‘Save GKVK’ Campaign – Community Protest

Date: 10:00 am – 11:00 am, Sunday, October 11, 2009

Venue: GKVK Main Gate on Bellary Road

Program: Protest against proposed 80 feet link road through GKVK campus

Issue
Proposed construction of a major 80 feet link road through GKVK campus entailing cutting of 3000 trees and destruction of several research plots

Current Status

GKVK has transferred the land to BBMP. BBMP has felled hundreds of trees and has initiated civil works. Court has issued stay order on further felling of trees. Forest department has filed a FIR and is investigating the issue. However, BBMP is still planning to carry on with road work. We have now lost hundreds of trees, but the land still remains. We can atleast regrow the trees and we can prevent a road from running through a green patch and destroying it. If we lose the land, we lose the battle fully and we’ll have a road running through an urban green patch, impacting the rest of the green patch negatively!

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Simple steps to do if you see a tree being cut -
(Pls also read the full preservation of trees act for complete details , I’ve attached it with this email and am also pasting the link below -
http://hasiruusiru.org/joomla/images/stories/pdf/LawsAndPolicies/karnatakapreservationoftreesact.pdf)

Steps
Approach the contractor/workers cutting the tree. Ask them if they have the approval of tree officer, BBMP for cutting the tree.

If they dont have the order
Ask them to stop. Tell the that they are not authorised to cut trees and that they can be arrested for cutting trees without required permission. Please call the relevant tree officer.( Details in latter half of mail.)
Tell them the details – what’s happening and where. Ask her/him to come immediately and get the work stopped. If tree officer does not answer her/his phone, call their office number. If you dont get through to that, call the cops from the police station under whose jurisdiction the said road is located. Alert local residents and try and gather support (this could be counter-productive sometimes, they may want the tree to be cut) . And yes, pls take pics of the trees being cut.

If they have the order
Please have a look at the order and see what it says.
Does it have a BBMP seal? Does the order explicitly state that the full tree needs to be cut? Is it signed by the tree officer? Note – some times the tree officers permit the branches to be cut, but people use that to cut the whole tree. If permission is granted only for cutting branches, only branches can be cut, not the trunk. In case they have what appears to be a order, but the order looks fishy/incomplete, call the tree officer on cellphone/landline and inquire if permission has been granted.

In case they do have the order to cut trees and it looks like they have been granted permission, just double-check with the tree officer anyway. Call the tree officer on cell-phone/landline and speak to her/him confirming if an order has been passed to cut the trees in that location.

If they have the order and it looks like its genuine and the order allows felling of trees
If at the end you realise that the tree officer has granted permission to cut the trees, there is not much you can do at that moment to stop it. Ask the tree officer if trees are being replanted in the same area, to compensate for the trees being cut. If trees are not being replanted in the same area, thats a violation of the act.

Later, you can also file an appeal with the tree authority, BBMP against the
tree officer’s order.

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Eco-friendly, “green” Ganesha Idols for the Festival

Here’s an announcement I got via Hasiru Usiru:

Those who want unbaked, uncoloured Ganesha vigrahams of the size that can be dissolved at home in a bucket of water and poured back to join your garden soil, can contact

3419177 or 9342303247

or email Chandra Ravikumar at

chandraravikumar@hotmail.com

Here’s an announcement I got via Hasiru Usiru:

Those who want unbaked, uncoloured Ganesha vigrahams of the size that can be dissolved at home in a bucket of water and poured back to join your garden soil, can contact

3419177 or 9342303247

or email Chandra Ravikumar at

chandraravikumar@hotmail.com

Places I Like
From a workshop by Stefan Koppelkamm
Photo Exhibition

17 – 29.08.2009, 9.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan

Inauguration on 14.08.2008, 6.30 p.m.
All are welcome!

The objective of the intensive 3-week workshop for Bangalore photo enthusiasts, conducted by German photographer Stefan Koppelkamm, whose exhibition Ortszeit/Local Time has just concluded at the Bhavan, was to define the personal criteria that determine the “quality of life” in a city. The focus was more on the routine and normal, rather than the unusual. Social aspects of the city (neighbourliness, the presence of smaller stores and cottage industries, etc.) that are not immediately discernible to outsiders were more important than outstanding architecture or excellent design.

The 15 participants – a mix of professional and amateur photographers – started their field work in the last week of July trying to visualise the intrinsic qualities of “their” places. In the second part of the workshop the group discussed the different projects and made their selection for the exhibition.

The places portrayed in this exhibition are as diverse as the city itself: They include bustling markets or shopping centres such as Russell Market or Avenue Road, secluded and peaceful areas such as the Mughal Fort and the Someshwara Temple in Ulsoor, Charles Correa’s Bimanagar township from the early ’70s and the L&T South City, a recent project on the periphery of the city which is contrasted by quarters like Malleswaram or Cooke Town, where the architectural heritage is threatened by land speculation and the building of freeways. Two of the photographers portray their favourite hangouts, one a small café in Indiranagar, the second one the famous Koshy’s in St. Marks Road.

For more details, visit

http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/en4905386v.htm

In the case of Avenue Road which is actually threatened by plans to widen the road, the exhibition might hopefully be a strong visual argument against the destruction of this unique architectural and socio-economic ensemble.

Featuring photos by:
Aniruddha Ghosh
Apurva Mathad
Archana Venson
Arnab Dey
Dayaprasad Kulkarni
Deepti Jois
Jyothy Karat
Kusum Dhar Prabhu
Mallikarjun Katakol
Peeyush Sekhsaria
Rahil Arora
Rajeev Malagi
Rajesh Pandey
Ravi Shankar Kolara
Swarna Kumarswamy

Identifying Traditional and Responsible ways of Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi

A One Day Workshop for Children ( Ages 9-14)

Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God. As we all know, He is a very popular god in India and has become a popular symbol around the world too. Ganesha in different art forms has broken many boundaries of caste, race, religion, and nation and has found a space in many living rooms around the world. He is a favorite among the children too. The story of his birth and the variety of delicacies made on this day are enjoyable for children. Over the last few decades, there has been a considerable shift in our societies across the country from celebrating the festival in a traditional way to a more ostentatious occasion, with little regard to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental impacts.

The workshop is aimed at helping children identify the traditional and historical significance, ways in which it was celebrated in the past, the importance of the traditional foods made on this day and ways in which the festival can be celebrated without causing harm to the environment around us.

The workshop will take children through interesting stories, videos, making clay idols, learning to make traditional decorations, learning through some games and learning to take responsibility.

Workshop Date: 30th August 2009

Timings: 9.30 am -4.30 pm

Registration Fees: Rs.300/-

Venue: ESG office

Contact Details:

Environment Support Group

1572, 100 feet Outer Ring Road, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore-70

Telephone: 91-80-26713559/60/61 Email: divyarrs@esgindia.org/esg@esgindia.org

Website: www.esgindia.org

T Nature Club is pleased to announce its winter trail to a beautiful region of the North East India… Namdapha.

Dibru-Saikhowa is a biosphere reserve. This little known site, is one of the biodiversity hot spots situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra. It is located in the alluvial flood plains of the Brahmaputra. Fashioned by nature – earthquakes and ever changing water courses it has numerous island pockets and water bodies providing an unusual habitat for varied wildlife
and aqua fauna and avifauna.

Contained between the Debang, Lohit & the Great Brahmaputra rivers,the 340 sq Kms reserve was set up with a view to protecting the grass land and swamp habitat. Its internal water channels & bodies,seasonally flooded forests, “beels”, and grassy pockets, makes it an interesting birding destination for rare specialized grass land and swamp forest birds such as the threatened Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black throated Parrotbill, Rufous-vented( swamp) Prinia, and Jerdons Bushcat. You can also spot altitudinal migrants such as Pale-capped pigeon, White-tailed Rubythroat,and Black – breasted Thrush, and various warblers. More than 300 species have been recorded.
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For all you Bangloreans who always wanted to have a say in shaping the city, heres your chance to be a part of it.

ABIDe, which stands for Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development Task Force is an initiative of Chief Minister, Karnataka, Mr B.S Yeddyurappa and comprises of several noted citizens and leaders who have come forward to build a better Bengaluru. Member of Parliament Mr Ananth Kumar is the Vice Chairman of ABIDe, Member of Parliament,Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the Convenor.
Since its inception, ABIDe members have put together a series of recommendations before the Government on specific issues
Ø  Regional Governance
Ø  Traffic and Transport
Ø  Heritage
These recommendations are contained in the reports published by ABIDe, and available online at www.abidebengaluru.in.  The recommendations also contain a blueprint for action by the government, to create rapid changes in the areas of focus.
At this juncture, the government is considering the Task Force’s recommendations to strengthen regional governance, and will very likely introduce legislation based on the recommendations in the coming months. At this time, we are keen to therefore seek the citizen’s inputs to refining the recommendations further, and to have your voice heard by the lawmakers as well. A series of public consultations is being scheduled in the city. The first such consultation will be held at the following venue:
National Games Village, Builder’s Club-Koramangala.
Date & Time: Sunday 12th July 2009 at 11 am
We hope you will attend this upcoming event, and help members of the ABIDe Task Force in gathering citizen inputs for subsequent action to build a better Bengaluru.
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at the venue of the first public consultation.

”SHRADDHA CEREMONY”

The people of Bangalore deeply mourn the sad demise of our life giving trees, which lost their lives due to our callousness. We will be performing a , ”Shraddha” ceremony for them, on Sunday 24th May at 11am. Please join us to pray for the departed souls.

This condolence meet will be followed by a meeting on the next course of action to be taken to save LAL BAGH and our other PARKS

Venue

Park at 32nd Cross and Nanda Road Junction Jayanagar

Organized by

“Sanmathi” and “Hasiru Usiru”

Preferred dress : White dhotis sarees /dress

Saturday, April 18th, 2009, is World Heritage Day, a day to celebrate the diversity of the world’s heritage, especially its monuments and sites. To celebrate our city’s rich heritage on this important day, a number of organisations have partnered to give you a full calendar day of exciting events.

*Photo Exhibition *on Bangalore’s cultural heritage by Bangalore Weekend Shoots*. *

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 am Venue: Cubbon Park Bandstand

Time: 7:00 am- 9:00 am Venue: Lalbagh Bandstand

Time: 10:30 am – 7:30 pm Venue: Bangalore Fort.

*INTACH Parichay* (heritage walk) (In Kannada) led by Dr.S.K.Aruni

Time: 8:30 – 11:00 am; Venue: Tipu Palace, Bangalore Fort and its vicinity.

For Registration contact: Meera (99860 23014)

Heritage Hunts, by Bangalore City Project, explore the city, solve some clues and you just might win a prize.

Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm; Venues: Gavipuram, Malleswaram and Whitefield.

For further details check www.bcp.wikidot.com
or call Krupa (99721 14110)

*Cultural Programme* including a talk on Bangalore’s heritage by author Vikram Sampath, release of a set of postcards on Bangalore’s heritage, and light music by Vijay Havanur.

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Venue: Bangalore Fort

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Earlier this week(April 13 and 14), the Bangalore Metro Rail corporation (BMRCL) has demolished over 500 feet of Lalbagh’s wall and cut down 5 eucalyptus trees inside Lalbagh. BMRCL proposes to have a Metro station inside Lalbagh itself – Bangalore’s distinctive botanical garden!

Lalbagh is protected by a separate, stringent law. In a highly undemocratic move, the Karnataka Government changed the law by moving an ordinance to acquire Lalbagh land for the Metro, rather than prefer a debate over the changed law, in the Assembly. The opposition has also failed to protest this undemocratic move.

Lalbagh and Lakshman Rao Park on R.V.Road, (also called the AC Road, Nanda Road ), both major landmarks and heritage of Bangalore are being destroyed for the Metro. This when the High Court is hearing PIL over alternatives in Metro alignment.

What seems like a minor portion of Lalbagh gone today will surely lead to greater portion of the park being taken away to create parking zones and malls that the Metro plans at its stations.

When they sought clearance, Metro authorities claimed trees on Nanda Road will be pruned, and not felled. Now they want to cut 323 trees on Nanda Road(R.V.Road) alone.

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