Latest news with #BBMP
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Manivannan takes over as BDA commissioner, Mohandas Pai calls him ‘action-oriented'
In a key bureaucratic reshuffle, the Karnataka government on Friday appointed senior IAS officer Manivannan P. as the new Commissioner of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). According to a report by The Hindu, a 1998-batch officer, Manivannan will take over with concurrent charge while continuing as the Principal Secretary of the Social Welfare Department. His appointment, effective May 31, comes as the current BDA Commissioner Jayaram N. is set to retire on the same day, the report added. The BDA, often at the centre of criticism over Bengaluru's chaotic urban expansion, is currently grappling with multiple challenges. One of its flagship projects, the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, has seen sluggish progress, and residents continue to complain of poor infrastructure. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently announced that the skydeck project, part of the city's broader development push, will take shape within this very layout in Kengeri. The BDA, along with the BBMP, has also faced backlash for approving layouts and constructions without ensuring adequate infrastructure, thereby contributing to urban sprawl and civic stress in India's tech capital. (Also Read: Bengaluru's long-waited Ejipura flyover gets official attention as BBMP chief pays visit) The appointment has drawn attention from public figures and civic commentators. Prominent Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and investor Mohandas Pai welcomed the decision on X (formerly Twitter), saying, 'Thank you very much Rao avare. Your constant Indus film is very needed. Pl busy Shante's 25 days to see progress. Only way to get things improved. @BBMPCOMM great work. Thanks Minister @DKShivakumar for having an action-oriented dynamic officer.' Pai's endorsement reflects a broader hope among citizens that Manivannan's track record of proactive governance will bring new energy and accountability to the BDA. Manivannan has previously held key roles across departments in Karnataka, and his appointment comes at a time when Bengaluru's planning agencies are under increased scrutiny for their role in shaping the city's future. (Also Read: 'You had no role in India's progress': Mohandas Pai shreds Indian-American millionaire over quality of life remarks)
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Nepali domestic staff flee with valuables worth ₹1.8 crore from Bengaluru businessman's home: Report
In a high-profile burglary case, a Nepali couple employed as domestic staff at a Bengaluru businessman's residence allegedly fled with valuables worth ₹1.8 crore, including a licensed firearm, Times of India reported. According to the report, the incident occurred at the home of S Ramesh Babu, a 55-year-old businessman and political party functionary, in Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar near HAL. The theft came to light on May 28, a day after the family returned from a pilgrimage to Tirupati. The accused, identified by the names Raj and Deepa, had been entrusted with the house while the family was away. However, investigators suspect the duo may have used false identities, as no identification documents were collected during their hiring. (Also Read: Bengaluru's long-waited Ejipura flyover gets official attention as BBMP chief pays visit) The couple had been working at Babu's residence for just three months but had already gained the family's trust. When the family left for Tirupati at around 5.30 am on May 27, they left Raj and Deepa in charge. Though Babu had CCTV cameras installed and monitored footage remotely, he noted the system had gone offline the next morning. Initially suspecting a power outage, he didn't raise an alarm. It wasn't until around 11.30 am on May 28 that the situation began to unravel. A family friend who dropped by the house noticed the main gate and front door were wide open, and the staff missing. She immediately informed Babu, who asked another friend to inspect the property. During a video call, Babu noticed broken locks on bedroom doors. The family rushed back and arrived by 4 pm, only to find their valuables gone, the report further added. Among the stolen items were a diamond necklace, gold ornaments weighing nearly 2 kilograms, ₹10 lakh in cash, and a licensed pistol. Babu told the police that the haul included both inherited heirlooms and assets acquired through his career. Initial investigation suggests that the couple was recommended by a former employee named Prem, who had worked with the family for over 18 months. Before leaving for his hometown, Prem introduced another man, Babu, as his replacement. Unable to handle the domestic responsibilities, Babu brought in Raj and Deepa, who soon became familiar faces in the household. Police now believe the theft was not an impulsive act but a planned conspiracy involving at least three other accomplices. 'A case has been registered under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft committed by a servant or clerk entrusted with their employer's property,' said Shivakumar Gunare, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield Division) according to the publication. A special team has been constituted to trace the suspects, and further investigations are underway. (Also Read: 67 dead as record-breaking rainfall batters Karnataka, over 19 lakh at risk: Report)
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- New Indian Express
High vigil on cattle transport ahead of Bakrid festival in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: With just a few days left for Bakrid festival in which lakhs of animals will be sacrificed, the state government has formed a Bakrid Committee under the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner to prevent illegal transport of cattle and camels to the city. The BBMP has already warned the public that slaughtering cattle and camels is a punishable offence and only sheep, goat and buffalo older than 13 years are allowed. As per an official from the DC's office, officials from RTO, transport department, police and municipality have to carry out awareness among the public regarding the transportation of animals. 'Strict action will be taken against anyone found slaughtering cattle,' he said. 'In case of illegal cattle or camel transport, the animals will be seized and cases will be filed.'
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Shopkeepers' night vigil at Bengaluru mall helps catch burglars
1 2 Bengaluru: Frustrated with repeated burglaries at their closed shops for the last four months, merchants at a commercial complex finally decided to put up night vigil themselves. The result: One burglar was caught red-handed, while two others were nabbed later. The shopkeepers handed over the burglars to Commercial Street police station. They have been identified as Imran Khan, 30, Yousuf Pasha, 22, and Nabil Ahmed, 25. A senior police officer said all three accused are residents of Shivajinagar. Clothes, a TV, and other valuables were recovered from them. Police have registered a case under multiple sections of BNS, and the trio is being interrogated. According to the complaint filed by Mohammed Mujahid, who owns four shops and a gym at the five-storey Krupa Shree Palace Mall on Thyagi Doraiswamy Road in Shivajinagar, the 30-shop complex was sealed by BBMP on Jan 29 over unpaid property tax. Since then, shopkeepers were not allowed to enter the premises. However, some of them noticed strangers coming out of the building in the wee hours, carrying items in bags. One of the shopkeepers, who had installed CCTV cameras at his establishment, found out that some intruders had sneaked into the shopping complex from its rear entry point. He immediately alerted Mujahid and the other shopowners. Speaking to TOI, Mujahid said it was then that they realised that the thefts were going on for the last four months. "We are already at a loss as we are not able to open our shops. Our savings have almost run dry. These thefts are now like rubbing salt to the wound." Pushed to the brink, the shopkeepers decided to put up a night vigil to catch the culprits. On May 28, they spread out in groups and hid themselves around the building complex at night. "Around 7 am the next day, as one of the thieves, Imran, tried to enter the building through a broken window on the ground floor, we caught him. He later revealed the names of Yousuf and Nabil," Mujahid said. While Yousuf was nabbed from his house, Nabil was caught near the shopping complex. "We recovered Rs 3 lakh worth of clothes, mostly women's garments, from the three accused. Once the unpaid property tax is cleared and BBMP allows us to open our shops, we will know the extent of loss."
Time of India
21 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Bengaluru asks: Where have all the crows gone?
Bengaluru: Not too long ago, the cawing of crows was an inescapable part of mornings in the city. You'd hear them from rooftops, wires, trees, and market corners. Today, silence has taken their place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The change hasn't been sudden, but it has become impossible to ignore. Birdwatchers and experts have noted a steady decline in sightings of both the common house crow (Corvus splendens), a regular fixture in urban India, and the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), its larger and more robust cousin. Barring a few parks or near meat markets, crows have gone missing from residential neighbourhoods. People feel the absence when they wait for the birds to make an appearance during 'pinda dana', an offering to propitiate spirits of ancestors. Ulhas Anand, naturalist and vice-president at Tyfone told TOI, "This has been happening over the last decade. It really became noticeable after 2011. And it's not just about the crows; this is a warning sign for our city's entire ecological fabric." So why is this happening? The answer, ironically, lies in what the city considers progress. As Bengaluru improved its waste management systems, streetside garbage, a primary food source for crows, began to disappear. Krishna MB, ecologist and ornithologist, explained, "The way we dispose of food has changed. BBMP has removed bins from street corners, and that has had a massive impact." Its consequences But should we be worried? Crows feed on a wide range of leftovers: Rice, meat scraps, rats, carrion, and even small birds. In that sense, they have served as unofficial waste processors in the city. Their absence could lead to an increase in unmanaged waste and a rise in secondary pests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More importantly, their disappearance signals deeper ecological problems, loss of tree cover, collapse of food chains, and disruption of natural cycles, all of which affect not just birds, but the health and liveability of the city itself. Their absence has implications beyond a quiet skyline. Urbanisation has taken a toll on nesting habitats. Old trees that once provided space for crows and other hole-nesting birds such as barbets and parakeets are being cut down to make way for apartment blocks. In fact, every time it rains heavily in Bengaluru, 25-30 trees get uprooted. "Every tree lost is a pointer to numerous nests destroyed, badly affecting the crow population," another bird enthusiast said. This apart, pesticides have wiped out insect populations. And constant city lights interfere with natural rhythms and disrupt photoperiodism (the phenomenon where organisms respond to the relative lengths of day and night) in birds, Krishna added. No one is counting No formal data tracks the decline of these birds. On citizen-science platform eBird, data for May 2025 shows 91,520 jungle crows and 46,999 house crows in Bengaluru. But experts caution that these numbers can be misleading. "This doesn't reflect the actual density or distribution," said Krishna MB. "It tells us how many were recorded, not how many are left." Without a city-wide or national census on common birds such as crows, it's difficult to assess how deep the decline really is. Why koels are missing too Crows aren't disappearing in isolation. Other birds are vanishing with them, and some are vanishing because of them. Koels lay eggs in crow nests and rely on crow parents to raise their chicks. With fewer crows around and not many safe nesting trees, koels are laying fewer eggs. Rising construction noise and shrinking green spaces further prevent birds from breeding. This loss isn't about one species, but an interconnected system beginning to break apart. K Sankara Rao, from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, said unless the environment supports safe nesting and mating, birds simply move away, or stop reproducing. CHAIN OF DISAPPEARANCES Birds that were commonly seen in the city, but are now rarely spotted: * House sparrow * Common myna * Dove * Red-vented bulbul — Madhuja Chakraborty
