Sign this Petition: Stop GoK KTPA Amendment to destroy trees

Excerpt from the Petition:

http://chn.ge/2svTzwb

The pernicious proposed amendment to denotify 50 species of trees will ensure any and all of our trees can be cut down by ANY civic agency BBMP BSNL BWSSB BESCOM Et al. 

We have enough green issues in our depeleting, denuded city The rule on cutting 50 trees plus needing public consultation is at best at is more followed as the exception than rule.

This move is anti environment, anti citizen & anti city -it will affect our city natural heritage,  the air we breathe, climate charge, water conservation and and sheer beauty & aesthetics. In addition it will lead to rampant green carnage and complete disregard for the environment by corrupt builders and/or  bureaucrats. Kings of yore lined paths with trees to offer shade & respitevtonits citizens, butvyoday our democratically elected leaders seem to dismiss all such basic goodness as luxuries, while they sit in air conditioned offices and spew pollution in their taxpayer funded cars . 

What is doubly worrying is not just that they are trying to slime this amendment through, but despite citizen might on protecting green  , they seem still brazenly committed to the destruction of the city. What does it say about our lawmakers ? What trust can we have in them ? They have tried this before with the steel flyover and the timber mafia had to back off. 

MLAs, please vote AGAINST the amendment if you care for this city and it’s future, and if you care for the air we breathe & the water we drink. We said Beda before to protect our beloved Bengaluru and we are saying it again.

#EnoughAlready.
#StopKilling ourCity  
#MaraKaraBedi so #KillBill .
Show us that #GoKLovesGreen NOT #GoKKillsGreen

As Harini Nagendra Eco expert says : How to fell trees and destroy the environment
1) Amend tree act to exclude most common species from protection
2) Chop, chop, build, build
3) Complain about #airpollution and lack of water #Bangalore #Sustainability

Further reading… Bangalore Mirror

Please sign http://chn.ge/2svTzwb
And make a difference.

A Cyclists encounter with the Railway Police at Bangalore - The Logical Indian

From the #Facebook page #LogicalIndian:

#MyStory

“I have read of inhumane incidents happening in many parts of the country. But you won’t totally believe unless you encounter one. Now onward I can totally believe them.

I frequently travel to China for my official trips. One thing I always adored by Chinese people is their use of electrical or foldable bicycle which they carry with them in the subway.

This time, after coming to India I desperately started looking for such bicycle if available in India. At last, I found one BTWIN HOPTOWN bicycle at Decathlon. I immediately bought and started using it. Once I was carrying it with me on the train between the route KR PURAM to Bangalore Cantonment. I am proud of the fact that I am not the one contributing to the pollution in Bangalore.

On 9/2/2016, while exiting from Bangalore Cantonment railway station one ticket checking officer lady caught me and started demanding fine for carrying a bicycle with me. I tried to convince her, once folded it is not a bicycle at all, it weights hardly 14 kg and it is very much portable. But she insisted on asking for 6 times the fare of travel. I asked her for the railway rules regarding this and the receipt of the bill. She took my pass and made me wait for another 30 minutes and later came with an excuse that she doesn’t know the luggage rules. I was getting late and told her 6 times my fare of travel is 60 rupees and that she can have 100 rupees and let me go. But she demanded 300 rupees.

I told her even if it is 1000 rupees I will pay but I need the receipt. She presented the same excuse that she doesn’t know the luggage rules. At last, I lost my patience and started to call her corrupt. After which she slapped me, pushed me and called her police constable colleague to take me to the jail for misbehavior. He took me to the jail and started beating me. His other colleagues joined him, they undressed me and started beating me with hand, leg and sticks 5 people at a time. I was sure that I was going to die that day and only my body will be found next day. I begged them in all the possible way I can. At last, after an hour, one guy listened to my plea and asked me to pay 5000 rupees. He asked me to call any of my friends to come with 5000 rupees and then can take me back.

I called my manager Harish Haswani who came with two mutual colleagues of ours. All three had to plea to the railway police for more than an hour on my behalf as Railway police have threatened them that they will file a case against me of misbehaving with a lady officer and that I have tried to press her breast. I was very much shocked to see to what level character of a woman can fall. After too much of plea and the bribe from my colleagues they released me. The lady officer fined me 190Rs stating my bicycle weight is 40kg although it is 14kg only. Also, she fined me for ticket-less traveling though I was having the monthly pass. Also, the receipt she issued is of date 8/02/16 and not 9/02/16 on which date I travelled and the incident took place. We all were too much afraid and didn’t dare to ask her for the mistake in the receipt. All of our focus was just to save my life and get me out of there.

I am undergoing the treatment. My left hand is fractured. My friend Sarfaraz is taking care of me. I am determined never to travel by train in Bangalore again. My fold-able  BTWIN bicycle will never get used again. But at the same time, I have lost all the focus at my work. Fortunately, my mobile has done the voice recording of the entire incident. My mobile recording along CCTV camera recording at railway is enough to prove if I have done remotely any kind of misbehavior with the lady. I am determined to teach a lesson to these corrupt officials even if it cost me my life. I have written letters to all higher police authorities as well as human rights commission seeking action in this regards. They will respond but very unfortunatly as per indian goverment office time.”

And Comments thereon:


@drmsbc has replied to tweets on this issue saying that Railway police is state police and doesn’t come under railways.

https://twitter.com/drmsbc/status/698662569536417793

I will delete this post in some time since my suggestion is perhaps no longer relevant.

In the meanwhile, if you have any suggestions regarding how to approach this issue then let me know.

My original post:
-----------
The Logical Indian, could you please tweet this to @RailMinIndia
They are very prompt and they will take appropriate action.

Edit:
The summary of tweets made for this issue:
My tweet to @RailMinIndia:
https://twitter.com/amithbag/status/698599458020261888

Sidhharth (@siddhu_2011):
https://twitter.com/RailMinIndia/status/698595124578615296
(@RailMinIndia has replied to Siddharth’s tweet)

Avinash Surendran (@ashwin296):
https://twitter.com/ashwin296/status/698605652466405376

cibi s (@cibiindhu):
https://twitter.com/cibiindhu/status/698627271477870592

It looks like @drmsbc has replied to the tweets of Sidhharth, Avinash and cibi s:

“@cibiindhu @RailMinIndia @GMSWR @ashwin296 @siddhu_2011 Rly Police is state police, not under Rly. Clarification by @srdcmsbc.”
https://twitter.com/drmsbc/status/698662569536417793

So essentially it seems that they are saying that they can’t do much since Railway police is state police. Is that ticket checking lady also under Railway police and not Railway? Requesting Sidhharth, Avinash and cibi s to reply to @drmsbc and ask for clarification.
-----------

Comment #2:

Laws that were made to protect women are being used as a tool to extort money, take revenge, cry victim when a woman herself is the wrong doer and to teach a "lesson" to a man for being a man by the "empowered women". This is happening not only in metros but smallest areas around the country. While crime against Innocent and vulnerable women is happening everywhere, false accusations against innocent and vulnerable men and boys like one above is on a rise too. While there are stringent laws to take care of the former, there is little one can do in case of latter. Some time before everyone realizes the need to control this menace.

Comment #3:

#PMOIndia, Narendra Modi, Suresh Prabhu
After such incidents, do you still expect us to co-operate with the Police and have faith in these so called Law Enforcement forces in India?
Who gives them the right to even TOUCH US without any valid reason or proof? Are these people seriously the ones responsible for OUR SAFETY?
WE WILL NOT BE SUPPRESSED AND THIS NEEDS TO STOP. NOW.
#Shame

Comment #4:

Laws-

The Bangalore Metro Rail (Carriage and Ticket) Rules 2011 limit the weight of personal baggage to 15 kg. Rule 3 says: “No person shall, while travelling in metro railway, carry with him any goods other than a small baggage containing personal belongings not exceeding 60cm x 45cm x 25cm in size and 15kg in weight, except with the prior approval of the metro railway administration.” The rules also prohibit carrying explosive, inflammable, and poisonous substances.

The Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, imposes fines and in some cases jail sentences for offences committed on the metro. Anyone indulging in sabotaging the train or maliciously hurting or attempting to hurt other passengers while travelling in the metro can face imprisonment up to 10 years. Pasting posters or drawing graffiti on the walls of stations or trains is punishable by a fine of ₹1,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months. Travelling in an inebriated state or creating nuisance in the train is punishable by a ₹500 fine. Passengers are monitored at security checkpoints and those that are causing trouble, heavily drunk, or carrying forbidden items are not permitted to board. Spitting on the metro premises is punishable by a fine of ₹100.

Comment #5:

I hope you are innocent fight back and get back to work and train travel with your bicycle this time with any rule copy. If you are innocent nothing should stop you should fight back even if you dont have enough evidence . Expose them to society and put them to shame .believe your friends and family know your nature have confidence. We are all with you.

Reproduced here for Academic information.

Source : #Facebook #TheLogicalIndian

Car Insurance Fraud Alert

Earlier this month, the IRDA issued a caution note to the public warning against such calls, especially those that pretend to be from the authority. “IRDA does not involve itself, directly or through any representative, in sales of any kind of insurance or financial products and does not announce any bonus for policyholders or insurers,” the notice said.

A car company representative in charge of its insurance operations in the city said that the culprits get details of vehicle owners from Regional Transport Offices. They zero in on policies nearing renewal period and call posing as vehicle company representatives. “We advise customers not to divulge details of their policies to such callers. There have even been instances of fake receipts been given,” the representative said.

“Your vehicle insurance is due on XX date. If you apply for XXX insurance instead of the existing one by this weekend, you will get 60 per cent off on your premium. This company has a tie-up with us.”

If you receive calls like this and do not cross-check with your vehicle company, you may fall prey to what even the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has claimed is an increasing number of spurious calls making “fictitious and fraudulent offers”. And they do not spare anyone — not even a former Chief Minister.

One such customer recalled how he nearly fell prey to the call. “I had even readied a cheque, but the vehicle company called me in the nick of time. The caller also did not follow up because I chose to stay with the existing policy, not the one they were offering,” he said.

The IRDA has time and again urged the public to remain alert against frauds or scams perpetrated by those who claim to be employees of the authority or other insurance companies and lodge a police complaint if they come across such calls. 

Karnataka state Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Hemanth Nimbalkar said that the police had not come across any such complaint so far. 

Source - The Hindu

Karwar Express and Kannur Express - Confusion creating Railways Penalised

The same locomotive pulls 16523 Karwar and 16517 Kannur till Mangalore


Same engine pulls trains to both Karwar and Kannur; confused passenger missed train and sued Railways in consumer court


A train with two destination names confused a passenger and he failed to board it. He was to board the Karwar Express (night train) but the first half of the train's coaches had boards identifying it as the Kannur Express. It was only when the train was moving that he noticed that the last few coaches were marked as Karwar Express. After missing the train, he filed a complaint with the consumer forum in Bangalore which has held the Railways responsible for deficiency in service and confusing passengers and fined it. This has come as yet another instance of the confusion created by the Railways to use the same locomotive to pull the trains to Kannur and Karwar till Mangalore, from where they are separated to head to their respective destinations.


Anup Nair, a resident of Thippasandra, filed the complaint last year on October 28. He had purchased a ticket to travel from Bangalore to Byndoor Mookambika Road (the railway station used by those heading to the Mookambika temple) on August 31, 2013, to perform a ritual called the 'Vidyarambh' at the Mookambika temple. He claimed to have reached the City Railway Station one hour in advance before the train was to depart at 8.40 pm. At the enquiry counter, he was told that the train would depart from platform number 10. Anup says he checked the display chart on the platform and that too showed train No. 16523 Karwar Express, along with train No. 16517 Kannur Express.


A train arrived at 8.20 pm on platform 10, and the digital signboard indicated it as 16517 Kannur Express. Even the coaches on the train had boards that read Kannur Express. Anup verified his ticket to confirm that it said Karwar Express. The complainant said he checked the TVs installed on the platform and found they were either showing only advertisements, or were not working. The train on the platform began to move and as it left the station, Anup noticed to his dismay that some of the coaches at the end had boards which said Karwar Express.


Anup could not board the moving train. Later he came to know that both the Kannur Express and Karwar Express were pulled by the same engine. When he confronted the officials, he was refunded Rs 465 out of the ticket fare of Rs 945.


In the consumer court, the Divisional Manager of South Western Railways claimed that Karwar Express left Bangalore City Railway Station at the scheduled time of 8.40 pm and there was no delay. Since the display showed Karwar Express too, the consumer was not misled. He claimed that "train No 16523 Karwar Express and 16517 Kannur Express leave as a single formation from Bangalore to Mangalore, where they are bifurcated. The coach position is disseminated through a public announcement system and electronic display boards. Hence, there was no reason for the complainant to presume that the train would come late... "


The court in its order, said: "The facts clearly goes to show that there was no proper display at the railway station on platform No.10 clearly stating that both Karwar Express and Kannur Express are one and the same, and there was no separate display of the train number of Karwar Express on that platform....That led to confusion to the complainant. In our opinion, the contention of the complainant is acceptable because when two trains are departing from the same platform and pulled by the same engine, the opposite party ought to have displayed in the digital sign board the train numbers and the names of both the trains, and not doing so leads to confusion to passengers." The court directed the Railways to refund Rs 480 to Anup along with a compensation of Rs 5,000, and another Rs 2,000 as litigation cost.


LONG-LASTING CONFUSION

The confusion over the two trains from Bangalore to Karwar and Kannur is a creation of the Railways. Ever since the metre gauge track between Bangalore and Mysore was converted to broad gauge, there was a demand to introduce a night train to Karwar. The first train (on the broad gauge) was introduced between Bangalore and Mangalore, but it was extended to Karwar in 2009. It would have been a long distance train running entirely within Karnataka. However, the train was later extended to Kannur in Kerala. Then came a High Court order directing the train to Karwar. The Railways bifurcated the train. While a few coaches were extended to Karwar, and the others continued towards Kannur.
Meanwhile, from Independence Day this year, the Railways has decided to shift the origin point of Yeshwantpur Kannur/ Karwar Express to Bangalore City Railway station (Majestic) instead ofYeshwantpur. The reason? Kannur Express was creating confusion even at the Yeshwantpurstation. Passengers who used to board the train at Yeshwantpur (the originating point) were caught between two Kannur Express' which used to start from the same place and at almost same time! To avoid confusion about the two 'Kannur' trains (16527 and 16517) leaving Yeshwantpur at almost the same time, the combined Karwar/Kannur Express is now starting from the City RailwayStation, instead of Yeshwantpur station

Source - http://www.bangaloremirror.com/Bangalore/Others/Railways-fined-for-confusing-passenger/articleshow/40350694.cms