Friday, November 5, 2021

Bengaluru Green Woes!

Where are the Trees? After being christened as City of PSUs, Garden City, IT City finally Bengaluru 4.0 is now heading towards being renamed as the Polluted City. 

Green history of Bengaluru shows that back in 1987 city had recorded 1500000 Trees, which was indeed the last official Tree census in Bengaluru, thanks to visionary Chief Minister R Gundu Rao’s ambitious Tree Plantation initiative in 1983 that we now enjoy the shade of full-grown Trees. Sethuram Gopalrao Neginhal, the then Deputy Conservator with a committed team and greater citizen participation sourced, planted and nurtured the saplings for over 5 years and later the project was handed over to City Corporation to take it forward. 

Presence of strong citizen green groups and laws has not stopped the City Administration and State Govt to find ways to hoodwink all of it, and consistently bring down Trees in the name of metro, road widening, flyovers, ring roads, development, pavements, layouts etc., There is very little effort to increase the green cover and BBMP’s ambitious project of Tree census has been going on since 2019, its indeed a shame that an IT City is struggling even to count Trees for years.

As citizen movements and green activists of Bengaluru struggle to save the Tree cover from multiple infrastructure and development projects, the menace of unscientific chopping of Trees in the name of pruning, constant digging of pavements for installation of gas line, water line, OF cables have weakened/damaged the Trees from the roots, the green woes are never ending.

Drastic reduction in the green cover as the city expands is catastrophic, increase in air pollution and rise in temperature is taking the sheen away from Brand Bengaluru. Study by EWRG, CES, IISc study not only painted the red picture of Bengaluru but also detailed how the City Administration is unable to make course correction and ramp up its Tree Plantation program. Also, Green Peace South Asia analysis in 2020 declared Bengaluru as the third worst affected city in India due to Air pollution.  

Accountability & Transparency in BBMP is a great challenge, and its inability or unwillingness to share the number of Trees Bengaluru lost since 2009 for development works, illegal cutting and natural loss, does not speak well for Bengaluru or its Administration.

The key factors responsible for the shrinking green cover are; Felling of Trees for infrastructure works, unscientific pruning of Trees, lack of consistent Tree plantation program, lack of Bio-diversity in the saplings planted by BBMP each year, dying Lakes and most importantly absence of an independent, strong and effective Tree conservation body in the Corporation limits.

City Administration has to reconsider its priorities, and if Bengaluru has to survive it needs: - 1. effective and well monitored Tree plantation program with citizen participation, 2. creating mini-forests or green zones Ward wise utilizing the vacant Government land, 3. policy to promote Tree plantation in campuses of institutions & corporates, 4. most importantly have a comprehensive Green Vision Policy for Bengaluru.

Let’s hope that State Government will respect the 74th amendment and not delay the elections to BBMP any further, and that citizens of Bengaluru will elect quality and competent corporators who can effectively make Bengaluru Greener and Better.

Kavitha Reddy

Activist, AICC Member & KPCC Spokesperson

(views expressed are in personal capacity)

Published in Salar on 6th Nov 2021

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Events & Programs 2021

30th Dec 2021 - #MissionSanjeevani Gauribidanuru & Koratagere Govt Hospital 
28th Dec 2021 - Foundation Day & Congress Membership Drive, Chitradurga District 
27th Dec 2021 - ASHA Workers Training & Medical Kit Distribution, Tumkuru & Gauribidnuru
15th to 23rd Dec 2021 - ASHA & Anganawadi Workers Project, Bellari & Chitradurga Districts 
10th Dec 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject #SDMCMeeting #ParentsTeachers, Sultanapet
7th Dec 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject #SDMCMeeting #ParentsTeachers, Kempathimmanahalli
6th Dec 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject #SDMCMeeting Melekote & Konagatta
4th Dec 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject #ParentMeet #SDMCMeeting in Karnala
3rd Dec 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject in Melekote, Karnala, Sultanpet
25th Nov 201 - Oxfam Inida #SchoolProject in Konagatta & Kempathimmanahalli
24th Nov 2021 - Oxfam India #SchoolProject in Sultanpet, Karnala, Melekote
23rd Nov 2021 - Chief Guest at St Paul's College, Paularamba 2021 
21st Nov 2021 - Medical Equipments Donation to Mallur Govt Hospital
15th Nov 2021 - Ration Kits for SC & ST Community in Muthanallur
14th Nov 2021 - INC Membership Event & Naa Nayaki KPCC Meeting 
13th Nov 2021 - #SchoolProject in Chikkaballapura District
12th Nov 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Kunigal
11th Nov 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Anekal
8th Nov 2021 - ASHA Workers Honouring, Bellari R & U, Kampli, Siruguppa
3rd Nov 2021 - Ration Kits Poor Families in Mutthanallur & LGBTQ Community in Vidhyaranyapura
3rd Nov 2021 - BBMP PKs, Collectors, Drivers, Marshalls Deepavali Sweets Distribution, Ward 189
2nd Nov 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Hiriyur
1st Nov 2021 - PHCs visits, THO Meeting at Kalaghatgi 
31st Oct 2021 - BBMP PKs, Collectors, Drivers, Marshalls Deepavali Sweets Distribution, Ward 174
30th Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Mahadevapura & Ration Kits Distribution
29th Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Manvi, Raichur
28th Oct 2021 - Visit to Sira and Gubbi 24/7 PHCs, #MissionSanjeevani 
27th Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers, #MissionSanjeevani, Bommanahalli 
26th Oct 2021 - Ration Kits distribution at Mangammanapalya
25th Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers Training & Medical Kit distribution, #MissionSanjeevani
24th Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers Training & Medical Kit distribution, #MissionSanjeevani, Hosadurga
23rd Oct 2021 - ASHA Workers Training & Medical Kit distribution, #MissionSanjeevani, Challakere
22nd Oct 2021 - Visited a Colony & a Trangender Community to give Ration Kits #MissionSanjeevani
21st Oct 2021 - Visit to Gubbi on Humanitarian Work
20th Oct 2021 - Ration Kits distribution for Widows
18th Oct 2021 - Visit to Tipturu on Humanitarian Work, ASHA Workers 
17th Oct 2021 - Ration Kits for 141 Sexual Minorities, #MissionSanjeevani
14th Oct 2021 - #PotholePooje with BCLIP Alumni Association
10th Oct 2021 - Visit to Sultanpet, Chikkaballapura Humanitarian Work 
8th Oct 2021 - Chief Guest at inaugural of Mahila Sangha in Shidlagatta
7th Oct 2021 - Visit to Madhugiri on Humanitarian Work
5th Oct 2021 - Visit to Madhugiri & Pavagada
2nd Oct 2021 - Donated Blood for the 32nd time, Tribute to Bapu & LB Shastri
2nd Oct 2021 - Received Honorary Doctorate
1st Oct 2021 - Visit to Koratagere, ASHA Training, Kits Distrubution 
25th Sept 2021 - Visit to Challakere Tq on Humanitarian Work
18th Sept 2021 - Visit to Sira on Humanitarian Work
8th Sept 2021 - Gowri Ganesha Festival Celebration at Asare School
5th Sept 2021 - Attended SHGs Loan Disbursement Program
16th to 20th Aug 2021 - #UnityRide, 300kms Cycling from Bengaluru to Sriperumbudur
15th Aug 2021 - Attended Independence Day Event at KPCC
12th Aug 2021 - Unity Ride, Press Conference
7th July 2021 - Release of Unity Ride Poster/Flag/T-Shirts
29th July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
26th July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
25th July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
24th July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
22nd July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
21st July 2021 - Meeting with Sr Leaders, #UnityRide
20th July 2021 - Meeting with Cells & Frontal Organization, #UnityRide
12th July 2021 - Meeting with KSPCB regarding STPs in Apartments
10th July 2021 - Met MP Shri DK Suresh regarding SWD's & Beratena Agrahara Lake
7th July 2021 - Visit to Somasundrapalya Lake with KSPCB
7th July 2021 - Visit to Beratena Agrahara Lake with Citizen Group
28th June 2021 - Ration Kits for Hongasandra Auto Drivers
27th June 2021 - Visit to Kembathalli Lake
24th June 2021 - Ration Kits for HSR Layout Auti Drivers
20th June 2021 - Cycling visit to Muthanallur Lake
19th June 2021 - Tree Plantation, Mask & Sanitizer distribution of Rahul Gandhi Birthday
15th June 2021 - Attended Protest Org by Bommanahalli YC Team, #Petrol100NotOut
14th June 2021 - Donated Blood, World Blood Donor Day
9th June 2021 - Day 38, Food Distribution
8th June 2021 - Day 37, Food Distribution
7th June 2021 - Day 36, Food Distribution
6th June 2021 - Day 35, Food Distribution
5th June 2021 - Day 34, Food Distribution
4th June 2021 - Day 33, Food Distribution
3rd June 2021 - Day 32, Food Distribution
2nd June 2021 - Day 31, Ration Kits & Food Distribution
1st June 2021 - Day 30, Food Distribution
31st May 2021 - Day 29, Food Distribution
30th May 2021 - Day 28, Ration Kits and Food Distribution
29th May 2021 - Day 27, Food Distribution
28th May 2021 - Day 26, Food Distribution
27th May 2021 - Day 25, Food Distribution
26th May 2021 - Day 24, Food Distribution
25th May 2021 - KPCC Media Meeting, Zoom Call
25th May 2021 - Day 23, Food Distribution
24th May 2021 - Day 22, Food Distribution
23rd May 2021 - Day 21, Food Distribution
22nd May 2021 - Day 20, Food Distribution
21st May 2021 - Day 19, Food Distribution
20th May 2021 - Day 18, Food Distribution
19th May 2021 - Day 17, Food Distribution
18th May 2021 - Decentralized Triage & Emergency Response (DETER) Committee Meeting, Ward 174
18th May 2021 - Day 16, Food Distribution
17th May 2021 - Day 15, Food Distribution
16th May 2021 - Day 14, Food Distribution
15th May 2021 - Day 13, Food Distribution
14th May 2021 - Day12, Food Distribution
13th May 2021 - Day 11, Food Distribution
12th May 2021 - Day 10, Food Distribution
11th May 2021 - Day 9, Food Distribution
10th May 2021 - Day 8, Food Distribution
9th May 2021 - Day 7, Food Distribution
8th May 2021 - Day 6, Food Distribution
7th May 2021 - Day 5, Food Distribution
6th May 2021 - Day 4, Food Distribution
5th May 2021 - Day 3, Food Distribution
4th May 2021 - Day 2, Food Distribution
3rd May 2021 - Day 1, Food Distribution
19th April 2021 - Meeting with Bosch CSR, Muthanallur Lake
17th April 2021 - Interaction with Students of Mahatma School, GP Secretary, Muthanallur Lake
12th April 2021 - Interaction with Students of Nethaji High School, Topic Muthanallur Lake
11th April 2021 - Mini-Forest Clean-up, Tree Mainenance, Watering
10th April 2021 - Visit to Muthanallur Lake, SWD Clearance Area & Meeting with Locals & Schools
8th April 2021 - Meeting with BBMP Chief Commissioner, BPAC & BCLIP Alumni Association
29th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting
28th March 2021 - Women's Day Event, Chamundi Mahila Sanga
27th March 2021 - Clean-up & Watering, Bellandur Lake Park, BET & Agara Lake mini-Forest, Kaagaz
20th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association BWAA 2021, Vasavi Hall
19th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association BWAA 2021, Press Conference
18th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting, BWAA 2021
15th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting, BWAA 2021
14th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting, BWAA 2021
13th March 2021 - Met Smt Motamma, B.CLIP Alumni Association Bengaluru Women Achievers Awards
12th March 2021 - Meeting with KPCC President, Malayali Congress Group
9th March 2021 - Jana Dhwani Jatha Meeting, KPCC
8th March 2021 - Women's Day, Mytrhri Mahila Koota
8th March 2021 - Women's Day, InnerWheel Club Bangalore Jn
7th March 2021 - Off The Beaten Path, Women's Day Discussion by AIPC - Karnataka
7th March 2021 - Letter to UDD & BBMP on Telecom Towers Issues, Seeking Clarity
6th March 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Meeting
6th March 2021 - Meeting with MP D K Suresh, Muthanallur Lake
3rd March 2021 - Jana Dhwani Jatha, Day 01 Devanahalli  & Chikkaballapura
2nd March 2021 - Visited Police Station on Mobile Tower Issue
28th Feb 2021 - Tree Plantation at Agara Lake mini-Forest 
27th Feb 2021 - Ba Guru Desha Kattona Event, Puttur
26th Feb 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting
25th Feb 2021 - KPCC Meeting, Yatra Planning 
25th Feb 2021 - Tree Plantation, Agara Lake mini-Forest
24th Feb 2021 - BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting
22nd Feb 2021 - BPAC Civic Hub Meeting
22nd Feb 2021 - Agara Lake - STP Breach meeting with BBMP Lakes, BWSSB, BBMP Roads
21st Feb 2021 - Attended Social Events - Wedding and Varthuru Karaga
21st Feb 2021 - Agara Lake mini-Forest clean-up drive
19th Feb 2021 -  Attended Agara Lake issue on contaminated water inflow
14th Feb 2021 - Voter Registration Drive, Adarsh Palm Retreat
12th Feb 2021 - Online Voter Registration Drive, Bommanahalli Constituency
11th Feb 2021 - Voter Registration Drive Meeting
11th Feb 2021 - BPAC-BCLIP New Batch Interviews
9th Feb 2021 - Meeting with BBMP Spl Commissioner Finance, Budget Demands
9th Feb 2021 - Protest against Fuel Price Hike
6th Feb 2021 - Bommanahalli Block Meeting
6th Feb 2021 - Meeting with RS MP GC Chandrashekar, PM Fund Letter
5th Feb 2021 - Installation of Sanatiry Napkins Incinerator at Govt PU College
4th Feb 2021 - Meeting with Kudlu Dodda Kere Citizen Group
31st Jan 2021 - Bommanahalli Constituency BCLIP Alumni Association Meeting
27th Jan 2021 - KSPCB & NGT Meeting, Muthanallur Lake issues
27th Jan 2021 - Media Meeting, Gandhi Bhavan
26th Jan 2021 - Blood Donation, 72nd Republic Day
26th Jan 2021 - Republic Day Celebration, HSR Sector 1 RWA
24th Jan 2021 - Bommanahalli Constituency Mahila Congress Meeting
23rd Jan 2021 - Muthanallur Lake Visit & Meeting 
20th Jan 2021 - KPCC Protest in support of Farmers
18th Jan 2021 - Sankalpa Samavesha, KPCC Divisional Meet, Kalaburagi
18th Jan 2021 - BPAC-BCLIP Alumni Meeting
8th Jan 2021 - Sankalpa Samavesha, KPCC Divisional Meet, Hubballi 
6th Jan 2021 - Youth Congress Meetings
5th Jan 2021 - Webinar, Sri Siddhartha Institution  (video link)
4th Jan 2021 - CSR and Environment Related Meeting
1st Jan 2021 - Follow-up with KSPCB, Muthanallur Lake

Monday, October 4, 2021

Unemployment Crisis – ‘’Any Job is better than No Job’’!

 

Decades ago, when relaxation was proposed for Temporary Workforce in India to enable fixed term Employment the Communist backed unions sloganeered ‘No Job is better than Temporary Job’.

 

Plummeting GDP for the last 6 years, initially with DeMo followed by a badly implemented GST the economy was left for a free fall, COVID19 pandemic added to the disruption of already fragile economy, and the fall out of this is the fast-shrinking jobs, where unemployed are saying 'Any Job is Better than No Job’.

 

One of the fastest and largest employment generation industry, construction and infrastructure is not even close to the recovery path, manufacturing sectors slipping into contraction for months showed rays of recovery only from July, but with not much increase in employment.

 

The woes of a fragile economy, the hangover of mere financial package announcements and the exit of Ford, GM and Harley Davidson from India leaves thousands of employee’s future hanging in balance and so is the fate of hundreds of OEMs and ancillary units who are the suppliers for these Auto giants.

 

Services sector has retreated by a decade, tourism, hospitality, travel has risked a large number of semi-skilled and unorganized workforce. Services sector is one of the largest employers of unorganized workforce after construction, which only means the venerable sections of the society may not be able to gain employment for a longer time.

 

As unemployment rates touched double digit figures, first five months of 2021 saw 2.5 crore of the workforce losing jobs, of which 1.72 crores are daily wage earners, 32 lac salaried persons losing jobs mostly in Urban areas reflect that path to recover or the “V” shaped growth the Government is propagating is just a vaporware.

 

As IT and IT Enabled Services organization are reaping the benefits of work from home the direct and indirect employment these industries created has shown a sharp decline. Cities like Bengaluru, NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai that boosted of the IT Industry and the employment generated due to the IT Industry is struggling now, as there is a sharp increase in Urban Poor.

 

Government’s efforts to relax Labours Laws and Compliance may not necessarily helping in adding employment numbers but rather become a source to exploit Labours who are already in distress.

 

MSMEs with over 64 million units is the backbone of Indian economy, providing employment for over 10 crore people and contributing 30% to the GDP. With the current crisis MSMEs without financial stimulus is racing against time, over 41% of the MSMEs are in the verge of complete shut down and scale down of employees is a reality in most units.

 

The ground reality of the economy only reflects that employment generation will not be an immediate priority for employers. One of the biggest lesson of India’s economic reforms is that growth is a necessary but not sufficient condition for poverty reduction, and with shrinking Jobs people falling into below poverty line is on a rise.

 

The only Job enrollments that has doubled in the last 18 months is that of MGNREGA, as migrant workers move back to hometowns from cities, they are able to stay hunger free by the work provided under MGNREGA, which was once mocked by the current regime in the Parliament.


Today with COVID19, which is an additional burden on the economy most Indians are unable to escape their financial, geographic or social opening balance. Unfortunately, there is no sight of Reforms or Policy changes that can make labour markets, economy and country more inclusive, nor there is effort to create equality of opportunity and help people escape their losing tickets in the ovarian lottery. Hence the youth of the country will continue to suffer from unemployment crisis for a long time.

Kavitha Reddy

Activist, AICC Member & KPCC Spokesperson

(views expressed are in personal capacity)

Published in Salar, 5th Oct 2021

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Digital Discrimination

Pic: Internet

COVID-19 Pandemic has created the largest disruption of Education Systems in recent history, all places of learning from Pre-Schools to Universities were disrupted in an effort to stop the transmission of the Virus.

The Challenges of bringing Children back to School is immense, with still uncertainties on how and when the Education Process will be put back on track, the Online Classes is exposing the shocking Digital Discrimination.

The Digital Discrimination as we see it are challenges of Affordability & Access, Efficacy, Holistic Learning, Social Divide.

Affordability & Access

As Children form affluent background are taking Online Classes a large number of Children from less privileged background who go to Government, Aided or low-cost Private School are left in a lurch. Laptops or Smartphones with connectivity remains an illusion to less privileged Children and also to Teachers in many cases. Pandemic has not only disconnected a large percentage of the Children form Schools but form Learning & Education System itself. Added to the Affordability non availability of Learning Tools, Content, Bandwidth, Network etc. presents an Access challenge too.

Efficacy

Online Classes is new to Teachers, Students and Parents, most of the Learning Tools, Content and Teaching Methodology is based on School atmosphere, and there is very limited scope to replicate or replace that method. Also, School Education is an interaction only between Children and Teachers, but with Online Classes Parents are getting involved which is not only undesirable but also influences the Student-Teacher relationship.

As most Teachers are already complaining about Parents sitting along with Children or interfering during Online Classes, and the question on the Efficacy of Online Classes still remains unanswered. There are several studies that has shown harmful impact of digital addiction on Children, now with Lockdown and Online Classes it’s a forced digital addiction that will have serious repercussions on Behavior and Health of Children.

Holistic Learning

Offline Learning included Physical Interaction, Sports, Games, Extra Curricular Activities and Social Interaction between Teachers and Children and among Children that is now nonexistent in Online Classes. Social Interaction and Sports are very important for overall development of a Child and fear is that Online Classes many lead to several Physiological problems, Behavioral issues, Isolation among Children. Since Learning Tools and Teaching Methodologies currently are not designed for Online Classes, reports indicate that 45-50% of Children are unable to cope with the change thereby reducing the phase of their Learning.

Social Divide

Pandemic has caused havoc for venerable and less Privileged Children, they are deprived of not only Education but also deprived of Mid-day Meals, Healthcare, Nutrition supplements, Government Benefits and Support System. These Children are facing dislocation as Parents move back to hometowns, increase in Poverty, increase in Child Labour is now a reality.

 

In a study 1 out of 10 Children said they would not be returning to School or do not know whether they would return to School once Schools reopen, a significant number of Children reported having no contact with Teachers since the closure of Schools. Three out of every four Children reported an increase in negative feelings since the outbreak of the Pandemic.

 

The story is not pleasant in households with internet access as many parents lack digital literacy, vulnerable children have experienced severe Stress about the impending uncertainties due to the ongoing Pandemic. With over 91% migrant households having reported loss of income and 60% of households reporting lack of money to buy food, Children remain the most venerable with uncertain future.

 

Lack of access to Education, apathy or lack of awareness of Parents, large drop-outs may lead to a huge increase in Child Labour. It is unlikely that these Children would return to Schools unless there is relentless effort to Mainstream them. Also, there is no shying away from the fact that illiteracy and poverty is linked to caste in India; Pandemic may leave behind several deprived communities creating a huge Social Imbalance & Injustice and push them back into dark ages.

 

Kavitha Reddy

Trustee, Kaagaz Foundation

Friday, July 9, 2021

ಕಾರಂಜಿ - Kāran̄ji


Starting on 5th Sept 2021

ಕಾರಂಜಿ Karanji, is a Free bridge School initiative of Kaagaz Foundation specially designed for Children of Migrant Workers and other Communities who live in temporary colonies in Bengaluru who have stayed away form Schooling.

COVID19 lockdown has been a very serious blow to the Children of venerable households. Lack of - Learning opportunities, Mid-day meals, Connect to Schools has pushed these Children away form the Education System.

It is unlikely that these Children would return to Schools unless there is relentless effort to mainstream them. Karanji is one such humble effort to ensure these venerable Children are back in School.

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Telecommunication Tower MESS!

Date: 7th March 2021

To,                                                                                             
Shri Rakesh Singh, IAS
Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department
Bengaluru

To, 
Shri Manjunath Prasad, IAS
Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
Bengaluru 

CC To, 
Shri Kamal Pant, IPS
Police Commissioner Bengaluru
Bengaluru 

              Sub: Government Order on Telecommunication Towers

Respected Sirs,                                           

Greeting! With reference to the above subject, I would like to bring to your notice that both Telecom/Mobile Companies and Telecom Tower Service providers are rapidly Installing Towers without any Permission from BBMP or relevant competent Authority. Local BBMP Officials are silent over the concerns from Public, raising doubts on their motive and intent.
 
  1. According to Government Oder (GO) from Karnataka Urban Development Department (UDD), Ref # UDD 211 GEL 2014, Bengaluru, dated 29-05-2019 there are no permission given to the Telecommunication Towers in the residential area, and also there is a very clear frame work that the UDD has put in place for the approval process. 
  1. The Telecom/Mobile Companies and Telecom Tower Service providers are claiming that they have got a Stay Order from Hon High Court on the 2019 GO and High Court in its wisdom has asked to follow the 2005 guidelines till the time the Government responds, but WP # 55030 of 2018 (LB-Res) by the Telecom Tower Service provider was dismissed by Hon High Court on 3rd July 2019 clearly stating that N3 GEL 149 2005 guidelines is vailed only for Telecom/Mobile Companies and not for the Tower Service providers and even that concession was withdrawn via circular NA AE 149 GEL 2014 dated 13-05-2014.  
  1. BBMP Act 2020 that was notified on 21st December 2020 clearly mentions and considers Telecommunication Towers as ‘Buildings’, which means like any other Building Telecommunication Towers also are subjected to an approval process and taxes also have to be paid.
It’s appalling that when the RWAs or Citizen Groups ask for BBMP Permission Copy from the Telecom/Mobile Companies and Telecom Tower Service providers they are subjected to threats, bullying and even Police complains, threats with legal action etc. Unfortunately, BBMP Officials locally are making all excuses to delay action on these companies when approached for stoppage of work or for appropriate action. 

Considering all the above points, in the larger interest of Citizens of Bengaluru I request clarity from both BBMP and UDD on the above issues and I look forward for a positive response from your end. 

Thanking you,
Warm Regards,

Kavitha Reddy
AICC Member & KPCC Spokesperson