach the gallery. The walls around the gallery are crumbling. Do not look for essential facilities like provision for drinking water or toilets, which are poorly maintained.
The Gallery, which was once host to Karnataka kala melas, art festivals and interactive sessions, now remain a mere shadow of its past glory. Artist S G Vasudev says, “I believe the Gallery is understaffed. It needs an exclusive officer to take care of the Art Gallery. Now, it is a part of the Government Museum, and the museum authorities manage to maintain it, which is a wrong thing to do.”
Artist Shantamani too stresses on the importance of the gallery. “It is an important gallery in the city. There is ample parking space and it is a charm indeed. But no good will come out of it, if it doesn’t function well. The gallery needs much more participation from the artists and the public. The others, in spite of problems, organise amazing shows. Bangalore is a leading ground for experimental art. But what makes it so inaccessible? There is no will to make this an active centre for art,” she adds.
The artists definitely wanted to see this gallery improve and a committee was formed a few years back to address the issues. “An advisory committee comprising artists and art critics was formed sometime back. The committee was active for nearly three years. Then the committee changed and I do not know what the present committee is doing,” says Vasudev.
Yet another problem is the lack of space. Other than the permanent gallery, the paintings of other artists are hardly exhibited as the gallery is rented out for other occasions. The collection is taken out and displayed only when there is nothing else to be put up.
Siddana Gowda, the current Deputy Director of the Gallery, blames the previous committee for the Gallery’s current condition. “We have started work on the reconstruction of the walls. We will also approach the government soon to secure permission to build an extension of this building to sort out the issue of lack of space. We will also ensure that drinking water is available as soon the renovation is complete,” he said.
Artists say that these promises have been in the air for a long time now.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore