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Puravankara announces new project-Purva Skywood

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Purvankara Projects, on Thursday, announced the launch of — Purva Skywood, a luxury apartment project. Puravankara Group launched our new project with world class amenities like Sports Facility, Gymnasium, Jogging Track, Swimming Pool, Party Hall, Jogging Track etc.These high rise apartment will have state of art health club, swimming pool, club area and play area having different types of games for residents.

Director Ashish Purvankara said the Rs 350 crore project is spread across an area of 12.75 acre with built up area of more than 1.2 million sq ft.Purva Skywood is a community of 730 apartments and will be developed in two phases.Purva Skywood, a luxury apartment project will locate on Haralur Road, in HSR layout, south-east Bangalore.

The apartments will range from 1,263 sq ft to 2,340 sq ft, which will be a combination of two, three and four bedroom apartments. The basic price will be around Rs 2,990 per sq ft, he added.Purva Skywood is the high rise luxury apartments will be spread over 13 acres of land.The whole area is developed with ample green space making it an eco friendly zone.

Reference: Deccan Herald

Nearly 34 per cent of water supply goes unaccounted

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Water pilferage by people who tap into the main supply lines has turned out to be a major headache for the BWSSB. According to a rough estimate, the city has a shortage of 300 MLD (million liters per day) of water. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) crackdown 5,000 illegal water connections in the city between June 1 and 15 has brought to light. The board, however, said it has no clue about the total number of pilferers in the city. According to source, nearly 34 per cent of water supplied to Bangalore goes unaccounted for because of this water theft.

After a hot summer that brought Bangalore to its knees, the BWSSB will begin a pilot project in 11 wards of the city to supply water 24/7. Currently, the board supplies water to Bangalore on alternate days, which is also erratic.The board said the new project will not increase the demand for water. “When you supply water 24/7, you save a lot of water, because people stop throwing the water stored in buckets and refilling them once they get fresh water,” said Ramamurthy. Despite this drive, the board still has no clue about the total number of illegal connections in the city. “The idea is to regularize the illegal connections so that we can manage the available water better,” said Ramamurthy.

How about a honeymoon in Space?

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Once the ambitious ‘Space City’ materializes, space would be just 100Km from Bangalore. The Space City focuses on boosting real estate, hotels and hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors. It will have UFOs, galaxy-shaped shuttle station, a virtual museum and star hotels. The project, which is expected to provide employment to 20,000 people, has been planned to be pollution-free. Once a person enters the city, he will have to travel around either by monorail or electric cars.

How about a honeymoon in space? The honeymooner space luxury would be available in various categories, three star to six star hotels. All this would be a reality once the ambitious ‘Space City’ materializes. The journey for the Space City began on Saturday, with the state government’s high-level clearance committee on investments, headed by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, giving its in-principle approval.

The project promoter is Marib Infrastructure India Private Limited, a joint venture of Abu Dhabi and Malaysian firms. Sheik Sultan Bin Mohd Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family and one of the main promoters of Marib Group, is expected to arrive in Bangalore by next month-end for project consultations with the state government.

The ambitious ‘Space City’ to come up on a sprawling 1,600 acres at a whopping Rs 18,500 crore investment at Bagepalli in Chickballapur district, it will be the first of its kind in the country. The project, which is expected to provide employment to 20,000 people, has been planned to be pollution-free.  The project combines unique, futuristic themed and varied project components. It will have science and technology park, exhibition centres, malls and media-linked events. Besides, the project will fill the space for the real estate needs.

It will be a state-of-the-art multi-functional educational, entertainment project focusing on science, technology, innovation, art, design, ecology and entertainment among others. Land acquisition and water would be the two challenges for the project. However, as it is a dry area, land wouldn’t be a problem. The government has suggested to the project promoter to go in for rainwater harvesting, zero discharge and utilization of treated water.

Source: Times of India




Water theft can now land you in jail

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

To tackle water theft, BWSSB formed flying squad and amended BWSSB Act. For the first time since 1964, the BWSSB Act equips the board to punish even abettors.The amended BWSSB Act has new sections 108A and 108B. This allows the board to book violators. Those found guilty will be punished with three-year jail or with penalty. Section 108 empowers the board to penalize any employee of the board or a licensed plumber who abets a person in water theft. Officials who abet the crime will face a three-year jail.

According to BWSSB Act “Water theft is defined as whoever dishonestly obtains water supply through illegal connection or uses tampered meter in any manner resulting in non-recording or wrong recording of consumption of water or damages or destroys water meter/apparatus so as to prevent accurate metering of water consumed, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to three years or with fine; or both.”

With 34% of Bangalore’s water going unaccounted due to rampant water theft and illegal water connections, the BWSSB has decided to come down heavily on violators. “To bring in stringent measures to curb meter tampering and water theft, sections 108A and 108B have been inserted in the Act. This allows the board to book violators. Those found guilty will be punished with three-year jail or with penalty,” Said BWSSB chairman PB Ramamurthy. The BWSSB Act empowers the board to penalize any employee of the board or a licensed plumber who abets a person in water theft.

The flying squads have already identified 10 cases. “They are gathering evidence and soon we will file a case against violators in the court. Besides, 5,400 connections have been disconnected in 10 days in the drive against unauthorized connections,” said BWSSB chairman. “The flying squads comprise assistant engineers, junior engineers and water inspectors. The squads will gather evidence against those involved in water theft. They will prepare documents, file the case and gather evidence like photographs and videos,” Ramamurthy said.

Governor H R Bhardwaj approved The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage and Certain other laws (Amendment) Bill 2009 on April 14, 2010 and the government issued a gazette notification on April 16. Flying squads have been formed to tackle water theft. “The revenue enforcement cell has already started work. Once we get a case of water theft, we will have to file it before the magistrate court,” officials said.




BWSSB contingency plans to tackle monsoon

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

From January this year, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has undertaken cleaning up of manholes which get flooded during rain.The BWSSB has announced its contingency plans for the monsoon season. Many manholes that pose a threat to vehicle users have been repaired. In a release, it has said that it has undertaken cleaning up of manholes from January this year by identifying those that get flooded during rain. As many as 7,300 manholes have been cleaned so far and repaired manholes that pose a threat to commuters.

The release states that the board has 76 jetting machines to clean underground drains.The water board has started four control rooms in four locations of the city which will function 24 hours.The BWSSB has also stationed its engineers at Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) control rooms during the night following a directive of BWSSB Chairman P.B. Ramamurthy.

For any rain-related complaints,consumer can contact:
C.J.F-Malleswaram: 22945240, Hosahalli: 22946186,
Jayanagar: 22945150 and Indiranagar (HAL 2nd Stage): 22945163

E-stamping gains popularity in document registrations

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Gone are the days when people had to wait in serpentine queues to purchase a stamp paper. The efforts of the Karnataka Government in promoting e-Stamp papers with the support of the public sector Stock Holding Corporation of India has started paying rich dividends. Nearly 175 e-Stamp sale counters have come up across the State. E-Stamp papers sale has gained popularity in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu as well.

“It is almost impossible to produce a fake e-Stamp paper. Each paper carries a code and the paper itself has several security features. The efforts are on to open 400 e-Stamp vending centres across the State and of them 200 will be located in Bangalore where the sale of stamp papers is one of the highest.Credit for this should go to K.R. Niranjan who until recently was the Inspector General of Registrations and Commissioner of Stamps.” says S.N. Jayaram, the incumbent Inspector-General of Registrations and Commissioner of Stamps.

E-Stamp papers are available in select branches of Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, Souharda Cooperative Bank, Indian Bank and Corporation Bank while Punjab National Bank and Karnataka Cooperative Apex Bank have come forward to open sale counters. Apart from this the new variety of stamp papers are also sold in nearly 50 post offices and this will be extended to another 50 by the Postal Department.In the two years from March 2008, a total of 9.53 lakh e-Stamp papers with a face value of Rs 73.19 crore have been sold in the State.

The introduction of e-Stamp papers and the opening of sale counters across the State will not merely counter the circulation of fake document papers but also net a rich revenue to the State exchequer.




Rising demand for affordable housing in west

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Areas in the Bangalore West such as Magadi, Jalahalli, Mathikere and Nagarbhavi are witnessing demand for residential options primarily due to the planned connectivity. Analysts estimated residential sales volumes in 2009-10 to be in the region of 250 million sqft which was higher over 2008-09 by two-thirds.

The improved connectivity will lead to a lot of businesses coming up here and will generate employment for thousands of people. The connectivity and resulting boost for industry in this region will push demand for affordable housing in west Bangalore. The widened Sarjapur Road saw a surge in residential high rises, IT parks and new retail establishments on either side. Similarly, Bangalore West is expected to see a growth in its residential and commercial market.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) initiative to widen major roads in the city will not only speed up commuting time and ease traffic congestion, it will also improve connectivity and foster large-scale real estate development along the routes.The opening of the road from Summanahalli, Magadi Road to the Mysore Road-Ring Road junction has led to a new interest in housing options in this area. The BBMP has planned major signal-free corridors that will ease traffic in this area. The BMIC’s expressway is expected to fuel growth towards Bidadi. The Tumkur Road project will enhance connectivity towards Nelamangala and reduce congestion on the ORR.  The widening of the Bangalore-Mysore highway from the existing four-lane to a six-lane road has already begun.

Devanahalli, Hoskote, Attibele, Tumkur Road, Whitefield, and Doddaballapur Road are some of the areas that will benefit from proximity to the PRR. Many developers have come out with housing projects and sites in these areas. Areas along Bellary Road, Hennur Road, Yelahanka, Jalahalli, and Jakkur are emerging locations for Grade A residential developments. Tumkur Road, Hosur Road and Doddaballapur Road are emerging residential pockets for affordable housing segment.The Metro will connect residential, commercial, and industrial hubs, giving a greater impetus to realty and push up property prices.




State government to bring control on private water suppliers

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Considering the situation related to water shortage and private water suppliers taking advantage, the state government is planning to bring control on private water suppliers who are supplying water through tankers. Government is planning to put a ban on the supply of water in tankers by private operators in the city. By controlling private water supply in city, the BBMP and BWSSB bore wells will get water which can be supplied to areas which are facing water problem.

“Water tankers are charging heavily from the people. We are planning to put a ban on the supply of water in tankers by private operators in the city. If private players want to supply drinking water, they must get water from outside the city. We are discussing with legal experts ways on how to curb private water suppliers,” said city in-charge minister R Ashoka.

Apart from this, the state has also decided to set up task forces in all the assembly constituencies in the city under the head of local MLAs. These Task forces will have full powers to take measures to solve the water crisis and to dig bore wells. “We have decided to appoint 150 men for each ward to supply water. In some areas, we will outsource the monitoring of water supply,” said Ashoka.




The filtering process should not result in loss of rainwater

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Filter plays vital role in Rainwater Harvesting. Primary job is to keep organic particles and silt out of the rainwater to be harvested. The filtering process should not result in loss of rainwater to be collected or should not also result in choking and consequent flooding.

For individual homes, a simple drum with a cloth covered inlet is good enough. Passing the rainwater through a sand bed is simple and easy. For a 100 square metre roof area, one 60-litre drum filter is usually enough. There filiter available are many in the market and most of them do the basic job of keeping organic particles out. Go for the simpler and easy to maintain and to clean.They should also be cheap and easy to replace.




A bye-pass system helps in the filtration process because it is only the first 5 mm of rain which usually needs to be cleaned. The filter, if made of ferro-cement, can last longer and is much tougher than plastic. Ferro-cement does not crack in the sun and is much more eco-friendly than PVC. Before buying and installing a filter, ask what it does, the difference between input and output water quality and how easy is it to maintain.

Since a filter has to handle a heavy downpour at times it cannot function at micro-filtering the rain. It can only keep the larger particles free.The filtering process should not result in loss of rainwater to be collected. The entire rainwater harvesting system consists of a catchment, which is usually the roof, the conveyance, which are rainwater gutters and downpipes, the filters and finally the storage or recharge, which is a sump or a well.

Change in the base rate will apply to new as well as old customers

Monday, May 24th, 2010

The existing borrowers can cheer now, as under the ‘base rate’ regime, to be effective from July 1, 2010. It is reported that the Reserve Bank of India, in its guidelines on the ‘base rate’ (the new benchmark that banks will use to price loans), has made it clear that any change in the base rate will apply to new as well as old customers. If you thinking of shifting your home loan account to another bank/HFC. Hold on till July 2010, when the ‘base rate’ regime starts and you may get an opportunity to shift to the ‘base rate’ without spending any amount. It is hoped that the ‘base rate’ system will enhance transparency in lending rates and usher a new beginning in the financial system of the country.

One of the major grouses of existing home loan borrowers is that they continue to pay higher interest, while banks and Home Finance Companies (HFCs) are offering much lower interest rates to new customers. The existing borrowers can cheer now, things are expected to change for the better. The ‘base rate’ system would be applicable to all banks and as such the housing finance regulator (National Housing Bank) may issue separate guidelines for home finance companies (HFCs) to ensure transparency in fixing interest rates on home loans.




Under the ‘base rate’ regime, the best part is banks will not be allowed to offer loans at interest less than the base rate fixed, which will have to be reviewed at least once in a quarter. For existing borrowers, banks will have to provide an option to switch over to the new system before the expiry of the existing contracts, on mutually agreed terms. However the RBI has made it clear that the bank cannot charge any switch-over fee for converting an existing loan from BPLR to the ‘base rate’ system.The ‘base rate’ may vary from one bank to another as RBI has allowed banks to choose any benchmark to arrive at the base rate for different loans, but the factors considered to arrive at the rate will have to be transparent and should be disclosed to the public.

Source: The Hindu