LDA is back - Madivala lake and others

silkboard - 11-MAY-2009

Who is actually responsible for upkeep of Bangalore's lakes? Answer may go like this - some lakes LDA, rest of them BWSSB. Refer late last year's news articles - lakes were transferred from LDA to BWSSB. But this was done only for some (17 or 18) lakes. To remind us all that they are around, LDA has floated work for rejuvenating 3 lakes.

Skype Meeting - Launch BWSSB/Lakes tracking project

silkboard - 2-MAY-2009

We have waited long enough for more people to show interest and join. Let us get started. A meeting with BWSSB should happen soon. Before that, let us meet in this "quick and easy" online way to talk what we will do and list first set of tasks.

Time: Monday, 4th May, 9 PM (so that we are all back home from work)

Killing our lakes - Varthur Lake as well?

silkboard - 28-APR-2009

No new post this, just a rehash of  year old "Eating up Varthur Lake". Inspired by Rithesh's recent note on Hebbal/Nagavara Lake, I wanted to remind us about possible encorachments on the area/stream between Varthur and Belandur lakes.

Killing our lakes - Hebbal/Nagavara Lake example

Rithesh - 28-APR-2009

See the image below - it shows the Hebbala and Nagavara lakes. I am told by the locals that the area covered in the red boundary once formed an elaborate and huge lake system. The system first got divided by the Bellary road and the region right to the road subsequently dried out. This region was taken over by the UAS and they used it for rice/paddy crop experiments.

BWSSB - tracking and interaction

Rithesh - 30-MAR-2009

There is a need for Bangalore citizens to get deeper into BWSSB to know their initiatives and operations. There have been several posts on the need for this tracking and interaction project, but unfortunately, not many had expressed interest. Regardless, and especially after seeing water issue topping the election survey, let the few of us get started with this.

Bangalore, and water - urgency?

silkboard - 28-APR-2009

Building up on their last report, Jayshree Nandi (with S Kushala) had yet another report in TOI yesterday to highlight Bangalore's water woes.

Thank you for highlighting the water woes

silkboard - 19-APR-2009

Thank you, thank you very much Times of India, and journalists Jayashree Nandi & Aarthi R for highlighting the water woes of Bengaluru right atop your Sunday frontpage, bang next to that thing called IPL. Water shortage and quality issues came up high in Jaagore-Praja-SmartVote election issue survey here, which was a bit surprising (yeah, we know and care!). But no candidate has shown serious interest or understanding - forget solutions - for the looming water shortage faced by Namma Bengaluru.

Interested members who want to take this further, please sign up for this BWSSB tracking project which is running slow for lack of volunteers (just leave a comment there to say you want to help). We must track and understand BWSSB's projects and constraints, the understanding and impact of their initiatives (or delays) has to be taken beyond just some dedicated NGOs working in this space.

Sustainable water supply for Bangalore

s_yajaman - 11-MAR-2009

Bangalore has always faced chronic water shortages.  Back in 1981 when the population was 2.9 million.  In 1991 when the population was 4.5 million.  And in 2008 when the population is some 7 million.   I don't think there ever has been a time when we have had daily water.   The past few years have seen a construction boom that has added to the strain on the w

Sewerage system for suburban areas

silkboard - 18-FEB-2009

Don't see any mention in mainstream papers yet, but last week I noted four big BWSSB tenders (see below) for work to provide sewerage system for suburban areas (CMCs) of Byatarayanpura, Dasarahalli and Mahadevpura. Its about Rs 180 crore worth of work, and I really wish some of us took the same interest we do in detailing Rs 20-30 crore worth flyover projects. What exactly is BWSSB doing here, who are the consultants, who is reviewing their plans and appreciating/criticizing their good/bad work?

Bengaluru - Self Help Resources

silkboard - 10-JAN-2009

All government utility or infrastructure providers have systems to listen from citizens: