I AM , NATARAJ M B because I CARE

I am a US Qualified Registered Microbiologist-Medical Technologist, operating my own Clinical Lab. I have been an activist advocating consumer, civic, citizen's rights for Thirty plus years & a Frequent contributor to the letters to Editor.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Dietician deft definition

DIE A TICIAN!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Is this new BWSSB response to RWH?

----- Original Message ----- From: Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 12:54 PMSubject: BWSSB RWH notice, my letter, TOI news items 21 mar 2010. Sri M.B. Nataraj Sub:- Rain Water Harvesting Ref:- Your e-mail Dated:12-04-2010. ------- With reference to your e-mail dated 12-204-2010, it is to inform that, the Government of Karnataka has brought an amendment to BWSS Act, 72-A to adopt Rain Water Harvesting for the new buildings constructed on site measuring 30 x 40 above and the existing buildings 40 x 60 and above. This is to further inform that, it is not to single out 60,000 of the lakhs of properties. Below 40 x 60 sites, the space left over is insufficient to put up RWH structures. However, they may also have RWH. BWSSB has not authorized any contractors to issue certificates after adopting the RWH. The consumers have to approach the local Water Supply offices to get the details of RWH and to inform the RWH implementation to their respective houses. sd/-Chief Engineer (Quality Assurance)
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Sir,

I guess you are a BWSSB official? since the appellation at the bottom does not clarify how you got my letter?
The whole problem is the attitude of the approach.
You are antagonizing even the law abiding citizens.
You authorities treat citizens like enemies, criminals and preindependence day natives who understand only the language of the danda.
It is time to treat them like your allies.

Some houses especially my neighbors is already
situated such that all the water on his rooftop falls within his generous open earthed 4000 sq ft plot and is resorbed into the ground.
I have already put up necessary pipes to divert all the water to my 30x 20 front lawn with an open bottomed 1000 litre old sump.
What kind of compliance report should we file?
When the meter reader and aide can be the notice bearers why cannot they be the compliance reporters also on your behalf?
Why make customer run up to BWSSB officials doors?

Then why have you put up the list of authorized RWH contractors? and what do you mean there is not sufficient space? according to your plans even a 3x3x3 pit is sufficient. Does not even the smallest of the small sites have a sump that size?
if so they can accommodate a RWH pit. Why are you illegally- you are not authorized by law to disconnect water and sewerage supply- intimidating the customers- obviously the targetted 60,000- with it?
These are the kinds of actions that create unpleasant sense of opacity and underhand dealings in the BWSSB involvement in the entire RWH project even in the sympathetic willing to comply customers eyes.
It is definitely not a sign of transparent functioning.
The threatening attitude of the authorities is in total contrast with the conciliatory note you have sent me.
This confrontational approach will do any good for this already shaky government's popularity.

Kindly direct your meter readers to be the bearers of compliance reports also.
I wonder what action would you threaten me with if I choose not to go to your offices to file a compliance report.
The approach is either voluntary compliance by created awareness or draconian armtwisting which you started out with.
Incidentally the amendment that authorizes you with recovering dues does not talk anything about citizens having to run upto your offices for filing compliance?
Sincerely yours
M B Nataraj

Who is a Public servant?

One who treats public like his servant.
C 2010 M B Nataraj

Thursday, May 13, 2010

BWSSB RWH Drama LEDS 13 May 2010

13 May 2010,

The Editor
Times of India
Bangalore,

Sir,
Extorting by criminally intimidating some 60,000 residents of 40x60 and above property owners old residents of Bangalore into installing rainwater harvesting apprears arbitrary and capricious.
What is the contribution these unfortunate's can make for the bludgeoning city and its water problems?Particularly so
1)when 60 percent of the city's space is occupied by public spaces owned by the government,
2) After receiving crores of soft loans and UN funds for these projects, the RWH projects should be encouraged by subsidies as were solar water heating systems.
3) intimidating and threatening the customers with unauthorized abrogated powers of disconnection and stopping of sewerage. We still cannot fathom the stink if BWSSB can ever conceive of a mode of enforcing this illegal criminal intimidation.
4) by excluding the smaller site owners but votebank wise significant BJP as a novice government appears to be driving towards permanent antagonization of the citizenry by their mostly unpopular so far actions.
5) When they are planning on crores of tender or build-operate-and-transfer systems, they should easily include the pittance cost of these 60,000 RWH installations and the drop of water they recharge the table, of the present consumption Three billion litres per year

6) The government administrative machinery fully aware of this alienation appears to be proactively driving this novice government towards an irrevocable total alienation of even the pro party electorate in a mythical Ashatthamo Hatah Kunjarah style.
Under these circumstances,
Citizens are forced to adopt the father of the nation Gandhiji's famous and effective noncooperation movement by letting the government install the RWH and collect the dues
as land revenue (the mode of recovery as per law) which can be litigated at a high
inconvenience to government and BWSSB.
While we are understandably shaking at their threat of disconnection of daily water supply,we are also looking forward to the how of their implementation of stopping sewerage services.
They stop antagonizing large sections of the populace unnecessarily. It is cutting off the nose to spite the face.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

official reply to autoraja D(evils)

1) That is why we have introduced easyauto you can use it.
My response:
Sir,
It is a rhetorical question that I asked and it is a tongue in cheek answer you have provided.
Several questions on easy auto service are still up in the air.They are not available 24/7. how does a visitor to bengaluru use it since he is not registered?
Kindly dont offer these experimental systems as an answer to complaints.

What if no auto is nearby?then you dont get it as per the site if you refuse the extra charge you are again back on the street.
This service is too new to have collected any credits or debits!

I am asking why are not the existing rules and laws are enforced strictly? to the police, RTO and legal metrology department.
Auto drivers/owners need to be disciplined, and made fit for civilzed society.Easy auto if it is working is the result of side stepping an existing problem.
Easy auto is anything but easy.
Have you tried city taxis? they are never available when you want them. What is availalbe cheat you. Is that a solution to the problem?
You need to register, what do visitors to Bengaluru know about easy autos. You need to pay a fee. You need to wait for them to turn up and they have been known to say nothing is available.
Thanks for the unsolicited advise.
Anything whichever is new take time. All of sudden over night problemcannot be solved. Easy auto you need not to register visit our websitewww.bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in for details.Only by sendingcomplaints your problems wll not solve . I request you to visittraffic management center at ashok nagar law and order police station. Then you will know from BTP what action we have taken.
Sir,As automation centre responsible for issuing violation notices for almost all aspects of traffic including RTO,legal metrology etc you are right in the forefront of Bangalore's Traffic battles between road users, citizens and government.I am deeply appreciative of the efforts BTP is doing in enforcement. It simply is not enough as 800 vehicles are added everyday to some 3 million vehicles already on the 4500 kms of congested roads. You do not have enough personnel to be everywhere to catch violators and RTO staff do not carry out their jobs of defective # plates, very loud silencers, musical horns underaged drivers, rash and negligent driving, redlight jumping, cellphone driving etc. It is a rampant problem.You do need citizens eyes like mine to report problems to make your reach farther and deeper and create a sense of fear in violators.I feel I have done my duty by reporting the problems accompanied by video evidence if I can manage to gather it. Most of the violation reports occur because most of the enforcement staff-not just traffic police but every government servant should be doing that. Since they do not , it falls to the citizens shoulders. These IMV act violations which will lead to fatalities, hits and runs, iously damage the quality of life of all citizens. One honk necessary or unnecessary hurts 8000 people. A loud horn double triple the number. All avoidable.If you can fine even one or two of the 2900 or so complaints I have sent you some good will have been accomplished because the violator's arrogance police are not there to catch and citizens cannot do anything will disappear gradually.This cooperation by citizens should be appreciated instead of being brushed aside as problems will not be solved by just complaining, attitude.Let us not forget the problem as far as autos are concerned have reached the proportions they have because of lack of enforcement of exisitng laws and consequent arrogance in auto drivers and owners that they can get away with anything.I again deeply appreciate whatever action you are taking and my efforts are not to highlight lack of enforcement but to assist it.If I do send these copies to higher ups it is because I want the government to take concrete policy steps in all areas where it is required. If their mode of operation is to just forward it to you and you interpret it as just a nuisance it is unfortunate, and you have to take it in your stride.Thank you again.

Why do we license auto,taxi collie Raja (D)evils to be Bengaluru Brand Ambassadors? 26apr 2010

27 Apr 2010,
Why do we license auto,taxi, coolie raja (D)Evils to be Bengaluru Brand Ambassadors?

Bangalore is considered one of the best destinations for tourists, visitors, residents and retirees etc.
Any one coming into a city is first greeted by the port of entry-bus,train station or airport.
The kind of people you run into first leaves the lasting impression of any city.
Hired transport like autos and taxis, coolies, are invariably the first impression.
If they cheat on their fare, take you for a ride at your expense, talk rudely to you or recommend a stranger to a hotel because the hotel gives you a finders fee, the impression on the visitor is bound to be disgust.
Fare gouging is considered a very serious offense which can cost the taxi company owner and driver license to operate in the west. It is benevolently tolerated here.
The porters at the bus and train stations are rude, greedy and 'unregulated ' 'licensed' mob.
Since public transport is miserable in Bangalore especially for visitors with baggage, the only option they have is autorickshaws.
Taxis offered a more respectable option but become too expensive for one or two passengers.
But with the advent of new breed of fourwheeled goondas even they have fallen to disrepute.
Autorickshaws have ended up being the major mode of daily transport.
Public transport is inaccessible, inadequate in the residential areas which have crept beyond the reach of major roads,during the unregulated growth of the city with privately developedbadly laid lay outs with narrow roads.
Autos having become a necessity, but we have nurtured them into evils by tolerating their excesses.
We dont demand from the authorities to regulate and control them, to do so.

There is no control on the type of people who can get drivers licenses.
They are rude, greedy, discourteous.
Worst of all, are horrible drivers, honking and speed demons, grossly violating lane, traffic rules left to right, driving their autos into spaces that can just fit their front wheel causing innumerable unreported accidents.
They have no use for traffic rules.
They tamper the meters with impunity, provided by lax enforcement or governance.
The anti citizen, two tiered-one and ahlf times day rate for night rates - have encouraged a whole breed of "NIGHT AUTOS"
whose meters are so grossly tampered they cannot ever fall in to the legal metrology sleuths hands.
This rule was probably brought in at the expense of the citizens, as the government buckled under the union pressure.
The mandatory display of driver details in the auto is meaningless because most autos are run on hire basis by the driver.
One auto is driven probably on 3 shifts by different drivers. It would be more meaningful if the driver wears a photo badge with name and licence detail so there is some accountability for their behaviour and action. As it is any threat of complaint will be countered by the usual response you can complain to anybody you want
born of the confidence that nothing will be done about it.
even if you do manage to get the auto registration number- despite the defective, no side board, very small lettering and only in kannada number plates.
This only kannada number plate menace has spread encouraging rude, irresponsible,lawlessness born of the confidence that many enforcement authorities can not read kannada numbers.
Bhasha Abhimana, in this case is an index of lawlessness of the driver/owner.
A deplorable state of affairs.
Hiring an auto or taxi is an express contract to take you to your destination.
When ever anyone complains about tampered meter, the standard response of the driver is to stop the vehicle and force you to take another auto-again another process of begging and bargaining to get to your destination. Because there is no easily enforceable punity for refusal to ply.
Worse they even demand the fare for the distance he drove you.
The legal position should be brought on par with the west by enforcement there is no liability to pay for an incompelte contract- taking you part way to your destination.
Authorities should highlight these rights of citizens and enforce them ruthlessly. Sporadic drives against refusal to ply, traffic violations, meter tampering etc will not help.
They just coalesce these drivers into a more ruffian and riotous group.
The police, legal metrology and transport authorities do not take regular punitive or preemptive action
on meter tampering or traffic violations in specific cases.
What is worse, even upon tedious complaint procedure by citizens, they do not act.
Infact, if you do manage to take these auto drivers to the nearest police man or station, most often they subtly pacify you into yielding to the drivers demand rather than uphold law and citizens rights.
You can see this kind of scratch my back I scratch yours arrangement, in front of major tourist points, malls and theatre complexes.
They allow these goondas to form unions who just create law and order problems by organizing these autodrivers into a cohesive goonda power.
The authorities should demand a strict enforceable code of conduct and behaviour from these unions and its members before they recognize these unions.
Failure to follow existing rules and conditions of civilized behaviour should mean automatic cancellation of the driver's and autorickshaw commercial license.
This is particularly essential for meter tampering, refusal to ply,excess fare and rude behaviour.
Three chances(if indeed necessary) can be given before enforcement.
We the citizens and the government should remember that these goondas if we dont control them, will become Bengaluru brand ambassadors if they already are not.
It is time we took strict action to repair the damage to the city's image and the citizens daily lives by these auto rajas.
(sample list of 19 complaints submitted to the addressed authorities against auto-cratic rajas for overcharging, rude behaviour,refusal to ply, tampered meter, etc follows below)

3 projects taking root-30-apr 2010

30 Apr 2010,
Gratifying to see that 3 of my campaigns taking root in some form.
It just proves patience pays. nataraj

1)Times of India 28 Apr 2010 page2:
Get set for a quiet drive on every 10th
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: In a unique initiative to curb noise pollution in the city, Mission Peace — an NGO — has decided to observe ‘No Honking Day’ on 10th of every month. This drive against the increasing noise level has been supported by Karnataka police. The initiative was unveiled by Justice Manjula Chellur, Justice K Sreedhar Rao, retired Justice A M Farooque and former Justice M F Saldahna along with DG & IGP Ajay Kumar Singh. “The mission of starting ‘No Honking Day’ is to create awareness about unnecessary use of horn and the ill-effects of noise caused by the autos. We will also try to convince the government to bring in laws to control noise pollution,’’ said Sunitha De Sousa, president of Mission Peace. “Noise pollution has to be minimized now. We must make sure that there are enough laws to help police tackle the issue,’’Justice K Sreedhar Rao said. According him, KSRTC and auto-rickshaws are among the highest contributors to the increasing noise pollution in the city. Justice Manjula Chellur said:“Creating awareness among the motorists and youth is important to reduce the noise pollution.“Our culture is to tolerate everything, including the noise pollution. But we should make sure that people don’t honk on the roads. DG&IGP Ajay Kumar Singh said: “We don’t think of others on the road. People usually resort to haphazard parking, jumping traffic signal and also cause noise pollution by excessive honking.’’ “For instance, as soon as the green light flashes in the signal and though there are vehicles in front of him, the person behind starts honking. This behaviour must change and the noise pollution has to brought down,’’ he added.

FOR NOISE-FREE ROADS: DG&IGP Ajay Kumar Singh and Justice Manjula Chellur at the launch of No Honking Day, in Bangalore on Wednesday
2) Times of India 30 Apr 2010 page 3

DON’T PANIC, rainwater harvesting is no rocket science
Jayashree Nandi TNN
Bangalore: Bangloreans, breathe easy. Rainwater harvesting is a simple process. All you have to do is channel rainwater from your roof into the groundwater, recharge or store it and use the water for non-potable purposes. As the May 27 deadline for getting rainwater harvesting (RWH) fixed is fast approaching and with the BWSSB threatening to disconnect water supply, Bangaloreans are concerned about how to get it done. It is a simple process that any trained plumber can do. Usually, rainwater from the roof is drained out through several outlets. In RWH, the idea is to connect all these outlets with pipes and get the water to fall into an underground sump or a well. The Times of India spoke to residents who have got it fixed. A MODEL HOUSE N G Kesari’s house on 17th Main, Malleswaram, is a shining example. His rooftop area is around 430 sq mtr, quite large compared to average houses. It has 12 outlets to drain out rainwater. In 2007, when his well went dry, Kesari decided to revive the well by harvesting rainwater. A R Shiva Kumar, executive secretary, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology and principal investigator on rainwater harvesting, had surveyed his house and implemented the system for him. “Our area is 430 sq mtr and the average annual rainfall in Bangalore is 1,000 mm, so we could harvest easily up to 4,00,000 litres,” says Kesari. The 12 outlets are connected by horizontal pipes that meet at the front of the house. Two pits are dug up where the water is filtered and goes into a sand bed. Then the fully-filtered water goes into a well. “The full structure cost me around Rs 70,000. The rooftop area is big, so the cost of fixing 12 pipes is higher. The water suffices for our garden and car cleaning,” he adds. Next door, at N K Ramdas’s residence, the structure is neat. “I had called a private plumber. We have three outlets from the roof. The outlets are near the gradient where all the rainwater slopes and stores. The plumber has connected all three outlets with PVC pipes and clamps,” explains Ramdas. The water from the pipe is then let out into a well. The bottom surface of the well is not concrete but directly meets the soil and recharges it. He has also fixed a rain gauge on the roof. “After we finished work on the 16th, there was a hailstorm. On the roof, we measured 50 mm of rainfall. So we calculated that we have harvested 10,000 litres in a week,” adds Ramdas. He has been using a borewell for the garden but now the borewell will be recharged completely by rainwater harvesting. It cost him around Rs 20,000 for the total structure — Rs 9,000 for the pipes, Rs 4,500 to dig the well and put a lid, Rs 6,500 labour charges. CHEAPER OPTION M Rajamurthy who started experimenting in his own house, did it for the whole structure, including filters, with just Rs 400. He also implemented it for several houses in Mysore and Bangalore. “Earlier, I used plastic buckets. Since they don’t last long, I switched to steel buckets,” says Rajamurthy. He charges around Rs 2,250 depending on size of the house. 9916054833 HELP IS AT HAND BWSSB helpdesk: 23341652, 23348848, 23348849. WHO SHOULD DO IT? All new buildings of sital area of 1,200 square feet (30 x 40 site) and above, and existing buildings with sital area of 2,400 square feet (40 x 60) must install RWH structures on their premises.

SHOWING THE WAY: N K Ramdas and N G Kesari (below) have implemented RWH



3) Times of India 30 Apr 2010 page 5
Minister to crack the whip on errant auto drivers
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: The state transport department has chalked out a slew of measures to check the menace of autorickshaws across the state. “We will initiate steps to remove two-stroke autorickshaws which haven’t switched to LPG,’’ transport minister R Ashoka said on Thursday. 85,000 licenced autorickshaws ply in and around Bangalore, of which 60% are two-stroke ones. Details of the operation are yet to be worked out in the wake of court directions to seize non-LPG autos, the minister said. MANDATORY DIGITAL METERS With increasing complaints of tampering of mechanical fare meters and cheating by auto drivers, Ashoka said the department may make digital fare meters compulsory in all three-wheelers plying in Bangalore limits. “As a first step, we have decided to make digital meters mandatory in newly registered autos. This will be implemented within a fortnight,’’ he said. To encourage auto owners and drivers to go in for digital meters, the department will provide a subsidy of Rs 1,000 for each vehicle.

Free shuttle buses at City rly station The BMTC will soon launch free shuttle bus services from City railway station to the adjacent BMTC bus stand to prevent autorickshaw drivers from fleecing commuters. The idea is to make travelling convenient between the railway station and the bus stand, Ashoka said.

ಶಬ್ಧಾಸುರರ , ವಾಹನಸುರರ ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯ:ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಉಳಿಸಿ 5 may 2010

೫ ಮೇ ೨೦೧೦
ಈ ಕೆಳಕಂಡ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಭಾವ ಬೀರಬಲ್ಲ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಧಿಕಾರವಿರುವ ಮಾನ್ಯರೆ,

ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರಂತೆ ನೀವೂ ಈ ಶಬ್ಧಾಸುರರ , ವಾಹನಸುರರ ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ೨೪/೭ ಯಗ್ನಪಶುಗಳಾಗಿ
ಆಹುತಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ.


ಆದರೆ ನಿಮಗೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಇದನ್ನು ತತ್ಕ್ಷಣ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನೂ ಪಾರುಗಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು , ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ (೧೦೦ ಜನಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೇವಲ ೫ ದೇ ವಾಹನ ಉಪಯೋಗಕರಿರುವಾಗ ) ಉಳಿಸಿರಿ ಎಂದು ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.

೧) ಹಾರ್ನ್ ಗದ್ದಲ: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯ ೮೦೦ ವಾಹನಗಳು ರಸ್ತೆ ಎಂಬ ಯುದ್ಧಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಇಳಿಯುತ್ತಿವೆ.
ನನ್ನ ೨೦೦೬ ರ ಮನವಿಯಿಂದ ಈಗಿನತನಕ ಸುಮಾರು ೮ ಲಕ್ಷ ವಾಹನಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಸುಮಾರು ೩ ಮಿಲ್ಲ್ಯನ್
೪೫೦೦ ಕಿಲೋ ಮೀಟರ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿವೆ. ಅಂದರೆ ಪ್ರತಿ ಕಿಲೋಮೀಟರಿಗೆ ಸುಮಾರು ೭೦೦ ವಾಹನಗಳಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಇವು ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯ ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿಸರಕ್ಕೆ ೧೫೦೦ ಟನ್ ವಿಷಾನಿಲಗಳನ್ನು ಉಗುಳಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಹಾನಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಪ್ರತಿ ಚದರ ಕಿ.ಮಿ. ೨೩೦೦೦ ಜನದಟ್ಟಣೆಯಿಂದ ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಹಾಂಕ್ ನಿಂದ 16000 ನಿರಪರಾಧಿ ಕಿವಿಗಳು ನೊಂದುತ್ತವೆ. ಮತ್ತು ಈ ಬಗೆಯ ಶಭ್ದ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯದ ಇತರ
ಕಿವುಡು, ತಲೆ ಶೂಲೆ, ಕೋಪ, ತಾಪ ರಸ್ತೆ ಕ್ರೋಧ, ತಳಮಳ, ರಕ್ತ ಒತ್ತಡ ಮತ್ತು ಇರುವ ಖಾಯಿಲೆಗಳ ಉಲ್ಬಣ, ಮತ್ತಿತರ
ರೋಗಗಳಿಗೆ ತುತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಶಬ್ದ ವೇದನೆಯಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಕಿವುದಿಗೆ ಮದ್ದೇ ಇಲ್ಲ.

ಶಬ್ದ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣ ಅನಾವಶ್ಯಕ ಹಾರನ್ ಬಳಕೆ, ಮತ್ತು ವಿವಿಧ ಹಾನಿಕಾರಕ ಏರ್,ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಕಲ್, ಹಾರನ್ ಹಾಗು
ಕಾನೂನು ಬಾಹಿರ ಸೈಲೆಂಸರ್ಗಳ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆ.
ಅತಿ ಹಾರನ್ ಬಳಕೆ ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ಚಾಲಕನ ಸಂಕೇತ, ಅಪಘಾತ ತಡೆಗಟ್ಟುವ ಏಕೈಕ ಮಾರ್ಗ ಎಂಬ ತಪ್ಪು ಆಧಾರ ರಹಿತ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೋದ್ರೆ ಹೋಗಲಿ ಬಿಡು ಎನ್ನುವ ಧೋರಣೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣ.
ರಸ್ತೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗಿರುವ ಚಾಲಕರನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಇದು ಬೇಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಚಾಲಕತನವನ್ನು, ನಾನೇ ರಸ್ತೆ ರಾಜ ಎಂಬ ಧೋರಣೆ ಯನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತದೆ.
ತಮಗೇ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ಅನೇಕ ಸಂಘ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಅನೇಕ ಕೋರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಈ ಹಾರನಾಸುರನನ್ನು ವಧೆ ಮಾಡಲು ತಮಗೆಲ್ಲ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ಬೇಕಾದ ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ಪರಿಸರ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಕಾನೂನು, IMV act, ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ಮೂಲಕ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಾಳಬಹುದಾದ ಶಬ್ದ ಸೀಮೆಯನ್ನು ೪೫-೬೫ ಡಿ ಬಿ ಎಂದು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಇದರ ಮೂಲಕ ತಾವು ಬೇಕಾದ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಬೇಕಾದ ಲಿಖಿತ ಆಜ್ಞೆಗಳಿಂದ ತತ್ ಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊರಡಿಸಲು ಏನೂ ಅಡ್ಡಿ ಆತಂಕಗಳಿಲ್ಲ.
ಕೇವಲ ತಮ್ಮ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ ಮತ್ತು ಇಚ್ಛೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ತೋರಿಸಿ.
೨) ವಾಹನಾಸುರನ ಇತರ ಮಾರಣಾಂತಿಕ, ಹಾನಿಕಾರಕ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯಗಳು:
ಅಪ್ರಾಪ್ತ ವಯಸ್ಕ ವಾಹನ ಚಾಲನೆ,ಜೀಬ್ರ, ರಸ್ತೆ ಬದಿ ಹಾಗು ಜಂಕ್ಷನ್ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾದಚಾರಿಗಳ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆ, ಕೆಂಪು ದೀಪ ಇರುವಾಗಲೇ ವಾಹನ ಚಾಲನೆ, ಅತಿ ಪ್ರಖರವಾದ ದೀಪಗಳು, ಉರಿಯದಿರುವ ಮುಖ್ಯ ,ಪಕ್ಕ,ತಿರುಗುವ ಚಿಹ್ನೆ, ಹಿಮ್ಬರುವ ದೀಪಗಳು, ಬೇಕೆಂದೇ ಗುರುತಿಸಬಾರದೆಂಬ ಕಪ್ಪು ಗಾಜು,
ಮತ್ತು ಒದಲಾಗದಂತಹ ನಶಿಸಿರುವ, ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬಿಸುವ ನಂಬರ್ ಪ್ಲೇಟ್ಗಳು ಹೇರಳವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತವೆ. ಇವುಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹಿಡಿದು ಜುಲ್ಮಾನೆ ಅಥವಾ ದಂಡಿಸುವ ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಯ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಂದ ನಿಮಗಿಲ್ಲವಾಗಿದೆ . ನೀವು ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳು ಕೊಡುವ ದೂರುಗಳನ್ನು ತೊಂದರೆಗಳೆಂದು ಪರಿಣಿಸದೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ದೇಶವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧರಿಸುವ ಇಚ್ಚೆಯೆಂದು ಆದರಿಸಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸದ ,ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ದೇಶ ಸೇವೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಭಾಗಿಗಳನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳುವ
ತಮ್ಮ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸಿ,
ಎಂ ಬಿ ನಟರಾಜ್,ಎಂಎಸ್, (ಜಾರ್ಜ್ಟೌನ್ ಯೂನಿವರ್ಸಿಟಿ, ವಾಶಿಂಗ್ಟನ್ , ಡಿಸಿ) ಎಂ ಟಿ (ಅಮೆರಿಕನ್ ಮೆಡಿಕಲ್ ಟೆಕ್ನಾಲಜಿ ಸ್ತ್ಸ್) ಯೂಎಸೆಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಜೀವಾಣು ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಜ್ಞ - ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞ

Ban honking under existing rules-English

4 May 2010,

Dear Honorable Authorities in power who can do something,

You all are also victims of all these problems facing us 24/7. and you have the powers to make a difference.
Please DO.

Enclosed a request to Ban honking in Bangalore, submitted to prior authorities 3 years ago. without any perceptible results so far.
1) Honking:
The problem has become extremely acute because between then and now almost EIGHT LAKHS (800 per day x 1000 days) have been added in to the unchanged 4,500 kms roads of Bengaluru. These have added almost 1.5 MILLION TONS of pollutants (1500 tons/day) into the air around Bangalore.
Every honk disturbs 8000 individuals at the present rate of population density in Bangalore. Honking has been known to encourage reckless driving rather than being an index of careful driving. No accident has so far occurred due to proven failure to honk. Infact all accidents honking does happen but accidents still occur probably due to recklessness arising out of overconfidence in honking.
The loss of hearing due to high decibel noise is IRREVERSIBLE. It has been grossly magnified by the loud musical/pneumatic/air/4 wheeler like horns on 2 wheelers. All these banned horns should be spot destroyed. ORDERS should be issued to this effect immediately.
The supreme court has already mandated 45-65 db noise levels.
Any honking is in violation of the law. It is grossly fallacious to claim that honking prevents / averts accidents. Everyone does not have to be made a victim 24/7 for the sake of 3 accidents per day which can be averted by slower and safer driving anyway?
Honking can be easily banned under the authority of the supreme court mandate by just an order from the DGP/Commissioner.if nightlife affecting hardly 5 or 10 percent of population can be rigorously controlled under the police act orders/rules, why not provide relief to Millions of citizens 24/7? It just needs an initiative from the right authority.
if someone honks only to avoid an accident they need not be penalized instead of letting millions of people suffer noise pollution and consequent hearing loss mood changes , hypertension, irritability and a host of cascading health problems arising of noise pollution.

2)Autorickshaw/taxi coolie malpractises that damage the city's image:
We the citizens were very pleased to hear of transport minister's initiative to control Auto Rajas ruling the city roads and tarnishing the city image by their rude
behaviour, fleecing commuters by tampered meters and refusal to ply. Strict action has to be ensured by regular penalties instead of specific drives for meter tampering because such drives will just unify these already unionized ruffians who will call for strikes and make the government backoff.
The only way to control them is to WITHDRAW the auto driver license and Autorickshaw permit for 3 or 5 violations. It should be easily trackable with the new generation of computerization. If necessary the government should issue a set of strict instructions regulating driver behaviour with passengers-also linked tothe driver permit- so that any violation should cost the operator's license. This has become very necessary due to the drivers arrogance compunded by their unions.
As a global city Bangalore's image should be brought on par with the rest of the world where such tactics would result in serious penalties.

3) Traffic and IMV act violations: in Bangalore GALORE!
It is routine to see red light jumping, oneway violations, parking violations, slow moving vehicles in the outer most lanes,wheeliing which recently cost lives, cell phone driving, overloaded 2/3 wheelers especially with young innocent children whose lives are endangered. Recently I saw a horrifying one motorcycle with SIX on it- 2 adults 1 kid in between and 3 kids on the gas tank.
Under aged driving, tinted glasses, defective number plates( a new breed of glaring LED number plates combined with reflecting italics small number plates makes identification impossible even from a 3 foot distance of an immobile 2 or 4 wheeler fitted with this kind of number plate.-video attached), kannada only number plates on autos and taxis, no side boards are all designed to evade identification and hence irresponsible behaviour. These tinted glasses and defective plates have become a hallmark of criminal intentions.

The enforcement wings like traffic police, metrology and RTO are mostly understaffed by tired, disinterested and low spirited staff.
Their enforcement reach can be dramatically increased by seeking citizen's cooperation in noting and reporting violations and strict penal action based on that.
Infact the government could go one step further and encourage citizens to report by offering a 25 or 30 percent of the collected fine(in addition over the existing fine amount) as incentive to the good samaritans as done in the western countries. The reach of law would be extended then and compliance will definitely increase. Complacent "No police here" attitude of violators would vanish. One way of encouraging citizen participation is by treating their problems as opportunities for service and not as trouble making or spanners in the machinery.



No New rules are required to bring order to the city and the state.Stricter Enforcement using willing citiaen participation is all that is needed. Authorize the citizens to issue violation notices for traffic.IMVact and BBMPetc. These are all primafacie violations which are self evident and no special knowledge of law is required to notice these violations. Misuse of law by these authorized citizens is another fallacy- as it has never been tried. Now it is time it should be.
Thanking you in anticipation of prompt relief.


M B Nataraj

BWSSB RWH-29 APr 2010

29 Apr 2010,
Dear TOI Reporters,
This is with reference to the days story on BWSSB ILLEGAL, UNAUTHORIZED threats to disconnect water and sewerage connection for failure to
install Rain water harvesting.
Kindly find my letter in this regard to the chairman BWSSB and others in this regard.
To summarize the attitude of the authorities
1) it is an uncalled far,illegal,unauthorized, unnecessary extortionary arm twisting and a confrontational approach to compliance
2) Why single out only 60,000 of the lakhs of properties? how much can this small proportion can contribute to RWH program when lakhs of litres of PROCESSED water is being stolen and drained due to unmetered connections and broken pipes?
3) we certainly cannot expect the government with its time honored lethargy to set up four tertiary treatment plants recyling 5 mld immediately or
in the near foreseeable future.
4) BWSSB should accept RWH compliance even if uncertified by their "authorized contractors" which will just end up the initiative just being on paper since these certificates will be up for sale without actual compliance very soon. I would like to point out about what have we achieved by emission testing certificates in controlling pollution in and around Bangalore when we are putting in 800 vehicles on road every day and using up 6000 tonnes of petroleum products which amount to 1500 tonnes of emissions per day around Bangalore itself?
What this is doing to supreme court orders on noise pollution by uncontrolled honking and consequently public hearing and health is your and my guess.
To clear any misconceptions about my intentions in this whole problem, I want to specify that RWH has been setup in my residence in spirit, all the water not only on my roof, but the side and front open areas has been diverted to collect on an open lawn about 15x35ft, into a 1000 ltr sump and overflow around a borewell.
I am grossly against the tactics employed by the successive governments, parties and organizations to pass the buck to the unfortunate Bharatiya Janata for their own failures.
Here I quote Mr Vishwanath(http://rainwaterharvesting.wordpress.com/)
But, says, Mr Vishwanath, instead of making it mandatory, the Government would achieve better results if an awareness campaign is started on the benefits of the system. “Concessions that were given for solar water heaters could be given here too.”

Other countries do.(http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/policy/legislation_international.htm)

5)Ordinary citizens already victims, should not be made further victims especially If Karnataka government is enjoying financial incentives and benefits from UN organizations for RWH, let us count our blessings but the authorities do not have to be overzealously harsh on the poor citizens to whom they have already passed on the cost of RWH.

classic pun 2may 2010 leds

2 May 2010,
Times of India Team,
Bangalore,
Dear TOI team,
Your days headline on page 13 "BABA BLACK SHEEP " is an excellently apt pun play on the phrase .
It makes for a new adage that a word/phrase can evoke a thousand pictures.
Congratulations !

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Dantewada,Madhuri Gupta-leds 1may 2010

The two most distressing news items of the week 1) Dantewada maoists armed from Police CRPF arms? besides arming the gangsters in UP and elsewhere and 2) Madhuri Gupta spying for Pakistan for whatever reasons she choses to offer as excuses, for their treasonous behaviour,
one can feel Bharat Mata's agony and anguish through our own guts.
Those accused- yes accused not necessarily proven guilty- like terrorists, gangsters, spies and drug dealers, illegal arms suppliers and manurfacturers be they corrupt security who kill people should be awarded summary capital punishment.
They should be held responsible for all the consequential deaths from their actions.
The law needs to be amended immediately to apply to these cases with retrospective effect.
Breathes there an Indian with soul so dead to oppose this move?
Let us not waste precious judicial and administrative resources on providing "justice" for these vermin.
Their actions are fatal to the integrity and existence of Bharatvarsha's 10000 years.
If we donot act now we will be mute accomplices to their actions.