Posts Tagged ‘Bangalore’

It is impossible to solve problems overnight

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

“It is impossible to solve problems overnight. We have more than six lakh connections and lines that are more than 30 years old. Water supply in Bangalore is much better than in other metropolitan cities. We are doing our best to efficiently manage the available resources and infrastructure. I will answer the questions after receiving complaints from corporators.” - Said BWSSB chairman P B Ramamurthy.

After the conclusion of the BBMP council meeting to discuss the water crisis in the city, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) chairman P B Ramamurthy said that the board has been working on finding solutions to all problems.




Rainwater Harvesting Deadline Extended and No Tariff Hike

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Rainwater Harvesting is mandatory and May 27 was deadline to compulsorily fix rainwater harvesting in your house. All houses measuring over 60×40 ft were told to compulsorily install the equipment to save rainwater. The BWSSB has extended deadline of Rainwater Harvesting  by two months. The decision to extend the deadline for rainwater harvesting came after there were demands from residents to give them some more time to install the system.

BWSSB has postponed the move to hike the water tariff only after monsoon sets in. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in-charge minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said: “With the city facing shortage of water, we have postponed the move to hike the water tariff. We are now looking at implementing the hike only after monsoon sets in. After summer, you can expect hike in water tariff.’’

Stating that harvesting rainwater would be the best solution to mitigate water shortage in Bangalore, Katta said that recycled rainwater would be supplied to the city. To implement this plan, BWSSB plans to create six artificial lakes — two in Vrushabavathi Valley, two in Bellandur valley, one in Anekal and one in Hoskote. “Each lake will be developed in 1,300 acres. The estimated cost for the project is Rs 4,500 crore. Besides, the existing 135 lakes will also be used for this. Rainwater will be collected in the lakes and supplied to the city,” he said.

Source: Times of India




7 days left for availing rebate on property tax

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

BBMP property tax for the new financial year 2010-11 has already begun from April 1st 2010. The property owners who want to avail a rebate of five percent on property tax need to file and pay property tax 2010-11 in full on or before April 30. Property owners can fill up the form online and make an online payment or download the form, print it, and submit it at the nearest ARO office on the same day.

There are two different forms to be filled up - Form IV (white form) - in case of no change in usage or built-up area from the previous year. If there is any change in relation to these clauses, then the property owner should fill up Form V (blue form). If tax payment has not been made for the previous two financial years, then property owners cannot file their property tax for current year until they pay previous year’s property tax. For filing property tax 2009-10 and 2010-11, property owners should have the application number for tax paid for the year 2008-09.

For owners making the payment in two half yearly installments, two separate forms have to be filled up for each period. The deadline for the first half yearly payment is May 30, 2010. Any details that are missing or have been entered wrongly can be corrected and updated by contacting the nearest ARO office. Any problems with regard to the payment or receipt generation can also be addressed to bbmpsas@bbmp.gov.in. You can also call the numbers - 22247627, 22133029. Online payment can be made using debit and credit cards. The Card payments can be made without any transaction charges.

  • BBMP Helpline - 22247627, 22133029
  • Address problem regarding property tax to bbmpsas@bbmp.gov.in
  • Last date for availing a rebate of five percent on property tax is April 30, 2010
  • Last date for the first half yearly payment is May 30
  • Property tax for current year cannot be filed until payment of previous year’s property tax
  • Online payment can be made using debit and credit cards.



Right time to dig recharge wells

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Now that rainwater harvesting has become mandatory in Bangalore, this is the time to dig recharge wells. The law states that the depths should be a minimum of 10 feet. In most parts of the city, a depth of 20 feet to 30 feet is recommended.

All individual households, apartments, layouts, industries and institutions can construct recharge wells and should appropriately include it as part of the design itself. In many cases the groundwater levels increase almost immediately after a rainfall year and this water is available for supplementary and appropriate use. In many cases borewells too are benefited as the shallow aquifer eventually recharges the secondary porosity from where borewells draw water.

A typical recharge well is one meter in diameter. It is then lined with pre-cast concrete rings with perforations to allow water to slip out from the sides. These rings are then gradually lowered into the well to line it from the bottom all the way to the ground level and above. A solid cover of steel or pre-cast concrete rings is placed on the top for security and safety purpose. This is very important.

The capacity of such a recharge well of one meter diameter and six meters depth is about 5,000 liters. Normal procedures for well maintenance, such as regular cleaning and disinfection annually, are recommended. Removal of silt regularly helps in greater recharge. By integrating rainwater harvesting with groundwater recharge each citizen can contribute to the cause by using water judiciously and ensure its continued availability for future.

Source: The Hindu

RBI to extend banking hours and conduct a special clearing on March 30 and 31

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

To facilitate receipt of taxes from the public the Reserve Bank of India(RBI), Bangalore, and branches of agency banks conducting government business will remain open up to 5.30 pm on March 30 and March 31.

To realize and credit clearing instruments received from the public by March 31 , a special clearing will be conducted on March 30 and 31.

The Reserve Bank of India, Bangalore, and branches of agency banks conducting government business will remain open up to 5.30 pm on March 30 and March 31 to receive cash, deposits, cheques and instruments representing government taxes.

BBMP Election 2010 were marred by poor voter turnout

Monday, March 29th, 2010

The poor turnout in the posh areas of the city and the general voter apathy was cause enough for several politicians to spit fire at Bangalore, and to hint that if people did not turn out to vote they had no right to criticize the ruling class.The much-awaited elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were marred by poor voter turnout, with the State Election Commission pegging the voting percentage in the city at 44.6 per cent.

Not even a single vote was polled in polling station No 10 of Benniganahalli, situated in the defence colony C V Raman Nagar.Only 161 of 1,085 voters had cast their votes till 3 pm in polling station No. 6 of Seshadripuram ward, which falls in the most elite area of the ward.

“They have no right to blame politicians when they do not vote in the very important process of democracy,” Kumaraswamy said. Krishna Byregowda, MLA from Byatarayanapura Assembly segment echoed similar sentiments. Byregowda said: “These people always demand facilities from government but are not ready to spend a few minutes to exercise their franchise. I consider the poor turnout as the failure of the educated people.”  Going a step further, Transport Minister in-charge of Bangalore R Ashok scolded people for watching films and going to restaurants instead of voting and called for making voting compulsory.

“It is a shame on part of educated people. I don’t know why these people have no time even to come to polling stations to elect a right candidate.It is a pity and disappointment to see that educated people prefer to watch films instead of polling. Voting should be made compulsory,” the minister R Ashok said.

Several voters found their names missing from the voter’s list or mentioned in wrong ward numbers. Many voters were not allowed to cast their vote in spite of having valid election photo identity cards, as their names were missing. This included first time voters as well as holders of the new voters ID cards issued in 2009.

Reference:

expressbuzz.com

Voting is Your Right and Responsibility

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Bangalore city goes to polls on 28th March 2010 and contestants are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters.It is only less than five days left for BBMP election and Campaigning modes like publicity material, announcements, radio and TV announcements, public meetings, rallies and door-to-door campaigning with handbills and pamphlets going to end by March 26.

The tech savvy contestants will canvas till the day of the elections through e-campaigning.The contestants especially those who have opted for the social networking sites campaign through SMS or social networking sites till the day of the elections.

Janaagraha Jaagte Raho campaign has teamed up with CommonFloor (www.commonfloor.com), an online application that provides a feature rich and private portal for residential community/apartment complex to ensure all Bangalore residents to vote.

Check out websites http://bit.ly/b5jFu8 for final list of candidates in your locality or neighborhood. Know about candidates whom you are going to vote before the day of election. Voting is your right and responsibility, on 28th March set aside your busy shedule or works and ensure that you and your family members vote. Volunteer to assist those with disabilities or transportation issues get to the polls. If you’re a student, educate your friends and others about BBMP election.

Source: Get Out The Vote – BBMP Elections 2010

Reduction in stamp duty is a boon

Friday, March 12th, 2010

In recent Karnataka budget 2010-11, the decrease in stamp duty is expected to cause some optimism among home buyers. Real estate sector is gradually becoming active and reduction in stamp duty in recent budget is boon for for those homebuyers or investing in real estate.

Stamp duty on Deposition of Title Deed (DTD) would be would be reduced to 0.10 per cent from previous 0.25 per cent subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs.50,000. For amalgamation and de-merger of companies, present rate of 5 per cent would be brought down to 3 per cent. One per cent duty would be imposed on papers of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).

An appropriate amendments would be brought in to stop stamp duty evasion in transfer of apartments/flats. Stamp duty on Agreement to Sale to be modified from 0.25 per cent to 0.10 per cent subject to a maximum of Rs.20,000. After further simplifying of duty structure in respect of lease and license, Stamp Duty at the rate of 0.50 per cent will be imposed for a period up to 1 year subject to a maximum of Rs.500 for residential buildings. Stamp Duty would be imposed one, two and three per cent respectively for a period of one year to 10 years, 10 to 20 years, 20 to 30 years, based on average of one-year. rentals and advance

Stamp Duty and Registration Fee exemption

In the recent budget 2010-11, it is decide to exempt Stamp Duty and Registration Fee fully in respect of loan documents of rainwater harvesting units, houses built under Indira Avas Scheme and non-conventional sources of energy - like solar and bio-gas energy units. Stamp Duty and Registration Fee exemption will be granted in respect of documents transferring properties for public purposes, free of cost to local bodies and urban development authorities. Duty in respect of annulment of all kinds of documents will be simplified.

Buying A Home and Home Loans get pricier

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

A week after the Budget made homes more expensive by imposing a service tax of 10% on the cost of construction, banks are now ratcheting up interest rates by 0.25-0.50%. Bankers say they expect rates to rise by another 0.25-0.50% after two-three months when the Reserve Bank ups rates in general at its next credit policy review in April.

All new home buyers will now have to pay 0.25-0.50% of additional interest. This is because the Reserve Bank of India has impounded more bank cash to check inflation, with the cash reserve ratio being raised by 0.75% to 5.75% in February. New borrowers will have to shell out Rs633 more in terms of equated monthly installments (EMIs) compared to people who have already raised their loans.

Home loan vendors are not making the buying decision any easier. Kotak Mahindra Bank, too, has announced a hike in home loan rates. On Thursday, leading home financiers ICICI Bank and Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) ended their “teaser home loan” schemes, under which rates were as low as 8-8.25% in the initial years.An ICICI Bank spokesperson said that the “two-year fixed-rate home loan scheme has been discontinued from March 1, 2010. The current floating home loan rates are 8.75% for loans up to Rs 30 lakh, 9% for Rs 30-50 lakh and 9.5% above Rs 50 lakh.”

Hike in power tariff may proportionally increase in your water bills

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Hike in power tariff may propotionally increase your water bills as BWSSB has written to government for hike in water tariff. In order to meet BWSSB’s increasing monthly expenditure on power charges,BWSSB has written to the government asking for a proportional hike in the water tariff.

In case the government approves BWSSB’s proposal, there might be a proportional hike in water tariff for both domestic and commercial consumers. “We are incurring almost a 11.5% increase in our monthly power charges, paying Rs 2.5 crore extra a month. In case the government approves our proposal, there might be a proportional hike in water tariff” said BWSSB chairperson P B Ramamurthy at a meet at FKCCI.

On Tuesday, there will be no water supply in the North and East parts of Bangalore.The crisis follows a sudden sludge in the motors and almost all the machines have stopped functioning since monday evening. The supply will be restored after Tuesday as the repair work is in progress.

Source: The Time of India