Even though the Indian Railways has taken over the catering service it has not been able to implement its policy on the desired lines and the problem of drinking water continues to be acute and a matter of concern in stations and moving trains.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by T.R. Baalu in its report, which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, expressed concern that during inspection, the committee found that normal tap water was being used for drinking at most stations.

New JV waiting for PNGRB to float tenders for city gas distribution project

GAIL India and Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp (KSIIDC) have formed a joint venture company to set up city gas distribution (CGD) network for Bangalore households and fuel for CNG-run vehicles. The new JV, ‘Karnataka Natural Gas Limited’ (KNGL), apart from Bangalore, may also develop CGD networks in major cities and towns in the districts along which the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline alignment passes, a top government official said.

A day after several trees were uprooted in pre-monsoon showers in the City, BBMP has decided to conduct a tree-strength survey.

Review: Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy inspects an uprooted tree in one of the rain-hit areas in Bangalore South on Wednesday. DH PhotoMayor D Venkatesh Murthy disclosed this to reporters, during an inspection of the rain-hit areas in Bangalore South on Wednesday. He said the BBMP will conduct a special meeting with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) on Thursday in this regard.

A model bus terminal planned in Kalasipalyam

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will soon introduce a bus with a passenger capacity of 110, Transport minister R Ashoka said on Thursday. The new bus will be 14.5 mt in length as opposed to the existing city buses which are 12 mt in length. The new bus would hit the road within a month and the idea is to provide more space for passengers, Ashoka said.

This is the pitiful state of the residents of the locality on the HMT Watch Factory-Jalahalli Road. What may seem like sheer incivility of the people is a situation they have been pushed into. Rajesh, a resident, said: “Most of us earn a living by working as construction labourers and hardly earn money for two meals a day. With great difficulty, we have been able to build these concrete houses, but, due to the lack of drainage facilities, no toilets were built.”

For Bangaloreans perennially at the mercy of power disruptions, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) could come out with a solar solution. The Mayor has issued a note to formulate an action plan to electrify all government and ‘private buildings’ that would be under construction within its limits, through solar energy.

With the demand for power surging by 18 per cent annually, as indicated by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), the Palike could make the use of solar energy mandatory for the buildings owned by State Government, BBMP and private buildings.

The City’s biggest water body, Bellandur lake, faces the threat of extinction finds a study by the Energy and Wetland Research Centre (EWRC) and Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

slow death A view of the Bellandur lake. The lake is being dried up to pave the way for concrete structures (residential complexes). The day is not far when nearly one fourth of the people in the City are forced to consume highly contaminated water. A study by Dr T V Ramachandra - senior scientist, EWRC,

The State government has directed the Palike to ensure that tankers supplying drinking water are strictly monitored by the authorities in order to curb water mafia.

After a meeting with the officials of BWSSB, Transport, Mines and Geology and Minor Irrigation Departments on Friday, Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar told reporters that details such as the quantity of water being carried and the price should be displayed on the water tankers.

The move will improve Mysore's connectivity and spur growth: Chief Minister

The high-speed ‘bullet train' service proposed between Chennai and Bangalore will be extended up to Mysore to improve connectivity with Mysore and spur industrial growth in the region. This was announced by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda after inaugurating the Mysore Region Business Development Summit here on Friday.

The Kempambudhi lake is all set to be a centre of tourist attraction after two months, if the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has its way.

Desiltation, cleaning of the lake and boating facilities, etc, will provide a new lease of life to the City’s oldest water body. Choked with weeds, hyacinth and sewage, the lake, at present, is an eyesore to the public. Constructed by the founder of Bangalore, Kempegowda, the water body served as a catchment area.