Nothing in newspapers recently. Someone please tickle them. [test comment]

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check out leo saldhana's reply to a question on why ESG as a NGO choose to bed HDK's govt..

I hope it is not out of place to clarify our stand on events that took place over a year ago.

Firstly, meeting the Chief Minister is a prerogative of any individual or group. We were trying to meet Chief Minister’s since 1997, when we first began to raise criticisms about the project. It was only Mr. Kumaraswamy, the present Chief Minister, who consented to our request. It was a big surprise to us when he gave us so much time, and also requested us to submit our memorandum before the media which had gathered in his office.

Secondly, ours was a very public act. If the CM chose to receive it in front of the media, we are not complaining. We want everyone, especially the media, that Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise has committed gross irregularities in the process of implementing the project. All this is written up and online at our website www.esgindia.org. We substantiate everything we say on the basis of documentation, and the same is online including maps. Maps don’t lie.

Third, media has played a rather skewed role in covering mainly those aspects of the project that NICE has projected. The media has also bought the myth created by Mr. Ashok Kheny, MD of NICE, that Supreme Court has backed the project the way he wants to build it. This is an utter lie and also a matter presently being challenged as Contempt of Court. What the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held is that the project must and only must be built in terms of the alignment and project features as endorsed in the Framework Agreement and statutory authorities, such as KSPCB, MOEF, etc. The Court has never said that the road can be built wherever convenient to NICE and its supporters.

Fourth: Commissioning a project is a very legal act. It has to be endorsed by regulatory agencies. The June 15th “soft opening” of the Peripheral Road Section of the BMIC project (really a very tiny section of the overall project completed by NICE) is clearly an illegal act, as it did not have the sanction of various regulatory authorities. The fact that this was popular amongst a section of the local population, Monhandas Pai of Infosys included, does not make it legal.

Fifth. On 7th July 2007, the Judges of the Karnataka Stat Environment Appellate Authority will conduct a site visit to confirm the degree to which NICE has violated project conditions, when building the Peripheral Road section. Had such an inspection been done a long time ago by higher Courts, this problem of debating a fact would never have arisen. The fact that this is now happening is a most welcome beginning to put to rest all controversies about who is right.

Finally, ESG works on a variety of issues. Some of activities gain attention, because we raise critical questions about projects that blatantly skewed towards middle class and elite aspirations. Certain sections of the media have unfortunately identified themselves with such skewed perceptions, and there is no use asking why: we all know why. ESG will continue to work on as many issues of public concern (not merely middle class concern) as our resources permit. Any of you are welcome to our office to debate your concerns."

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There's another builder trying their best to build a road through the lake. Apparently, according to the forest ranger who I spoke to said that they had instructions from "higher up", this being the forest minister. The lake in question is on Sarjapur road on the way to Wipro HQ, Kaikondanahalli area. When will this ever stop ? When the so called forest minister himself sells out critical areas of fast diminishing natural areas ? This lake has some beautiful birdlife and the winter months are a pleasure with hordes of migratory birds. We live on the edge of this lake. We had managed to shoo the builders off about 5 months back as there is an acute ground water shortage here. But that does not deter them from selling "dream homes: albeit without water ! Rajeev Manikoth Would like to have contact info of the Lok Ayukta.

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still remember the rainy day years ago when L&T was putting up the hosur road. The traffic had stopped at where WIpro office(next to oxford college) is located now due to flooding. Wipro has been built on a lake and so is oxford college.. There is one lake next to the current shell pump which is dying as the flyover construction is partly done on it.. There is another small lake dying..this is next to the honda showroom on hosur road..they are dumping debris into it with out bother..I still see water birds there in the tranquil waters! Its always a soothing sight..but not for long!

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did you try their website? Click here for it for contact number according to the "about us" page is: 2257638. this is for the old LA Venkatachala. The new one has not even been uploaded. But they have his biodata somewhere on the site. what a clunky useless site. the main page does not even work. i mean it is really embarrassing that for a country that boasts as the IT capital NOT ONE of its websites is functional. naachike agutte.

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