What is between him and I? 

What is between him and I? Does the title have an ambiguity? Yes it does have.  Neither a keen film maker’s wit nor an ordinary film maker’s observation is necessary to understand how I picked this. The terrible beauty of the name, and on whom the article is based on, would definitely weed out your doubts. Before I reveal the need of the article, I want my readers, pals even my foes to listen to a small anecdote in which I will embark the urgent need for an article like this. 
 
 It was a month ago, my father and I were having a chat in the shop ( a small stationary shop, but a quite reliance fresh for my father!). I was challenging my father’s habit of turning up late in the shop, after leaving me in the shop saying he needed a few minutes resting. As it had to be happened, I raised my voice and registered my protest. But he made me calm and could manage to bring a transition in the talk. He asked me to enlist the things out of stock in the shop. I went inside the shop and jotted down some names of a few needed things whihc have run out of stock in the shop. Again, in the meantime, some family matters came up for  discussion. Father who is very strong on family bonds started advising me, I came down heavily  on his attitude of unnecessarily unleashing emotional attacks on me. But as it would not have happened, a man, an onlooker stormed  into the shop. He had a mouth full of smile and asked me ‘are you his son”? For which I answered yeah. He suddenly laughed at us (I think he had been hiding that half moon smile to use it on an apt situation, i hate opportunists) 

The man took a step ahead  and in a hushed voice, said that he was confused if we were friends. putting it more dramatic, he asked “ are you guys really friends?. My father sported a smile on his lips  but I was still bewildered, I could only smell something fishy , “Is he making a platform  to rectify me, with another lecture series to make me understand how I should respect my father''

But astonishing me, he patted on my forhead saying he had been flattened by our duo play in the shop. He praised our father son duo in the guise of pals. father and I shared a smile together and I already fell for him. As usual, the incident had nothing to deliver than a sudden joke. But after a couple of days, when thoughts invaded sleeps, the incident started disturbing me, why he said so? Am I not that good? Do I need to pamper my father in his fifties? What was all about the incident? Yes, for me rather pampering or respecting my father, I came to the bitter but better knowledge that we have not kept a father son duo but a tight bond which often words fail to convey. But after a couple of days, the incident again landed me into the world of ‘thinkers!’

When  thoughts tread wild, some scenes from my childhood popped up. Collecting those incidents, I want to bring out a tribute to my father, the big man, Arakkal Abdul Majeed, the man whom I secretly adore.
Here, through an article, without brushing aside all the odds, I walk down the memory lane, with full of words in my quire, to post a tribute made up of words....( to be continued... )

                                             Sweet smell of success

Faris Arakkal

A residents' initiative has done wonders in the layout. An open manhole which was creating a lot of inconvenience to residents and commuters has been repaired recently after a resident made unrelenting effort and stood for the cause.  It can be recalled here that the same issue was published in Cityplus newspaper two weeks ago.

The Venkataswamy Layout in Kammanahalli was in news for all the wrong reasons two weeks back. A big manhole in the middle of the road was broken and the commuters along with residents were facing a lot of hardship.   An effort from a resident and your newspaper report did all the wonders and today, the manhole is repaired. R Punitha, despite being physically challenged braved all the odds to fight the lethargic attitude of the authorities and ensued that the layout gets back to normalcy. Cityplus had published the plight of the residents and the open manhole in the middle of the road had hit the headlines.
A couple of weeks ago, a private water tanker driving in the layout crushed one of the manholes and opened its lid. Amidst the hues and cries, the vehicle left the layout but manhole was left opened. The road has never seen asphalting for the last five years and residents were demanding for a facelift. Punitha who is a social worker living in the layout was disturbed by the scene and thought to take up this issue to the authorities. As she knew of the local leaders from the area she did a small signature campaign in the layout and drafted a letter to the leader.
Speaking about this, she said, "After I drafted a letter and gave it to a local leader here, he sent it to officials and after a couple of phone calls, I was assured that the manhole will be repaired very soon". But Puntitha very well knew that the matter would not be solved very soon and she needs to make lot of noise for things to get going. After a weeks' time, this Tuesday, three men from BWSSB came to the spot and started the repair work on the manhole.
"We had to feed them with tea and snacks as we wanted the work to be finished very soon,” said Punitha. She also said that unless we strive for the change, we will not get the things done in the layout as the area is under sheer negligence. The layout has pothole filled roads; basic amenity of potable water is still a distant dream.  Now, the open manhole had turned the heat on Punitha. She works for the well being of physically challenged and keeps no airs on the same. "It was a sheer necessity that made me to take up this issue and it is in my blood", she added.  A gentle smile was visible on her face when a fellow resident appreciated her work. "She has really helped us a lot and she is a boon for our layout", said a homemaker. "The girl's physical illness didn't stop her from doing good deeds," said Rajesh, another resident.
The plight of the residents is still ruling the roost with no proper water supply, dried up borewells and a failed waste management system and Punitha wants to bring the much needed change. "Am thankful for Cityplus for addressing the issues faced by the residents and I have a seen the copy of the newspaper which had reported about the same issue", beamed Punitha. Amidst all the praises, she is setting off for another crack down. "Those two street lights are not working since many days", voices Punitha and left from the scene. The Samaritan signs off with a will to do  in do more in the future.

A PERENNIAL PARKING PROBLEM

It seems parking problems in the city are not going to end any time soon. Haphazard parking in Second Block HRBR Layout is causing lot of inconvenience to the residents staying nearby. Despite the 'no parking' boards installed on the 5th Main road, people are found indiscriminately parking their vehicles.

Wrong and haphazard parking has become a big menace in the whole of HRBR Layout. One such area which has succumbed to the problem of improper parking is the 5th Main road which connects 80 feet road to Banaswadi Police Station. Even though the boards of no parking have been put, but still people come and park their vehicles creating trouble for the residents. The residents are demanding that it should be streamlined and rectified as soon as possible.

Restaurants flout parking norms
Few restaurants in the area have violated the prescribed parking norms. Customers visiting these eateries are parking their vehicles on the main road as building owners have failed to provide a parking space in the basement. BMTC buses which are plying through this relatively small road are adding to the problem. With either sides of the road parked with vehicles, buses have a tough time to take a sharp turn leaving motorists heading from the opposite side in danger. "Due to parking menace, I have lost control of my bike many times on this particular stretch", said Rajesh who takes this road on a daily basis.

No parking here!
 It is an irony that both sides of the road have 'no parking' boards and most of the vehicles are seen parking below the board! When Cityplus questioned one of the auto rickshaw drivers who had parked his vehicle below the board, he had a frightening reply. The Cityplus reporter stood there for more than an hour to do a reality check and found many people parking their vehicles at unauthorized spots. A man coming on a motorbike stopped near the 'no parking' board and joined a couple of other men for chatting. Meanwhile, a couple of buses were caught in the traffic!

What police say?
 When Cityplus called up the Banaswadi Police Station, they did not respond properly. Most of the officers refused to answer saying that inspector has to comment on the issue. Whereas, some of the sources from the police station opined that they had warned the eateries not to park vehicles on the road but often they breached the warning.  On the other hand, inspector of the station was not available for the comments as he was said to be on a training session.

Commuters take on parking problem
"I think this eatery has bribed the police or else how can they breach law", said one of the commuters. Sarath (name changed) opines that evenings are in total chaos as many people visit the area to eat at the restaurants. When Cityplus asked one of the bus drivers, he too had a same story to narrate. "I have to be very careful while taking the turn here on the road as vehicles parked on the road are creating problem for us to commuter. And also freaky mishaps may happen soon". Moreover, one of the residents points out that the white line drawn on road for parking vehicles has exceeded and there is a very less space left for the vehicles ply the road.

What law says?
According to the BBMP rules the commercial establishments including shopping malls and restaurants should get a space in the basement for the purpose of parking that connects the building with a proper entrance and exit. Though these buildings have NOC from the BBMP, there seems to be no facility for parking.  Under Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) 2005-15, the 75 sq m of the floor area should be provided for parking space at the eateries and food joints. The parking spaces should have been checked by the BBMP before giving the trade licenses to such establishments. The savories and the delicacies offered by these food joints are of no use if enjoyed at the cost of other's happiness.

--Faris Arakkal

STILL LIVING WITHOUT BASICS

           By  Faris Arakkal

Venkataswamy Layout in Kammanahalli is a place overlooked by the civic authorities. It has a population of more than 1000 people with more than 200 households. They have been tolerating the laid back attitude of the authorities for the last four years. The basic amenities like proper roads and drinking water supply remain ignored. 

A one visit to Venkataswamy Layout in Kammanahalli area and it will shatter all the hype about Bangalore being one of the most sought after cities in India. It has the worst roads, poor water supply and most awful waste collection system. Now that the assembly elections are over, the authorities and representatives cannot excuse themselves by saying that the development works are stalled.
   And probably, in a few days, the sitting MLA has all the chances of becoming a minister in the state. Nearly, 200 families are left in the lurch without basic amenities. It seems that the layout has been isolated and this carelessness attitude by the representatives is misruling the areas.

'A road not to ply'
Every motorist who has taken the Venkatswamy Layout road has repeated these lines. Certainly the look of the road for the last four years has remained the same. Numerous potholes, muddy roads have tarnished the image of the layout.  The narrow roads in the area are adding to the existing problems. The number of humps and potholes on these roads are proving to be too risky for the motorists. The residents often complain that the road has not been asphalted for the last four years. A week ago, a water tanker was fallen prey to one of the manholes. Many bikers had a close shave with death as they are falling in the pit formed in the middle of the road.

Where water is a rare commodity 
The most basic necessity of drinking water is a scarce commodity here. Drinking water is not available in every household and the residents have to seek water supply from the private suppliers which is a costly affair. While the residents have no water to drink, they are forced to pay up the bills. "There is no proper water access and we have to wait in queues to fill water which causes a lot of problem. We have to pay water bills despite the fact that we are getting water or not. While the Cauvery water is the only potable water supplied in the layout, the water is available only for an hour on Thursdays and Fridays", alleges Rekha one of the residents. Further she adds that due to rain, the water is now mixed with mud and emanating a foul smell.
Residents also blame that they have to shell out huge money to get proper water supply.  The residents have to bribe the water serviceman to stretch the half hour duration of the Cauvery water supply to one hour.  "We have to spend so much on water. Cauvery water supply is not enough for our daily chores and the private water tankers charge Rs 600 during summer," said Sumitha, a resident.

Politics too has its role!
The area residents are not sure about whom to approach when they want to meet their ward councilor.  Residents often hear three names of corporators and are left confused about the area's jurisdiction.
The three corporators whose names which do the rounds in the layout are A Kodanda Reddy (Banaswadi Ward 27), Padmanabha Reddy (Kacharakanahlli Ward 28) and MC Srinivas ward Kammanahalli (Ward 28). Although, MC Srinivas is the corporator of the under which Venkataswamy Layout falls, the other two corporators name are often heard in the area. Residents have appealed several times with the BBMP officials for getting the road tarred but in vain. Every time, they approach the officials, they have got a reply that the project has been sanctioned and will be carried out soon. Before the elections, Padmanabha Reddy had visited the layout and had attended the ward meeting. The residents could not air their grievances at the meet was done keeping the elections in mind. According to residents, even MLA KJ George was not present in the meet. Now, the residents doubt that they have been victimized for the internal political war between the coporators and MLA. When Cityplus summoned MLA over phone he was not available.  His phone kept ringing.

Garbage galore
While water and roads are the urgent needs to be meted out, heaps of garbage lying uncleared in the layout is creating a lot of trouble. Sumitha, a resident from the layout who is been collecting waste from most of the houses, says that the lady who was assigned by the BBMP to collect garbage has never turned up and the roads are in peril.  She further adds that she cannot move her tricycle trough the road as the road is plagued with potholes. But the residents complain that the lady is too arrogant and she uses foul language.
When other layouts have newly installed borewells, why was Venkataswamy Layout left out? When all the nearby streets have descent roads why the residents of Venkataswamy Layout are bearing the brunt?  While Cityplus tried reaching out to Padmanabha Reddy and MC Srinivas for their comments, they were unavailable for the comments. It is quite appalling to see that the basic necessities are not provided to people and they are exposed to different kinds of problems due the carelessness attitude of the authorities.

THEY FOUGHT AGAINST ALL ODDS TO EMERGE VICTORS

Date of Publishing: 2013-05-10 00:00:00.0

Faris Arakkal

Some stories are never heard, but some hit the ears so hard. This week, Cityplus brings to you a success story which will stand as an inspiration to others!  

The Federation of Bangalore North East Residents Welfare Association Banaswadi brought the lethargic officials into action and fixed a big menace which they had been facing for the last 20 years. The residents at 1st Block HRBR Layout had been knocking at all the doors to get their local sewage pipes connected to the main sewage line in the city but in vain. But after the federation took up the issue, the problem came to a close giving the residents an ease of life. The story unveils…

The problem kicks off 

It was in the year 1995 and 1997, the first block HRBR Layout was formed and residents started building their houses. In the initial stages there were only few houses in the layout, soon the nine 'H' and 'G' mains were formed with families moving in. But it was then when the BWSSB gave a shock to the residents who had settled down there. When BWSSB was done with the water supply in the layout, they failed to connect the sewage pipe line of both 'H' and 'G' mains to the main line. Hence the sewage water from all the houses would reach the two manholes they had dug up at the two ends on the both mains. The situation was turning grave, when it rained. The sewage water, with no way to flow into the main sewage line started creating troubles at both the manholes and sewage rushed out of the manholes forming water logging. After the filthy water started accumulating at these manholes, some people gave a try to close these holes with cement and bricks to bring an end to the water leakage. This caused more trouble with the water started flowing back to the respective toilets with the pressure mounting at both manholes. Hence people were left in the lurch, thanks BWSSB.

Much ado about nothing 

The desperate residents took the matter to the authorities but their appeals were fallen on deaf ears. Officials promised many but nothing new had happened. One of the residents on the condition of anonymity said that some simple and stupid reasons were given to the residents to get rid of the work. Residents were again promised that the problem would be solved after the monsoon was over but nobody turned up. For years, residents kept knocking the doors and officials' responses were no better. They shrugged aside the residents' queries as it was much ado about nothing!

The layout in peril

Soon the sewage water accumulating at the end of the manholes started emanating foul smell in the layout. The situation grew more serious with mosquitoes started breeding on the sewage. Several incidents of sump tanks getting mixed up with the sewage water were also reported. With no other way, the residents started shelling out huge money to remove the sewage with the help of the leeching machine brought from the BBMP. Unless the process was done often, the situation turned no good and hence the process was tedious to be carried out for long.

The trouble shooters
But the destiny had to take its course. It was in the month of February 2013, the residents came to know about the Federation and its president Subbaiah CM who lives nearby. They approached Subbaiah and they had rounds of talks with the federation. Subbaiah put before them a single choice to join the federation and fight for the cause. The decision had its impact. The residents teamed up with Federation of Bangalore North East Residents Welfare Association and a few residents like TV Velayudhan, Bhaskaran and Satheesh Nanu led the team from the front.

The rise of a federation 

Subbaiah initiated talks with then Executive Engineer and asked for an immediate facelift. When the result was zero, the residents took it to the senior officials. The higher officials including the chairman of BWSSB were informed about the issue. The team drafted a letter showcasing the issue and emailed it to the chairman.
They received an immediate reply from the chairman pointing out the issue had been handed over to the respective engineer. Within a few days, the respective contractor was sent and the work began. The residents were happy and in a week's time, the sewage line was connected to the main pipe and the problem was fixed.

Be the change 

When this reporter talked to some of the families here in the layout, each in unison profusely thanked Subbaiah and the federation. "I am thankful to Subbaiah for getting the problem fixed", says a home maker Kavitha Madhusudan.  Shruthi Alva, another home maker too remembers Subbaiah and the crew for saving their layout from a great problem.
 Satheesh Nanu who came up for the issue wonders that when youngsters were not interested into the issue, it was these old men who came forward and that had motivated him to team up with the crew. But for all for all of them, Subbaiah has only a single answer "be the change you want".
It is just not a success story of a group of determined souls, but also of the federation which saw more number of residents joining the body.