Swachh Bharat

The residents got together on 26th January our Republic Day to launch Swachh Bharat waste management in our layout.

From left going clockwise, Ramesh, Gokulan Nair, Philip, Xavier, his wife Anita, son Micheal and Ron Jacob.

We agreed to do our bit in source segregation of waste, composting of the organic portion and safe disposal of the recyclable waste.  A good start.  Philip with his wealth of knowledge in organic gardening - he has a wonderful and bountiful garden - will guide us on best practices for composting.

Efforts will be made to meet once a month to collectively gather and dispose the litter in the layout in phases.  Arun the layout supervisor from the developers side has agreed to participate with the help of the security guards in this effort.

If you own a site,  pitch in!

About the residents Association

From the early years, I made several attempts to get an association going.  Primarily the idea was to get the developer to complete his works and hand over the layout to the Panchayat.  This did not come to fruition because we did not have the numbers.  Or for the matter sufficient impetus.  So, while the built homes went from two to nearly nine at the time of writing this, the need for an association did not grab the attention of the residents.

Meanwhile, a local estate agent who works with a BEML employee pushed ahead to get an association formed with an interest to further their own interests.  They roped in the developer and asked us to join.  We asked that the bye-laws and memorandum be made in English as well in addition to Kannada so that there is transparency and any site owner from anywhere else in the country can read and know what is in it.  This was not forthcoming and in fact selective pages of the document was made available which did not give us a full picture of who and how the executive committee would be elected.  As indeed they should.

However they did go ahead and register an association but not a single member who has actually built a house and lives here is a part of it!  In the absence of the developer engaging with the residents living in the layout, the association at best is an exercise to meet their own vested interests.

Some photos of our home

Here are some pictures of our home taken last year.

What about security?

This is an often asked question.  And a valid one at that.  Given that the layout is more than 200 acres and less than ten percent built up, there is concern about ones safety.

Well, we have been here for nearly seven years now.   When we built our house, there were no more than three other houses.  Of course we were not concerned about security since we do not have have a fear mindset.  Mind you, this is in spite of the fact that we have had a daylight robbery in our home in Vignananagar where we stayed before coming here.  With my wife at home tied up, threatened and locked in the bathroom.  Traumatic time that was.  And there were eight robberies in one year in that area!

But what we found is that the outskirts of the city are much safer than in the city.  We did not loose a single nail even though so much of our construction material was lying around when the house was being built.  The developer has always had some security personnel posted.  They keep changing quite often and frankly seem quite incapable of dealing with any serious security issue.  The way I see it, quite decorative really.

However, if you should know, this is a really safe area.  Neither we nor the other residents of the layout ever had a problem.  And now, seven years down the line, more houses have come up, an apartment complex is under construction and a villa project is underway as well.  Adds to the safely factor if numbers make you feel more secure.

Early on, I remember driving into the layout and finding it in pitch darkness with hardly a light in the entire area.  We loved it but scary for most people.  But now, it is quite well lit up with all the growing activity.

So feel safe and if you want to build your home and stay here, don't worry there is nothing to worry.

Layout vs Gated Community

I have had  several calls from site owners asking me questions about their sites, prices or what have you.  In this post, I would like to answer some of them in a couple of posts beginning with this one on Layout vs Gated Community.

Firstly, we are in a layout.  This is not a gated community (GC).  The difference?  A gated community is enclosed by a boundary wall all around.  It has in most cases one entry/ exit gate manned by security guards.  Outsiders are not allowed inside unless approved by the residents and signed in at the gate.  No thoroughfare traffic either.  The infrastructure such as roads is restricted to use by the residents and maintained by them.  Often by the residents welfare association.  Incidentally, gated communities are not technically approved by the authorities and the word is still out on that. There have been several instances where the BDA and other agencies have insisted that since it cuts off access to other areas and the roads must be open to the public as per law.

This is a layout in that there is no surrounding or enclosed boundary wall. Hence is open to the public and surrounding villages.  We chose this option deliberately since we did not want to live in an 'exclusive' community cut off from the normal movement of people and life in general.  While is has its own advantages, it also comes with some attendant problems.  Wear and tear on the infrastructure is higher since movement is unrestricted.  Illegal sand mining off and on in the tank behind our house has added to the poor state of roads.  This has since been somewhat addressed with the many letters and complaints we have made to the authorities.  A few weeks ago, the mines and geology department made a visit to inspect the area on the instructions of the Lok Ayukta who we had also written to.  Hopefully this has now been addressed.

This layout variously called Arunachalam Layout, BEML Layout 8th Phase, BEST Township, Net City and Spring Gardens covers an area of nearly 200 acres.  The layout was developed by Arunachalam and Co, (who also did Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Mysore road) and is managed by them.  For more information, their representative and site manager who sits in the office at the entrance to the layout, Arun can be contacted on his mobile - 9738925751.

Central Information Commission turning down more RTI requests now - The Hindu

Central Information Commission turning down more RTI requests now - The Hindu

Update after four and a half years

Been a long time since I posted but it I suppose it would mean something to the few who may want to know how things are here now.

Development in terms of new houses has been dismal.  But that is fine with me since I love the hermitage (when I can get it to be one!).  Nothing much has happened on the infrastructure front either.

To be more specific, there are three more new houses under construction.  So that makes it eight in all. Motley crew and that's fine.  We have permanent power from BESCOM now.  Of course this was the result or sustained efforts by Pankaj (an ex-resident) and me. A betterment charge has to be paid but all upfront and legal.

The bore-wells don't yield water anymore so we are getting water from tankers paid by the developer Arunachalam. This took some effort on our part (the same two!) since they just stopped giving water one fine day without any information and we had to go to the police and get them to give tanker water.  In all fairness they have been good enough to continue the water supply at no charge (for now) for the past two years.

A good chunk of land in the middle of the layout was sold to a developer who has already actioned a JV with a another developer (Pushpan Group) to put up an apartment complex. Not good news at all. But the property has encroached on some previously owned sites and an approved park and hence it is under litigation so one does not know if and when this will actually materialize.  Arunachalam's reps tell me they are not going to permit the project. But then I am sure Pushpam would say quite the opposite.

We made some efforts to form an association but just did not have the numbers.  But it seems like there are efforts to do so by one of the residents along with Arunachalam.  The motives seem rather selfish but one has to see how it goes.  The bye-laws are written in Kannada which is nice but given the cosmopolitan nature of any city today, it is only fair an English translation is done as well.  I have asked for this and it may be done. Don't know for sure right now.

On the same note though, this resident has been involved in some earth moving activities from the lake bed behind my home and is quite a nuisance. So, it does seem like there is a need for the other residents to take stock of the situation and consider forming another association on a more democratic platform. Or else ensure this one is brought on track.

Surely, this will call for more participation from the other site holders who have a stake to see their interests better served. For those who are reading this, please join in and make your voice heard.