From elkamath at yahoo.com Sun Nov 2 13:03:19 2008 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:33:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] FW: Behind the Glitz of Dubai Message-ID: <788475.49066.qm@web53607.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Behind the glitz of Dubai GHAITH ABDUL-AHAD- Oct 28 2008 06:00 The sun is setting and its dying rays cast triangles of light on to the bodies of the Indian workers. Two are washing themselves, scooping water from tubs in a small yard next to the labour camp's toilets. Others queue for their turn. The heat is suffocating and the sandy wind whips our faces. The sprinkles of water from men drying their clothes fall like welcome summer rain. All around, a city of labour camps stretches out in the middle of the Arabian desert , a jumble of low, concrete barracks, corrugated iron, chicken-mesh walls, barbed wire, scrap metal, rusted machinery and thousands of men with tired and gloomy faces. I have left Dubai 's spiralling towers, man-made islands and mega-malls behind and driven through the desert to the outskirts of the neighbouring city of Abu Dhabi . Turn right before the Zaha Hadid bridge, and a few hundred metres takes you to the heart of Mousafah, a ghetto-like neighbourhood of camps hidden away from the eyes of tourists. It is one of many areas around the Gulf set aside for an army of labourers building the icons of architecture that are mushrooming all over the region. Behind the showers, in a yard paved with metal sheets, men stand silently in front of grease-blackened pans, preparing their dinner. A heavy smell of spices and body odour fills the air. In a neighbouring camp, a group of Pakistani workers from north and south Waziristan sit exhaustedly sipping tea while one of them cooks outside. In the middle of the cramped room in which 10 men sleep, one worker in a filthy robe sits on the floor grinding garlic and onions with a mortar and pestle. Hamidullah, a thin Afghan from Maydan, a village on the outskirts of Kabul , tells me: "I spent five years in Iran and one year here, and one year here feels like 10 years. When I left Afghanistan I thought I would be back in a few months, but now I don't know when I will be back." Another worker, on a bunk bed next to him, adds: "He called his home yesterday and they told him that three people from his village were killed in fighting. This is why we are here." Hamidullah earns about 450 dirhams a month as a construction worker. How is life? I ask. "What life? We have no life here. We are prisoners. We wake up at five, arrive to work at seven and are back at the camp at nine in the evening, day in and day out." Outside in the yard another man sits on a chair made of salvaged wood, in front of a broken mirror, a plastic sheet wrapped around his neck, while the camp barber trims his beard. Despite the air of misery, tonight is a night of celebration. One of the men is back from a break in his home village in Pakistan , bringing with him a sack of rice, which he is cooking with meat. Rice is affordable at weekends only: already wretched incomes have been eroded by the weak dollar and rising food prices. "Life is worse now," one worker told me. "Before, we could get by on 140 dirhams a month; now we need 320 to 350." The dozen or so men sit on news­papers advertising luxury watches, cellphones and high-rise towers. When three plastic trays arrive, filled with yellowish rice and tiny cubes of meat, each offers the rare shreds of meat to his neighbours. All of these men are part of a huge scam that is helping the construction boom in the Gulf. Like hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, they each paid more than £1 000 to employment agents in India and Pakistan . They were promised double the wages they are actually getting, plus plane tickets to visit their families once a year, but none of the men in the room had actually read his contract. Only two of them knew how to read. "They lied to us," a worker says. "Some of us sold our land; others took big loans to come and work here." Once they arrive in the United Arab Emirates migrant workers are treated little better than cattle, with no access to healthcare or many other basic rights. The company that sponsors them holds on to their passports -- and often a month or two of their wages to make sure that they keep working. And for this some will earn just 400 dirhams a month. A group of construction engineers told me, with no apparent shame, that if a worker becomes too ill to work he will be sent home after a few days. "They are the cheapest commodity here. Steel, concrete, everything is up, but workers are the same." Immigrant workers have no right to form unions, but that didn't stop strikes and riots spreading across the region recently -- something unheard of a few years ago. In Mousafah I encounter one of the few illegal unions, where workers have established a form of underground insurance scheme, based on the tribal structure back home. "When we come here," one member of the scheme tells me, "we register with our tribal elders, and when one of us is injured and is sent home, or dies, the elders collect 30 dirhams from each of us and send the money home to his family." In a way, the men at Mousafah are the lucky ones. Down in the Diera quarter of old Dubai , where many of the city's illegal workers live, 20 men are often crammed into one small room. United Nations agencies estimate that there are up to 300 000 illegal workers in the emirates. Like the rest of the Gulf region, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being built by expat workers. They are strictly segregated and a hierarchy worthy of previous centuries prevails. At the top, floating around in their black or white robes, are the locals, with their oil money. Immaculate and pampered, they own everything. Outside the "free zones", where the rules are looser, no one can start a business in the UAE without a partner from the emirates, who often does nothing apart from lending his name. No one can get a work permit without a local sponsor. Under the locals come the Western foreigners, the experts and advisers, making double the salaries they make back home, all tax free. Beneath them are the Arabs -- Lebanese and Palestinians, Egyptians and Syrians. What unites these groups is a mixture of pretension and racism. At the base of the pyramid are the labourers, waiters, hotel employees and unskilled workers from India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Ethiopia , the Philippines and beyond. They move deferentially around the huge malls, cafés, bars and restaurants, bowing and calling people "sir" and "madam". These are the victims of the racism that is not only flourishing in the UAE but is increasingly being exported to the rest of the Middle East . One evening in Abu Dhabi , I have dinner with my friend Ali, a charming Iraqi engineer whom I have known for two decades. "We will never use the new metro if it's not segregated," he tells me, referring to the state-of-the- art underground system being built in Dubai . "We will never sit next to Indians and Pakistanis with their smell," his wife explains. Not for the first time, I am told that while the immigrant workers are living in appalling conditions, they would be even worse off back home -- as if poverty in one place can justify exploitation in the other. "We need slaves," my friend says. "We need slaves to build monuments. Look who built the pyramids -- they were slaves." Sharla Musabih, a human rights campaigner who runs the City of Hope shelter for abused women, is familiar with such sentiments. "Once you get rich on the back of the poor, it's not easy to let go of that lifestyle. "They are devaluing human beings," she says. "The workers might eat once a day back home, but they have their family­ around them, they have respect." Back at the Mousafah camps, a Pakistani worker walks me through his neighbourhood. On both sides of the dusty lane stand concrete barracks and the familiar detritus: raw sewage, garbage, scrap metal. We enter a room, flip-flops piled by the door. Inside, a steelworker gets a pile of papers from an envelope and shoves them into my lap. He is suing the company that employed him for unpaid wages. "I've been going to court for three months, and every time I go they tell me to come in two weeks." His friends nod their heads. "Last time the [company] lawyer told me, 'I am in the law here -- you will not get anything.'" "Economically, Dubai has progressed a lot in the past 10 years, but socially it has stayed behind," says Musabih. "Labour conditions are like the United States in the 19th century -- but that's not acceptable in the 21st century." -Guardian News & Media 2008 ________________________________ Watch useful tips on recipes, fitness, yoga and fashion only on MSN videos. Try it! ________________________________ Get your own website and domain for just Rs.1,999/year. * Click here! __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar MARKETPLACE ________________________________ From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent ActivityVisit Your Group Everyday Wellness on Yahoo! Groups Find groups that will help you stay fit. Y! Groups blog The place to go to stay informed on Groups news! Yahoo! Groups Dog Group Connect and share with dog owners like you . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081102/1a9794a8/attachment-0001.html From critplan at ucla.edu Tue Nov 4 11:22:54 2008 From: critplan at ucla.edu (Critical Planning Journal) Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 21:52:54 -0800 Subject: [Urbanstudy] CFP: Urban Restructuring (Critical Planning, December 31, 2008) Message-ID: <3a698e340811032152w3959c039qe7ead77e720e94b2@mail.gmail.com> Please forward widely: CALL FOR PAPERS Urban Restructuring: Process and Action Critical Planning UCLA Journal of Urban Planning Volume 16, Summer 2009 Deadline: December 31, 2008 Urban restructuring "is an integral part of the crisis-induced reorganization of capital and labor" (Soja, Morales, and Wolff 1983). The concept –- sometimes used interchangeably with "economic restructuring" and "industrial restructuring" –- came into widespread use among theorists following the 1970s energy crises and recession, which decimated America's manufacturing sector, drove up unemployment and inflation levels, and brought cities to the brink of bankruptcy (Fainstein and Fainstein 1986, Beauregard 1989, Mollenkopf and Castells 1991, et al). This period saw the acceleration of contemporary globalization processes, and gave rise to profound spatial and social transformations that extended beyond the realm of production to influence the division of labor, state strategies, the physical form of cities, and everyday life. Currently, we face an economic future described by the IMF as "exceptionally uncertain" -- on the heels of the American subprime mortgage collapse, in the midst of the global financial crisis, and with food and oil prices predicted to reach a twenty-year high. The present therefore seems to be a strategic moment for reconsidering the question of urban restructuring. If restructuring "involves active struggle and conflict under conditions of crisis, with no predetermined outcome," what roles do collective and individual agents play in such struggles (Soja, Morales, and Wolff 1983)? What opportunities exist for rethinking, complicating, and transforming the structure from within? What relationships between states and communities do recent urban restructuring processes reflect, and how might these relationships change in the future? For its 16th volume, Critical Planning invites articles that explore the process of urban restructuring empirically, historically, and theoretically in different sociopolitical and geographic contexts around the world. We welcome papers that address urban restructuring in relation to: Post-Fordism and the "new economy," climate change and the post-peak oil production decline, political rescaling and urban citizenship, place-making and resistance, displacement and migration, and theories of justice and ethics, among other topics. --- Critical Planning is a double-blind peer-reviewed publication. Feature articles are generally between 5,000 and 7,000 words, while shorter articles are between 1,000 and 3,000 words. We encourage submissions that incorporate cross-disciplinary, multi-scalar, transnational, and/or mixed-method approaches. We also welcome submissions of photographs related to the issue of urban restructuring for publication in the journal. The 2009 Edward W. Soja Prize for Critical Thinking in Urban and Regional Research will be awarded to the best article published in the 16th volume of Critical Planning. The prize celebrates the lifetime achievements of this critical thinker whose work continues to open new research directions for the theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary cities and regions. Preference will be given to authors speaking to critical issues outside the research agendas of traditional funding agencies and institutional donors. A cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the author of the winning article. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis, and early submissions are especially encouraged. Feel free to contact us by email to discuss your ideas. All submissions should be written according to the standards of the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition. Please follow the journal's additional style guidelines for submissions at http://www.spa.ucla.edu/critplan/. Manuscripts should be submitted by 5 PM PST on December 31, 2008 as .doc attachments via email to critplan at ucla.edu and two hardcopies (postmarked by December 31) should be mailed to: Critical Planning c/o Elise Youn and Stephen Brumbaugh, Managing Editors UCLA Department of Urban Planning School of Public Affairs 3250 Public Policy Building Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656 Email: critplan at ucla.edu Website: http://www.spa.ucla.edu/critplan/ -- Critical Planning UCLA Dept of Urban Planning School of Public Affairs 3250 Public Policy Building Box 951656 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656 U.S.A. critplan at ucla.edu From esg at esgindia.org Wed Nov 5 07:10:39 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:10:39 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] High Court of Karnataka "put brakes on lake privatisation" Message-ID: <4910F997.10207@esgindia.org> *High Court of Karnataka "put brakes on lake privatisation"* Environment Support Group (ESG) had a very significant victory in its Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the privatisation of lakes on 04 Nov 2008. Passing an interim order, the High Court of Karnataka has restrained the Govt and private parties from proceeding with any further investment or development of lakes based on the privatisation (PPP) model. The Court gave two weeks to the Govt to file a comprehensive plan for the protection of lakes and gardens in a manner that would ensure everyone, especially the "have nots", could enjoy the bounty of nature. ESG advocate Mr. Sunil Dutt Yadav and Leo F. Saldanha, Coordinator of ESG (as party in person) argued the case as Petitioners. Heading the Division Bench of the High Court, Chief Justice P D Dinakaran invested substantial time of the Court in expressing its anguish over privatisation of the commons, because, as the Judge remarked, "we cannot be mute spectators" when the common man has to "stare at a lake through a fence". In fact this argument was extended as applicable to all lakes and forests. Many of his observations are worth noting as indicative of the mind of this Court on issues relating to priviatisation of commons. A copy of the interim direction of the Court would be online at www.esgindia.org soon as we receive a copy. Enclosed is a note on the observations made by the High Court while passing the interim order and some articles reporting this significant victory. Regards, Environment Support Group 105, East End B Main Road Jayanagar 9th Block East Bangalore 560069. INDIA Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364 Email: esg at esgindia.or/esgindia at gmail.com Web: www.esgindia.org * The issue: * Govt of Karnataka under the leadership of Chief Minister S M Krishna and closely guided by the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (an Govt constituted forum involving primarily corporate chiefs principally drawn from the IT and BT sectors) constituted the Lake Development Agency (LDA) as an Association for the ostensible purpose of conservation of lakes by collaborating with 'non-profit organisations'. However, soon after, LDA began to conclude a series of long lease (15 y) agreements with a variety of private parties, handing over lakes for commercial development for a really small rent. Under the Expression of Interest scheme, parties could develop a range of facilities that included floating restaurants, water scooters, entertainment parks, party kiosks, food courts, etc. At least four large lakes (appropriately described as tanks, as these waterbodies are all built to harvest rain and surface runoff over hundreds of years) in Bangalore were handed over: Hebbal Lake to East India Hotel (Oberoi group of hotels), Nagawara (Lumbini - builder), Agara Lake (Biota, a little known company) and Vengaiah Kere (Par C, a local builder). In addition, LDA farmed out over 20 lakes on a short term "Adopt a Lake" scheme. Our Public Interest Litigation argued (accessible online at www.esgindia.org) that these schemes were illegal. We also argued that such a policy fences off public, social and ecological spaces from the public, and is an approach where the State is abandoning its duty to protect and maintain nature and public commons. The approach also had a severe and debilitating impact on the rights of fishing communities still dependent on lakes for livelihoods and cattle rearers. Another impact we highlighted was that private parties fenced of these lakes and charged unaffordable user fees to access them (obviously with profit motives) - making it impossible for local communities to use these public spaces as a matter of routine and Right. Needless to state, amongst the worst impacts would be on the ecology of lakes, especially migratory waterfowl which would not be able to settle into lakes. *What Chief Justice leading the Division Bench observed yesterday in Court when passing the interim order: * _On the overall policy_: Nothing but "exploitation and misuse of power. How can the Govt work like this?..... Govt is the guardian and Trustee. You created Lake Development Agency to conserve lakes, and they acted as an agency to trade them away". "Is nature to be preserved only for the haves? Bangalore has already become only IT city! Very unfortunate situation. Original residents of Bangalore city will be alienated from their right of enjoyment of nature. " "If this country is meant only for haves, we cannot be mute spectators." The Chief Justice highlighted how this hurts the common man by using the analogy of an High Court employee taking his/her family to a lake on a visit. He explained that to get in, it would cost Rs. 100 (for a family of five at at least Rs. 20/head). Then for every service inside there would be a fee. At the end of the day, the employee would have spent at least a 1000 rupees, something s/he could not afford even once a year for a mere visit to a local neighbourhood lake. Chief Justice berated this policy by saying "If this is permitted, a time will come when people have to pay to enter Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh" (Bangalore's two principal parks). "Maybe even the High Court!". "With all humility, concern and deep worries we are investing the precious time of this Court in this matter. Our deep concern is that one day or the other these places may not be accessible for the common man. This is 100% true! Poor man has to stand outside the fence and stare at a lake? Common man is deprived of the natural right to enjoy beauty of nature." *On the Lakes ecology: * "This city is fortunate to have such ecological richness." "Once birds stop on their migratory route in one season, next season they may not come". *Date:05/11/2008* *URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110558340100.htm* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back Front Page * Court put brakes on lake privatisation * Staff Reporter / LDA restrained from entering into fresh agreement with companies / ------------------------------------------------------------------------ / Developers told not to take up further work in the lakes Government asked about steps needed to maintain lakes and gardens / ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday restrained the Lake Development Authority (LDA) "from entering into any fresh agreement with companies to develop any lake in the State" and also obtained an undertaking from three developers that they shall not make any further development in Hebbal, Nagwara and Agaram lakes, all water bodies in Bangalore. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V.G. Sabhahit passed the order on public interest litigation (PIL) petitions by Environment Support Group (ESG) and Leo Saldanha who had challenged the LDA action in handing over to private developers the three lakes. While the Hebbal lake was handed over to East India Hotels Group, Biota Natural Systems was given Agaram and Lumbini Gardens the Nagwara lake. The petitioners had questioned the legal framework under which the privatisation of these lakes was taken up. They said the State set up the LDA on July 10, 2002 to protect the existing water bodies but had unilaterally decided to privatise some of the lakes and tanks around Bangalore to benefit hoteliers and builders. While some builders had constructed buildings adjacent to the lakes leased to them, others started dredging operations without the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's permission. The petitioners urged the court to stay the notifications relating to the privatisation of the lakes. When the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) said its consent was not taken before the lakes were privatised, the Bench sought to know how the Government could ignore the report of the KSPCB and Forest Department and go ahead with the privatisation of the lakes. The Bench asked the Government advocate to inform the court on the steps needed to be taken by it to maintain the lakes and gardens so that commercial activities could be avoided. Expressing its anguish over the manner in which the lakes were privatised, it orally asked why the have-nots should be deprived of their rights to enjoy nature. / / © Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu Printed from The Times of India -Breaking news, views. reviews, cricket from across India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-3673772,prtpage-1.cms HC asks LDA not to enter into fresh arguments 5 Nov 2008, 0431 hrs IST,TNN BANGALORE : The high court on Tuesday directed the Lake Development Authority (LDA) not to enter into "any fresh argument with anybody" on issues related to the city's lakes. "Two weeks have been given to the government to take steps for maintaining lakes and gardens in the city. LDA shall not enter into any fresh argument with anyone on matters of lakes. Also, commercial activities should be avoided and environment be preserved so that any person can enjoy the beauty of nature," a division Bench headed by chief justice P D Dinakaran observed. The HC also recorded statements of lease holders who stated they will not take up developmental works near Hebbal, Agara and Nagawara lakes. "Lakes are being polluted with people letting sewage flow into the water bodies. They are becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes. And it seems the LDA and government are not doing anything. They are wasting the talent of good officers who want to do something," he explained. "Able officers are now working as consultants for private firms after 6 pm. This is a pathetic situation. We can't be mute spectators to a situation where nature is preserved only for the haves. Everybody has a right to enjoy nature. Now, let your tourism board come up with a proposal," the Bench said while hearing PIL filed by Environmental Support Group and Leo Saldana, which challenged the privatisation of three lakes. LDA had leased Hebbal lake to EIH Ltd, Agaram lake to Biota Natural Systems and Nagawara lake to Lumbini Gardens. The petitioners complained the companies have started building food joints on the lake premises, which may lead to pollution. Deccan Herald *»* City *»* Detailed Story No more privatisation of lakes, says High Court DH News Service, Bangalore: The State High Court on Tuesday directed the Lake Development Authority (LDA) not to enter into fresh agreements enabling private parties to own lakes. A division of the HC bench, comprising Chief Justice PD Dinakaran and Justice VG Sabhapathi, took the State government to task, observing that the government was trying to commercialise lakes by handing them over to the private parties. The Bench directed the LDA to take a decision regarding steps to be taken to protect lakes and gardens, to preserve beauty of cities, and to maintain ecological balance, within two weeks. The bench delivered the verdict after hearing a PIL filed by a few environmentalists questioning the order handing over the ownership of Hebbal, Nagavara and Agara lakes to private parties. At one stage, the bench questioned the LDA as to whether it was a private or government body. The main objective of the Authority is to protect lakes. But lakes have become grounds to breed mosquitoes. The LDA has failed to take any steps though drain water is discharged into the lakes, the Justice observed. Private parties are spending several crores to develop lakes, but the government has not taken any step. The bench questioned LDA as to what amount had been earmarked in the budget for the protection of lakes. There are many talented officials in the government who possess tremendous knowledge about preserving lakes, but their talent has not been effectively utilised. Hence, such officials are selling their talent to private parties, the bench noted. "The government is taking all efforts to prevent citizens from enjoying natural beauty. The Court cannot be a mute spectator to such a development. If allowed to act as per its whims and fancies, the government will soon privatise Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh," the bench observed. The bench issued a directive and adjourned the hearing. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/1c6586d7/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 1155 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/1c6586d7/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-7576 Type: application/defanged-7576 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/1c6586d7/attachment-0001.bin From elkamath at yahoo.com Wed Nov 5 13:57:13 2008 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:27:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] The Day of the Dead Message-ID: <131374.54837.qm@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Nov 2: All Souls Day or Day of the Dead: the day set aside to remember and pray for the dead. On Sunday, the 2nd, there is more traffic than usual on Hosur road, so richly lined with cemeteries. As we approach I can hear the sound of singing and prayers interspersed with a roll of drums. The right turn off Hosur road leading to the cemetery is a narrow lane that is usually quiet and serene, shaded by massive trees that meet overhead in a gracious canopy. Today it is littered with cars, with hawkers selling marigold garlands and agarbattis, with tables draped in snowy white sheets selling candles and offerings for the repose of souls. And there are people everywhere-- carrying bunches of flowers, holding rosaries in their hands and shepherding along young children. In the midst of this, bunches of policemen stand around with truncheons. They look alert, ready for action. Why are they here, I wonder? Someone whispers, “Its all the atrocities against Christians, they’re here to protect us”. Another voice says, “Or they’re here to control what we do, to make sure we’re not too noisy, disorderly or in-your-face while practicing our religion”. As we enter we forget about the policemen as we see several people we know. Exchanging hellos, I watch preparations on full-scale for the open-air service to be conducted. The pandal is up and the sound of “check, check” lazily breaks the air around us. Candles burn brightly and the smell of incense is sweet. We move in the direction of the graves of loved ones. Some people always know exactly where these are. Others, like ourselves, wander about searching for the right place, its been a year since we were here last. On finding it, its back to business: we look around for the cemetery workers- it’s a struggle to attract their attention amidst the throng of people. We are successful in our negotiations and the graves are washed and cleaned. “Use more water and clean it properly”, we say, only to be told “Theres no water ma, no water came today”. To prove this, his daughters jump right inside the cemetery tank and scrape along the bottom with their pots to collect the dregs of water. Despite the place humming with activity, it is peaceful. The muted sound of prayers for those dead but not forgotton is in the backdrop as I focus on the array of headstones around-- big and small, imposing and somewhat shabby and faded. It is a ritual that has been going on for a long time, since the 10th Century I am told, and while I forget about it the rest of the year, I’m always glad when its time comes round again. We leave the cemetery gates. The policemen watch us as we go. Suddenly out of the blue the thought comes, “Why didn’t they give water today? They know its an important feast and that many visit the cemetery, the number of policemen prove that.” On reaching home, I absentmindedly turn on the corporation water tap and water gushes forth. The tank is full. While the thought of bombs going off in a public place at any time is a terrifying one for me, also terrifying is the thought that water might deliberately not be supplied to certain areas, certain groups of people. I feel the need to grasp afresh the myriad ways of unleashing terror. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/8f8d1076/attachment.html From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Wed Nov 5 15:18:50 2008 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 15:18:50 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Launch of EmpowerindIndia.org Message-ID: Dear all, Liberty Institute announces the launch of www.EmpoweringIndia.org in Cochin and Hyderabad on Nov 8 and 12 respectively. Please visit the following web links for programme details. Nov 8: Cochin - http://www.indefenceofliberty.org/story.aspx?id=2092&pubid=1885 Nov 12: Hyderabad - http://www.indefenceofliberty.org/story.aspx?id=2090&pubid=1884 www.EmpoweringIndia.org is an initiative of the Liberty Institute. Information about electoral candidates and constituencies have been hosted on this site with the aim of helping voters to decide who to cast their votes for during elections and to use this information after elections to hold elected representatives accountable. -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places ... http://wbfs.wordpress.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/b818db39/attachment.html From salila at umich.edu Sat Nov 8 06:41:22 2008 From: salila at umich.edu (Salila Prasad Vanka) Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:11:22 -0500 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Request for information In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20081107201122.102778q8y6qpf80s@web.mail.umich.edu> Hi, I am a doctoral student in the Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. For my dissertation, I am interested in examining the nature of public space in Indian cities with a focus on the role that citizen groups play in shaping discourses about urban public space in India. I have chosen Bangalore as my case study site and will be visiting the city later this month to conduct preliminary fieldwork. I would appreciate any information on any reading references and on people to contact in Bangalore. Thanks, Salila Vanka Doctoral Candidate Urban and Regional Planning The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. From yashdeeps at hotmail.com Sun Nov 9 04:50:10 2008 From: yashdeeps at hotmail.com (yash srivastava) Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 10:20:10 +1100 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Contacts in Delhi & Mumbai Message-ID: A friend and academic from Melbourne University is embarking on a field trip to Mumbai and Delhi to study informal settlements, which we refer to as slums or jhuggi-jhopdi. As an architect, he is keen to look at the formal aspects of these settlements.He is keen to meet some NGO's and possibly architects who are working directly with residents in these settlements. In Mumbai, I thought of SPARC, YUVA, Nivarra Hakk, Mobile creches as possible NGO's to contact. Of the slums to visit, I have suggested Dharavi, Mahim and some around Sanjay gandhi Park in Borivilli. I also thought of teh architects Arvind & Neera Adarkar as possible contacts.In Delhi, with which I am less familiar, I thought of Asha. Unfortunately, I do not know any of the well established or younger slums in Delhi, off the cuff.Can the group please provide me with contacts in Delhi and mumbai who might be useful to a visiting scholar of such bent? It would be good to be directed towards any existing documentation on the subject.Thanks, in anticipation,Yash Yashdeep Srivastava 2/51, Brunswick Road Brunswick East VIC 3057 Australia T: +61 3 9381 0600 M: +61 433 549 546 _________________________________________________________________ Take a summer road trip with Windows Live Hotmail. Multiple prizes and the ultimate dream beach house! http://www.ninemsn.com.au/hotmailroadtrip -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081109/53c33b1c/attachment.html From esg at esgindia.org Sun Nov 9 06:14:01 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:14:01 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] EXCELLENT RESPONSE FOR WALK TO RECLAIM BENGALURU Message-ID: <49163251.5090606@esgindia.org> _ PRESS RELEASE: 08 November 2008_ *EXCELLENT RESPONSE FOR WALK TO RECLAIM BENGALURU* Tens of individuals, community organisations and affected communities have come forth enthusiastically to confirm their participation in the *"Walk to Reclaim Bengaluru" *organised under the aegis of /Hasiru Usiru/ a network of community organisations, residents associations, project affected communities, voluntary organisations and individuals concerned about protecting equitable access to public social spaces such as roads and parks in Bengaluru. Over a thousand are expected to participate in the walk that would commence from Lalbagh West Gate at 11 am on 9^th November 2008, Sunday and conclude at Town Hall. Prof. B. K. Chandrashekar, former Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, Justice A. J. Sadashiva (Retd.), Mr. Chiranjiv Singh, IAS Retd. (former Addl. Chief Secretary), Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao (MLA, Gandhinagar), Ms. Premila Nesargi, Former Chairperson of the Karnataka Women's Commission, Mr. N. A. Haris (MLA, Shantinagar) and several other eminent persons have confirmed their support for the cause and would participate in the walk. Dr. Hemachandra Sagar (MLA, Chickpet) has endorsed the effort but would not be able to participate due to prior commitments. Speaking yesterday in a Press Conference organised by /Hasiru Usiru/, Dr. Hemchandra Sagar had this to say: "What was Bangalore when the Metro was conceived? And what has become of the city now? There has been an increase from 220 sq km. to 840 sq. km. How can an antiquated plan work for today's growth?" Speaking about the proposal to lay elevated Metro tracks, Dr. Sagar said: "Everyone knows the condition of roads. There is hardly space for cars on roads, and to top it all you are putting a Metro overhead! And in addition one needs stations, one needs parking. Where will you get so much space from densely populated areas?" On the choice of the Metro technology, Dr. Sagar said: "We call our city "Modern Bangalore" and we use a Metro system that has been abandoned world over. If you want to travel peacefully and ensure peace everywhere the Metro runs, we should go underground. Its not a question of cost but of convenience." Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed the same Press Conference and said this about how Metro and Road widening projects are planned in Bangalore: "Higher officials sit and decide without taking into account general public's opinion and consent. Whoever it is, decisions should be taken by only after talking to all concerned people and experts of the field." Arguing that an elevated Metro through Core Bangalore will destroy the city, he added: "We should not compare Bangalore Metro with Delhi because Bangalore city is very different with different layout and roads." On the implementation of the Road widening project of BBMP, Mr. Rao said this: "Avenue road is part of Bangalore's heritage. Chandni Chowk is an heritage of Delhi and has narrow roads too. Does one see roads in Chandni chowk being widened?" Speaking for the need for the safety of pedestrian and cyclists' safety, Mr. Rao said: "Roads should not be built with traffic in mind, roads should be built with all of us in mind." On the issue of road widening being solution to traffic congestion he added: "A broad minded approach and long term vision is required. Has the Anand Rao flyover stopped traffic congestion? NO!" Emphasising the importance of sensitive road design, he emphasised: "Adequqte footpath with road should be the agenda. One should worry first about how how pedestrians use the road and design around it." Mr. Rao also lamented that thereis no forum whatsoever to aire such grievances for Legislators. "When such is the case for us, the fate of the common man can only be imagined. For various controversial reasons Municipal Corporation elections are not held, and there are no Corporators to represent people's voiced. As a Legislator, I have trouble getting an appointment with the BBMP Commissioner!" He emphasised the importance of people centred planning and insisted that Public Consultations must be held before implementing any projects in Bangalore. The Walk on Sunday has found resounding support amongst our elected representatives. Tragically, felling of trees on K. R. Road continues in blatant disregard of law and in violation of the directives of the Hon'ble High Court in WP No. 7107/2008. (Copy of the direction is online at: www.esgindia.org ) for Hasiru Usiru Divya Ravindranath Campaigner Environment Support Group 105, East End B Main Road, Jayanagar 9th Block East, Bangalore 560069. INDIA Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339, Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364 Email: _esg at esgindia.org/esgindia at gmail.com_ Web: _www.esgindia.org_ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081109/3eb9f7d6/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 19901 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081109/3eb9f7d6/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-1930 Type: application/defanged-1930 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081109/3eb9f7d6/attachment-0001.bin From askshetty at rediffmail.com Mon Nov 10 14:10:13 2008 From: askshetty at rediffmail.com (prasad shetty) Date: 10 Nov 2008 08:40:13 -0000 Subject: [Urbanstudy] By-Pass - Symposium on City and Everyday Life Message-ID: <20081110084013.41785.qmail@f5mail-237-216.rediffmail.com> Dear members of the Urban Studies List, We ae very happy to announce the symposium By-Pass - Everyday Life and Contemporary Urbanism in India and China, which will take place at De Balie in Amsterdam, November 15, and is a co-production with Sarai and CRIT (Mumbai). The whole event will be documented in detail on the Balie website and the whole symposium will be available as video documentation afterwards. We will provide further details about the on-line coverage of this event as preparations proceed. best wishes, Prasad ANNOUNCEMENT By-Pass Everyday Life and Contemporary Urbanism in India and China International symposium www.debalie.nl/bypass De Balie, Amsterdam Saturday November 15 Time | 10.00 - 17.00 hrs Admission | € 17,50 / 12,50 (including lunch) For the first time the majority of the world population today lives in cities. A significant part of the new urban expansion in the past decade has been in Asia, where urban expansion, crisis and mass migration emerged in the context of a boom culture. By-Pass is an international symposium about urban culture and everyday life in the rapidly transforming mega cities of India and China. The symposium will bring together a renowned group of scholars and practitioners to examine these changes specifically at the ground level. Here, urban structures are continuously reconfigured by ‘the Bypass’. The bypass is not formal, but at the same time, more than the informal forms that have always existed in cities. The Bypass is a tactic that is deployed by all kinds of urban groups – slum dwellers engaging in incremental development; street level entrepreneurs establishing newer networks of production and selling; civil society organisations and formal planners short-circuiting policy and planning processes, private and governmental agencies employing tactical ways to assemble land, urban media forms that disrupt official channels etc. The language of the Bypass cannot be articulated through mainstream ideas of formality, legality, planning, public etc. - it warrants a newer creative engagement. Asian cities offer an important site for this engagement. The symposium will focus on discussing and engaging with the complexities of the Bypass. This will be done through an exploration of newer ideas on incrementality, entrepreneurship, piracy, mapping, networks, media-urbanism and image of the city by architects, urbanists, historians, geographers and media scholars. By-Pass is organised by De Balie in Amsterdam in collaboration with Sarai in Delhi and CRIT in Mumbai. With: Awadhendra Sharan (Historian, Delhi), Juan Du (Architectural theorist, University of Hong Kong), Martijn de Waal (Media scholar, Amsterdam / University of Groningen), Prasad Shetty (CRIT, Mumbai), Ranjani Mazumdar (Film maker and theoretician, Delhi), Ravi Sundaram (Sarai, Delhi), Rupali Gupte (Architect, Mumbai), Solomon Benjamin (Political scientist Bangalore / University of Toronto), Wing-Shing Tang (Social geographer, Hong Kong),. Symposium editors: Prasad Shetty (CRIT) Ravi Sundaram (Sarai) Merijn Oudenampsen (Urban sociologist) Eric Kluitenberg (De Balie) A web dossier has been set up for the symposium, which brings together various background materials: www.debalie.nl/bypass The symposium can also be followed live via internet at: www.debalie.nl/live Recordings of the symposium will later be made available in the web dosssier. ---------------------------------------------------- Confirmed speakers & biographical information: Awadhendra Sharan is a historian and Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Delhi, India). His work involves research that connects environmental issues to urban space, with reference to the city of Delhi. He also works with Sarai, Delhi and offers guest lectures at the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi and School of Environmental Studies, Delhi University. Juan Du is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong and Principal of IDU architecture. She teaches architectural design and contemporary urban theory. She has practiced and taught in the United States, Europe and China and co-curated #Performative-Cities” in the 2007 Shenzen - Hong Kong Biennale Ranjani Mazumdar is an Independent Filmmaker & Associate Professor of Cinema Studies at the School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, India). Her publications and films focus on urban culture, popular cinema, gender and the cinematic city. She is the author of “Bombay Cinema: An Archive of the City” (University of Minnesota Press, 2007). Her current research focuses on globalization and film culture, film and history and Bombay’s cinematic city in the 1950s Rupali Gupte is an architect and urbanist. She works is a Senior Lecturer at the Kamala Raheja Institute of Architecture (Mumbai, India) and is also an executive member of CRIT, Mumbai. As an urban researcher she has worked in India and Africa and lectured at UK, US, and the Netherlands. She recently showed a work on mapping post industrial landscapes at Manifesta 7: The European Art Biennale in Italy, Her works includes studies of housing types in Mumbai, a novel on a semi-fictional history of Mumbai’s urbanism and writing on the city’s tactical infrastructures. Solomon Benjamin is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Toronto. Before coming to Toronto, he was an urban researcher operating from Bangalore, India. His interests lie in the politics of land and tenure and have been working on issues relating to the way big business re-shapes city governance. Wing Shing Tang is Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University. His research focuses on urban (re)development and planning in Hong Kong and mainland China. Current research projects include “land (re)development in Hong Kong: the land (re)development regime, hegemonic construction and the people”, “utopian urbanism in Hong Kong”, “the geographies of power of sustainable development in Hong Kong: an inside-out approach”, “the urban revolution in China: meeting Foucault with Gramsci and Lefebvre”, Martijn de Waal is a researcher on urban and social issues and digital media at the University of Groningen and the University of Amsterdam. Contributed an essay on Chinese urban visuality to the recent anthology "The Chinese Dream" published by the Dynamic City Foundation (Rotterdam / Beijing), Fall 2008. Rick Dolphijn is assistant professor at Humanities, Utrecht University, where he lectures and writes on communication theory, cultural theory, philosophy of science, media theory, linguistics, art and cultural studies. He has visited and studied cities in China and India and has written on Asian urbanism and Deleuzian theory in architecture magazine Volume, amongst others.   Prasad Shetty Residence: 501, Marigold, Opposite Shakti Motors, New Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai 400 064 INDIA Phone: +91-9820912744 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081110/184d851b/attachment.html From esg at esgindia.org Wed Nov 5 06:12:28 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:12:28 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] High Court of Karnataka "put brakes on lake privatisation" Message-ID: <4910EBF4.8070408@esgindia.org> Environment Support Group (ESG) had a very significant victory in its Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the privatisation of lakes on 04 Nov 2008. Passing an interim order, the High Court of Karnataka has restrained the Govt and private parties from proceeding with any further investment or development of lakes based on the privatisation (PPP) model. The Court gave two weeks to the Govt to file a comprehensive plan for the protection of lakes and gardens in a manner that would ensure everyone, especially the "have nots", could enjoy the bounty of nature. ESG advocate Mr. Sunil Dutt Yadav and Leo F. Saldanha, Coordinator of ESG (as party in person) argued the case as Petitioners. Heading the Division Bench of the High Court, Chief Justice P D Dinakaran invested substantial time of the Court in expressing its anguish over privatisation of the commons, because, as the Judge remarked, "we cannot be mute spectators" when the common man has to "stare at a lake through a fence". In fact this argument was extended as applicable to all lakes and forests. Many of his observations are worth noting as indicative of the mind of this Court on issues relating to priviatisation of commons. A copy of the interim direction of the Court would be online at www.esgindia.org soon as we receive a copy. Enclosed is a note on the observations made by the High Court while passing the interim order and some articles reporting this significant victory. Regards, Environment Support Group 105, East End B Main Road Jayanagar 9th Block East Bangalore 560069. INDIA Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364 Email: esg at esgindia.or/esgindia at gmail.com Web: www.esgindia.org * The issue: * Govt of Karnataka under the leadership of Chief Minister S M Krishna and closely guided by the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (an Govt constituted forum involving primarily corporate chiefs principally drawn from the IT and BT sectors) constituted the Lake Development Agency (LDA) as an Association for the ostensible purpose of conservation of lakes by collaborating with 'non-profit organisations'. However, soon after, LDA began to conclude a series of long lease (15 y) agreements with a variety of private parties, handing over lakes for commercial development for a really small rent. Under the Expression of Interest scheme, parties could develop a range of facilities that included floating restaurants, water scooters, entertainment parks, party kiosks, food courts, etc. At least four large lakes (appropriately described as tanks, as these waterbodies are all built to harvest rain and surface runoff over hundreds of years) in Bangalore were handed over: Hebbal Lake to East India Hotel (Oberoi group of hotels), Nagawara (Lumbini - builder), Agara Lake (Biota, a little known company) and Vengaiah Kere (Par C, a local builder). In addition, LDA farmed out over 20 lakes on a short term "Adopt a Lake" scheme. Our Public Interest Litigation argued (accessible online at www.esgindia.org) that these schemes were illegal. We also argued that such a policy fences off public, social and ecological spaces from the public, and is an approach where the State is abandoning its duty to protect and maintain nature and public commons. The approach also had a severe and debilitating impact on the rights of fishing communities still dependent on lakes for livelihoods and cattle rearers. Another impact we highlighted was that private parties fenced of these lakes and charged unaffordable user fees to access them (obviously with profit motives) - making it impossible for local communities to use these public spaces as a matter of routine and Right. Needless to state, amongst the worst impacts would be on the ecology of lakes, especially migratory waterfowl which would not be able to settle into lakes. *What Chief Justice leading the Division Bench observed yesterday in Court when passing the interim order: * _On the overall policy_: Nothing but "exploitation and misuse of power. How can the Govt work like this?..... Govt is the guardian and Trustee. You created Lake Development Agency to conserve lakes, and they acted as an agency to trade them away". "Is nature to be preserved only for the haves? Bangalore has already become only IT city! Very unfortunate situation. Original residents of Bangalore city will be alienated from their right of enjoyment of nature. " "If this country is meant only for haves, we cannot be mute spectators." The Chief Justice highlighted how this hurts the common man by using the analogy of an High Court employee taking his/her family to a lake on a visit. He explained that to get in, it would cost Rs. 100 (for a family of five at at least Rs. 20/head). Then for every service inside there would be a fee. At the end of the day, the employee would have spent at least a 1000 rupees, something s/he could not afford even once a year for a mere visit to a local neighbourhood lake. Chief Justice berated this policy by saying "If this is permitted, a time will come when people have to pay to enter Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh" (Bangalore's two principal parks). "Maybe even the High Court!". "With all humility, concern and deep worries we are investing the precious time of this Court in this matter. Our deep concern is that one day or the other these places may not be accessible for the common man. This is 100% true! Poor man has to stand outside the fence and stare at a lake? Common man is deprived of the natural right to enjoy beauty of nature." *On the Lakes ecology: * "This city is fortunate to have such ecological richness." "Once birds stop on their migratory route in one season, next season they may not come". *Date:05/11/2008* *URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110558340100.htm* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back Front Page * Court put brakes on lake privatisation * Staff Reporter / LDA restrained from entering into fresh agreement with companies / ------------------------------------------------------------------------ / Developers told not to take up further work in the lakes Government asked about steps needed to maintain lakes and gardens / ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday restrained the Lake Development Authority (LDA) "from entering into any fresh agreement with companies to develop any lake in the State" and also obtained an undertaking from three developers that they shall not make any further development in Hebbal, Nagwara and Agaram lakes, all water bodies in Bangalore. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V.G. Sabhahit passed the order on public interest litigation (PIL) petitions by Environment Support Group (ESG) and Leo Saldanha who had challenged the LDA action in handing over to private developers the three lakes. While the Hebbal lake was handed over to East India Hotels Group, Biota Natural Systems was given Agaram and Lumbini Gardens the Nagwara lake. The petitioners had questioned the legal framework under which the privatisation of these lakes was taken up. They said the State set up the LDA on July 10, 2002 to protect the existing water bodies but had unilaterally decided to privatise some of the lakes and tanks around Bangalore to benefit hoteliers and builders. While some builders had constructed buildings adjacent to the lakes leased to them, others started dredging operations without the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's permission. The petitioners urged the court to stay the notifications relating to the privatisation of the lakes. When the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) said its consent was not taken before the lakes were privatised, the Bench sought to know how the Government could ignore the report of the KSPCB and Forest Department and go ahead with the privatisation of the lakes. The Bench asked the Government advocate to inform the court on the steps needed to be taken by it to maintain the lakes and gardens so that commercial activities could be avoided. Expressing its anguish over the manner in which the lakes were privatised, it orally asked why the have-nots should be deprived of their rights to enjoy nature. / / © Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu Printed from The Times of India -Breaking news, views. reviews, cricket from across India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-3673772,prtpage-1.cms HC asks LDA not to enter into fresh arguments 5 Nov 2008, 0431 hrs IST,TNN BANGALORE : The high court on Tuesday directed the Lake Development Authority (LDA) not to enter into "any fresh argument with anybody" on issues related to the city's lakes. "Two weeks have been given to the government to take steps for maintaining lakes and gardens in the city. LDA shall not enter into any fresh argument with anyone on matters of lakes. Also, commercial activities should be avoided and environment be preserved so that any person can enjoy the beauty of nature," a division Bench headed by chief justice P D Dinakaran observed. The HC also recorded statements of lease holders who stated they will not take up developmental works near Hebbal, Agara and Nagawara lakes. "Lakes are being polluted with people letting sewage flow into the water bodies. They are becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes. And it seems the LDA and government are not doing anything. They are wasting the talent of good officers who want to do something," he explained. "Able officers are now working as consultants for private firms after 6 pm. This is a pathetic situation. We can't be mute spectators to a situation where nature is preserved only for the haves. Everybody has a right to enjoy nature. Now, let your tourism board come up with a proposal," the Bench said while hearing PIL filed by Environmental Support Group and Leo Saldana, which challenged the privatisation of three lakes. LDA had leased Hebbal lake to EIH Ltd, Agaram lake to Biota Natural Systems and Nagawara lake to Lumbini Gardens. The petitioners complained the companies have started building food joints on the lake premises, which may lead to pollution. Deccan Herald *»* City *»* Detailed Story No more privatisation of lakes, says High Court DH News Service, Bangalore: The State High Court on Tuesday directed the Lake Development Authority (LDA) not to enter into fresh agreements enabling private parties to own lakes. A division of the HC bench, comprising Chief Justice PD Dinakaran and Justice VG Sabhapathi, took the State government to task, observing that the government was trying to commercialise lakes by handing them over to the private parties. The Bench directed the LDA to take a decision regarding steps to be taken to protect lakes and gardens, to preserve beauty of cities, and to maintain ecological balance, within two weeks. The bench delivered the verdict after hearing a PIL filed by a few environmentalists questioning the order handing over the ownership of Hebbal, Nagavara and Agara lakes to private parties. At one stage, the bench questioned the LDA as to whether it was a private or government body. The main objective of the Authority is to protect lakes. But lakes have become grounds to breed mosquitoes. The LDA has failed to take any steps though drain water is discharged into the lakes, the Justice observed. Private parties are spending several crores to develop lakes, but the government has not taken any step. The bench questioned LDA as to what amount had been earmarked in the budget for the protection of lakes. There are many talented officials in the government who possess tremendous knowledge about preserving lakes, but their talent has not been effectively utilised. Hence, such officials are selling their talent to private parties, the bench noted. "The government is taking all efforts to prevent citizens from enjoying natural beauty. The Court cannot be a mute spectator to such a development. If allowed to act as per its whims and fancies, the government will soon privatise Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh," the bench observed. The bench issued a directive and adjourned the hearing. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/50125d92/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: hindu_w150.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1155 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/50125d92/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: photo_cms.DEFANGED-57 Type: application/defanged-57 Size: 1279 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/50125d92/attachment-0002.bin -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: empty.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/50125d92/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-58 Type: application/defanged-58 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081105/50125d92/attachment-0003.bin From outtes at uol.com.br Sat Nov 8 10:33:35 2008 From: outtes at uol.com.br (Joel Outtes) Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2008 03:03:35 -0200 Subject: [Urbanstudy] CFP: The Geography of International Institutions/Organizations Message-ID: Call for Papers Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, www.aag.org, Las Vegas, NV, USA, March 22-27, 2009 Session 1) International Institutions/Organizations and/or International Urban and Planning Issues. Organizer: Joel Outtes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, email Outtes at uol.com.br and Deadline: November 12, 2008 We invite paper proposals for a session on international institutions to take place at the annual meeting of the AAG (www.aag.org) in Las Vegas, March 22-27, 2009. Papers might explore, but not be limited to The United Nations and its policies The World Trade Organization The International Monetary Fund The International Labour Office The International Geographical Union Economic restructuring and its spatial impacts Transnational linkages Urban historical geography The politics of urban environmental problems Participatory budget and urban social movements The International Planning and Housing Movement The Urban International: the spatiality of international institutions such as the IFHP-International Federation for Housing and Planning, UCLG-United Cities and Local Governments, IULA-International Union of Local Authorities and IHA-International Housing Association alone or in Comparative Perspective After registering for the conference at http://www.aag.org/annualmeetings/ and submitting your abstract for a paper session, forward a copy of the abstract and your PIN to: Joel Outtes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, email Outtes at uol.com.br -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081108/5a2300ef/attachment-0001.html From esg at esgindia.org Sat Nov 8 18:51:03 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:51:03 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] EXCELLENT RESPONSE FOR WALK TO RECLAIM BENGALURU Message-ID: <4915923F.1050409@esgindia.org> _ PRESS RELEASE: 08 November 2008_ *EXCELLENT RESPONSE FOR WALK TO RECLAIM BENGALURU* Tens of individuals, community organisations and affected communities have come forth enthusiastically to confirm their participation in the *"Walk to Reclaim Bengaluru" *organised under the aegis of /Hasiru Usiru/ a network of community organisations, residents associations, project affected communities, voluntary organisations and individuals concerned about protecting equitable access to public social spaces such as roads and parks in Bengaluru. Over a thousand are expected to participate in the walk that would commence from Lalbagh West Gate at 11 am on 9^th November 2008, Sunday and conclude at Town Hall. Prof. B. K. Chandrashekar, former Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, Justice A. J. Sadashiva (Retd.), Mr. Chiranjiv Singh, IAS Retd. (former Addl. Chief Secretary), Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao (MLA, Gandhinagar), Ms. Premila Nesargi, Former Chairperson of the Karnataka Women's Commission, Mr. N. A. Haris (MLA, Shantinagar) and several other eminent persons have confirmed their support for the cause and would participate in the walk. Dr. Hemachandra Sagar (MLA, Chickpet) has endorsed the effort but would not be able to participate due to prior commitments. Speaking yesterday in a Press Conference organised by /Hasiru Usiru/, Dr. Hemchandra Sagar had this to say: "What was Bangalore when the Metro was conceived? And what has become of the city now? There has been an increase from 220 sq km. to 840 sq. km. How can an antiquated plan work for today's growth?" Speaking about the proposal to lay elevated Metro tracks, Dr. Sagar said: "Everyone knows the condition of roads. There is hardly space for cars on roads, and to top it all you are putting a Metro overhead! And in addition one needs stations, one needs parking. Where will you get so much space from densely populated areas?" On the choice of the Metro technology, Dr. Sagar said: "We call our city "Modern Bangalore" and we use a Metro system that has been abandoned world over. If you want to travel peacefully and ensure peace everywhere the Metro runs, we should go underground. Its not a question of cost but of convenience." Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed the same Press Conference and said this about how Metro and Road widening projects are planned in Bangalore: "Higher officials sit and decide without taking into account general public's opinion and consent. Whoever it is, decisions should be taken by only after talking to all concerned people and experts of the field." Arguing that an elevated Metro through Core Bangalore will destroy the city, he added: "We should not compare Bangalore Metro with Delhi because Bangalore city is very different with different layout and roads." On the implementation of the Road widening project of BBMP, Mr. Rao said this: "Avenue road is part of Bangalore's heritage. Chandni Chowk is an heritage of Delhi and has narrow roads too. Does one see roads in Chandni chowk being widened?" Speaking for the need for the safety of pedestrian and cyclists' safety, Mr. Rao said: "Roads should not be built with traffic in mind, roads should be built with all of us in mind." On the issue of road widening being solution to traffic congestion he added: "A broad minded approach and long term vision is required. Has the Anand Rao flyover stopped traffic congestion? NO!" Emphasising the importance of sensitive road design, he emphasised: "Adequqte footpath with road should be the agenda. One should worry first about how how pedestrians use the road and design around it." Mr. Rao also lamented that thereis no forum whatsoever to aire such grievances for Legislators. "When such is the case for us, the fate of the common man can only be imagined. For various controversial reasons Municipal Corporation elections are not held, and there are no Corporators to represent people's voiced. As a Legislator, I have trouble getting an appointment with the BBMP Commissioner!" He emphasised the importance of people centred planning and insisted that Public Consultations must be held before implementing any projects in Bangalore. The Walk on Sunday has found resounding support amongst our elected representatives. Tragically, felling of trees on K. R. Road continues in blatant disregard of law and in violation of the directives of the Hon'ble High Court in WP No. 7107/2008. (Copy of the direction is online at: www.esgindia.org ) for Hasiru Usiru Divya Ravindranath Campaigner Environment Support Group 105, East End B Main Road, Jayanagar 9th Block East, Bangalore 560069. INDIA Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339, Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364 Email: _esg at esgindia.org/esgindia at gmail.com_ Web: _www.esgindia.org_ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081108/160464c4/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: moz-screenshot.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 19901 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081108/160464c4/attachment-0001.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-84 Type: application/defanged-84 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081108/160464c4/attachment-0001.bin From yanivbin at gmail.com Fri Nov 7 19:37:59 2008 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 19:37:59 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Bail us out: consume (By Sunita Narain) CSE-DTE Message-ID: <86b8a7050811070607o6e3b5494l4e7f5de1d1c42c35@mail.gmail.com> Editorial: Bail us out: consume (By Sunita Narain) ============================= Earlier this year, I called the Union budget myopic (Down To Earth, March 31, 2008). Let me reiterate why. The Union budget did not take into account the fact the world was beginning to face new challenges, all of which were devastating, and related. One, the rising cost of our food -- you will recall subsequently prices did go up and food riots took place in many parts of the world. Two, the problem of 'peak' oil prices -- which, again by mid-year, touched an astounding US $140 per barrel, and despite a present downturn remain quite volatile. Three, the devastating impacts of climate change, visibly on crop productivity because of water scarcity or untimely rains or the growing frequency of natural disasters. Four, a possible, US-led global recession. Well, that recession has, since then, blown up in our faces as companies, banks collapse and governments rush with billions of dollars to their rescue. And myopia seems a global malaise. What should astound us is not the crisis, nor its scale or its devastation, but the response of our financial and political managers. Remember, these are people who have all studied alike; who all speak the same words and do the same done things. All of them believe they know their world and can come up with answers quicker than you can say 'meltdown'. So, even as they are completely lost in this world today, their arrogance persists. First, they said, "Don't worry, it won't touch us". Now, they are saying, "Don't worry, it will pass". The fact is they don't have a clue of what is happening. They also refuse to accept this crisis is actually inter-related crises linked to the way we have managed growth till date. The fact is we have been taught, and have practised what has been preached, we can consume our way to growth and consume our way through and out of any slow-down period. "Don't worry, just consume" is the mantra. If we cannot 'afford' to consume, then, too, we should not worry. The financial systems will ensure we get cheap loans to buy homes, cars, washing machines, or anything else we may not need but desire. After all, it is only if we consume that growth indicators will look rosy again, and the world will remain happy. The problem with this model is that we do little to ensure we can bring the cost of the product down so that it is affordable. In other words, we do not plan, design, manufacture and sell products and services that meet the purchasing abilities of people. We don't demand technology to work for affordability. We also don't share wealth so that more can afford this growth -- afford the house or the car -- without the loans that will make the banks boom and then go bust. The sub-prime crisis that hit the US is precisely because of the fact that banks loaned quickly, cheaply to people who could not afford the housing. Worse, the market gained, if the house was more expensive -- conversely, less affordable. The other way to growth is to subsidize the cost of producing the products we should consume. Take the 'Nano' example in India, where every car manufacturer is in a scramble to get public largesse -- from land at throwaway rates, interest free loans to free or nearly free water and power. This is all to reduce their cost of manufacture, to place the car we cannot buy within our reach. It is another matter that in this economics, the cost of our consumption has been subsidized. It is a story uncannily similar to how food in the rich world is grown -- farmers (most agri-businesses) are loaded with subsidy dollars to grow cheap food so that its consumption (and over-consumption) can grow, even as obesity takes the form of the world's most deadly disease. It is also a fact it is the same consumption-led economic growth that has brought the world to the climate change precipice. The point still is: are we beginning to make these connections? Clearly, no. In fact, there is only one way to crawl out of the current hole -- do more of what we have done till date. The US $700 billion bail-out package was explained very succinctly by US president George Bush in the interest of the 'poor' worker. "The banks needed to loan, as otherwise ordinary Americans would not have money to buy the car and this would mean that the factory workers in Detroit would lose their job." Simple logic for simple economics: buy and buy to make the economy go around. In this way, the vicious circle will go, on and on. We will consume more, because it is the only way we know to economic growth. Even if it costs us a bank or the Earth. We will not talk about this. To do so would mean we would have to change our fundamental understanding of what constitutes growth; to what leads to happiness and what results in employment and well being for all. It would mean changes in how we measure economic growth -- junking or going beyond the gross domestic product (GDP) indicator to one that is much more comprehensive in assessment of these needs. As of now, we will not change. The world is still in the hands of the same men who put us in the mess in the first place. It is their limited imagination and enjoined ideology that has got us here. It is their lack of imagination that first pushes airlines to believe they can be as cheap as railways. Then pushes for public largesse to fund what we can't afford. So don't expect any change. This financial crisis may go away. But the storm is still to come. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081107/744854f0/attachment.html From sollybenj at yahoo.co.in Wed Nov 19 04:00:34 2008 From: sollybenj at yahoo.co.in (solomon benjamin) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:34 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] On Lewis Hyde, author of 'The Gift' meets Santos' subaltern cosmopolitan legality In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <256569.57858.qm@web8904.mail.in.yahoo.com> Dear Lawrence and Friends, Thought this article in the NYT mag. on Lewis Hyde author of 'The Gift' would be of wider interest! (Lawrence, thanks for the book, now being avidly re-read!). Check out: What Is Art For? By DANIEL B. SMITH Published: November 14, 2008 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/magazine/16hyde-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 '.. After the lecture, as we walked across the darkened campus, I mentioned to Hyde that I had found Lessig’s talk to be logical and well crafted. “A little too well crafted, if you ask me,” Hyde said. This took me by surprise — Hyde is a polite man who rarely speaks critically of others — and I later asked him to elaborate. “Look, Lessig is a lawyer,” he said. “I like him, I think he’s solid. But it’s a very particular way of thinking.” Hyde himself makes use of the Creative Commons, yet there’s a formality to the setup that troubles him. “All of the C.C. licenses use the lever of the law,” he said. “They have the assumption of private ownership behind them. So Lessig, in a certain sense, is confining himself to one slice of this stuff, which is not as capacious as a true commons would be.” Would this pose two intersects towards 'an urban revolution'? 1) First, in mostly small firm based industrial production that customize commodity lines via an intensive copy culture that spurs innovation that includes reverse engineering. The IPR centered 'creative class' arguments fall flat! 2) Second, in their transnational urbanization: Wider connections to a commons (seen in Hyde's perspective) via small trade trans-national networks that connect Chennai, Bangalore and Yiwu in Eastern China. Opened up via such 'porous legalities', into what Santos et al term 'Subaltern cosmopolitan legality' (Santos de Sousa & Rodriguez's Law and Globalization from below). If situations destabilize those 'in power' and associated 'property', than perhaps something goes on. Perhaps the parallel to Disney would be Daniel Chow from the Ohio Univ. law dept. Hired by Procter and Gamble, Chow investigated piracy and argues for it's link to 'global terrorism'. This link is familiar story. See his statement to the US senate at:n http://www.cecc.gov/pages/roundtables/051605/Chow.php Whats perhaps more fascinating is his argument on why a crackdown on piracy is made difficult via it's urbanization -- perhaps another revolution? See: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty/digest.php?digestID=57 And for a fascinating view of a commons city, in all it's unsettling fluidity, that seems straight out of my own memories of 1990's East Delhi, see: Chinese instant cities http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/06/instant-cities/hessler-text Cheers Solly Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/ From yanivbin at gmail.com Wed Nov 19 20:48:13 2008 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:48:13 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] WDR 2009: "Reshaping Economic Geography" Message-ID: <86b8a7050811190718n7a038202vbf87e04021438301@mail.gmail.com> *FYI * World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography > Source: World Bank, 6 November 2008 > > Economic growth will be unbalanced, but development still can be inclusive. > That is the main message of this year's World Development Report. The > report > proposes that spatial transformations along various dimensions will be > necessary: Higher density as seen in the growth of cities, Tokyo, the > world's largest city is home to 35 million - a quarter of Japan's > population > - but stands on just four percent of its land; and shorter distances as > firms and workers migrate closer to economic opportunities. Eight million > Americans change states every year, migrating to reduce distance to > economic > opportunity. > > The new World Development Report challenges the assumption that > economic activities must be spread geographically to benefit the world's > most poor and vulnerable. > The WDR will highlight the dimensions and significance of spatial forces that shape economic development; and recommend policies to facilitate the spatial transformations necessary to sustain economic growth, reduce disparities in welfare, and reduce poverty. The report aims to reframe three important policy debates: * on urbanization in developing countries; on territorial development policies; and on the pros and cons of regional integration.* …." > > For more information, > click here. > > > > __._,_.___ > > . > > __,_._,___ > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081119/ccad0475/attachment.html From esg at esgindia.org Thu Nov 20 09:02:31 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:02:31 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] City road networks grow like biological systems Message-ID: <4924DA4F.7020808@esgindia.org> This is an interesting article I found on New Scientist. When roads are increasingly being treated as infrastructure for motor vehicles, hopefully such perceptions will help alter our planners and engineers views and make them work in more humane ways and treat these urban "rivers of life". Leo City road networks grow like biological systems http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13759-city-road-networks-grow-like-biological-systems.html?full=true&print=true * 12:51 23 April 2008 by *Belle Dumé* * For similar stories, visit the *Cars and Motoring* Topic Guide New models of city road network growth (top) create networks similar to those in reality (middle) and grow in similar ways to biological transport networks (bottom) New models of city road network growth (top) create networks similar to those in reality (middle) and grow in similar ways to biological transport networks (bottom) Next time you are lost in an unfamiliar city, console yourself with the knowledge that the layout of its roads are probably much the same as in any other. French and US physicists have shown that the road networks in cities evolve driven by a simple universal mechanism despite significant cultural and historical differences. The resulting patterns are much like the veins of a leaf. Marc Barthélemy of the French Atomic Energy Commission in Bruyères-le-Châtel and Alessandro Flammini of Indiana University, US, analysed street pattern data from roughly 300 cities, including Brasilia, Cairo, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, and Venice. They found that cities' road patterns have a lot in common mathematically, as well as looking similar to the eye. 'Not just planning' The researchers developed a simple mathematical model that can recreate the characteristic leaf-like patterns that develop, growing a road network from scratch as it would in reality. The main influence on the simulated network as it grows is the need to efficiently connect new areas to the existing road network - a process they call "local optimisation". They say the road patterns in cities evolve thanks to similar local efforts, as people try to connect houses, businesses and other infrastructures to existing roads. Evolution has ensured that local efficiency also drives the growth of transport networks in biology - for example, in plant leaf veins and circulatory systems. "Cities are not just the result of rational planning - in the same way that living organisms are not simply what is in their genetic code," Barthélemy told *New Scientist*. Growth predictions "Beyond the economic, demographic and geographic "forces" that shape a town, there are a myriad of small "accidents" that contribute" he says. "Although these are unpredictable, they can be understood in terms of statistics and simple modelling." The team's model also reveals that roads often bend, even in the absence of geographical obstacles, and that road intersections are generally perpendicular. The study's results might be important for understanding urban growth and "sprawl" says Barthélemy. More than half the world's population lives in cities, a proportion that continues to increase. "The approach could even help city planners to better predict how some street networks will evolve and to plan accordingly," he adds. Previous models of urban development assumed that efficient transport across the entire network motivated the system's growth - as if planned from the top down. Focussing instead on the structure of local connections seems truer to real life, says Flammini. Ancient roots "Our study provides a first step in understanding and integrating such networks when modelling urban growth," explains Flammini. The researchers will now study how road networks developed over time in old cities, such as London and Paris. They hope to unearth other possible universal features that might be present to refine their model. Despite the simplifications of the model, its results agree well with data from real city road networks, says complex systems specialist Jukka-Pekka Onnela of Oxford University, UK. Using the local efficiency of connections to drive road network growth looks to be a truer fit with reality than using the total cost of travelling across the network, says Onnela. "Especially given that the time scale of city growth (possibly thousands of years) and the time scale of urban planning (perhaps tens of years) are so clearly different." Journal reference: /Phys. Rev. Lett./ (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.138702) /*Cars and Motoring* - Learn more about the latest technologies in our comprehensive special report /. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081120/c5896128/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-6121 Type: application/defanged-6121 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081120/c5896128/attachment-0001.bin From esg at esgindia.org Thu Nov 20 15:11:12 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:11:12 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] [Fwd: Invitation] Message-ID: <492530B8.7070502@esgindia.org> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Invitation Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:46:56 +0530 From: Center for Public Policy Dear All, /The Centre for Public Policy cordially invites you for a talk by/ / / *_Prof Balaji Prabhakar_* Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stanford University on *_An Incentive Mechanism to Decongest Traffic_* *_ _* on November 21, 2008, at 3 pm at North Pergola, Indian Institute of Management. *Abstract:* Bangaloreans experienced the severity of road traffic problems three days back. While a better transportation infrastructure and road usage are essential to mitigate the problem, they have proved insufficient. In many cities congestion charges are being imposed. In this talk Prof Balaji Prabhakar will describe an experimental program, called INSTANT (Infosys-Stanford Traffic program), which has been under way from Oct 6, 2008, at Infosys Technologies. Prof Balaji Prabhakar has been running this experiment in Infosys to get employees to use off-peak transport channels. The aim of the project is to incentivize Infosys commuters to arrive early, leading to: commute times that are shorter by at least 30 minutes, reduced fuel consumption, pollution and overall congestion on Hosur Road. The program has been successful so far, with over 7000 participants incentivized through weekly monetary rewards. The talk describes the background, the incentive mechanism and the status of the INSTANT project. */Balaji Prabhakar is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University. His research interests are in the area of network algorithms, in scaleable methods for network performance monitoring and simulation, in wireless (imaging) sensor networks, stochastic network theory and information theory. He has designed algorithms for switching, routing, bandwidth partitioning, load balancing, and web caching. Prof Balaji has been a Terman Fellow at Stanford University and a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He has received the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, the Erlang Prize from the INFORMS Applied Probability Society, and the Rollo Davidson Prize awarded to young scientists for their contributions to probability and its applications./* */ /* /I have great pleasure in inviting you to the talk./ / / / Kindly call Centre for Public Policy (080-26993323) or email: cpp at iimb.ernet.in to confirm your participation./ / / */Regards/* */ /* */ /* */Gopal Naik,/* *Professor and Chairperson* *Center for Public Policy* *Indian Institute of Management* *Bannerghatta Road* *Bangalore 560076* / / / / -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081120/5f5934b7/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-207 Type: application/defanged-207 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081120/5f5934b7/attachment.bin From esg at esgindia.org Thu Nov 20 17:38:18 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:38:18 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Lok Adalat takes issue with roadwidening panel Message-ID: <49255332.9070802@esgindia.org> Dear All, As you are aware, the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka had ruled in PIL filed by Environment Support Group and ors, that transport infrastructure in Bangalore (be it road widening, Metro, etc.) had to be implemented in conformity with law (Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, etc.), be based on public consultation and fulfill the objective of sustainable development. To ensure this an interdisciplinary Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Mr. Yellappa Reddy, former Environment Secretary of Karnataka. (A copy of our PIL and the order is accessible at www.esgindia.org) Since the ruling, the Committe has had about a dozen sittings, but none of the applications of the Petitioners to ensure these projects met with the directives of the High Court were considered. We were also denied any participation rights, despite our repeated appeals. We were constrained therefore to move the Karnataka Legal Aid Services Authority for dispute resolution, as required per the High Court's order. We secured a significant victory in asserting our Right to Participate in this quasi judicial Committee yesterday, when the Hon'ble Lok Adalat (set up by the Legal Aid Services Authority) ruled in our favour. Enclosed is an article that captures yesterday's developments and the decisions, comprehensively. Leo Saldanha http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/620-lok-adalat-bbmp HEARING ON TREE-CUTTING Lok Adalat takes issue with roadwidening panel Chairman Yellapa Reddy of the Bengaluru's oversight committee on roadwidening found himself on the backfoot in a hearing at the High Court. The citizens vs. authorities saga continues. By Supriya Khandekar 20 Nov 2008, Citizen Matters bookmark email print In a Lok Adalat hearing on 19th November at the High Court of Karnataka, Justice K L Manjunath pointedly asked Yellapa Reddy, chairman of the committee overseeing Bengaluru's roadwidening project to listen to the petitioners complaints on widespread tree cutting. The Adalat took exception to Reddy's standpoint which appeared to one of merely representing local government officials' views instead of striking a balance between citizens and officials. As reported earlier in /Citizen Matters/, a writ petition was filed by NGOs Environment Support Group, CIVIC and the green network Hasiru Usiru a few months ago, against the tree cutting undertaken by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Following that, on the court's direction, the BBMP had constituted a nine-member 'Sustainable Development Empowered Technical Advisory Committee' in July 2008, under the chairmanship of Yellapa Reddy, a retired officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The court had ruled that the committee take public opinion into account and pass orders on the advice of the experts. It had also directed the BBMP and other agencies working on infrastructural development to consult the committee. Chopped tree stumps from the road widening ongoing in the Madiwala area. At the junction of Hosur Road-Sarjapur Road, near St John's Hospital. Chopped tree stumps in the Madiwala area where roadwidening proceeded earlier this year. File Pic: Meera K. A Lok Adalat is a mediation court setup by High Court Legal Services Committee for amicably settling disputes by way of compromise. A Lok Adalat hearing involves a sitting or retired judge and one or more conciliators, who can be an advocate or social worker or expert. On Wednesday, this Adalat met to resolve the ongoing dispute between the petitioners of the original litigation and the committee. Justice K L Manjunath, of the Karnataka High Court and Dr H C Sharat Chandra, Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board were adjudicating. The petitioner's advocate noted their primary complaint: that the committee did not allow the petitioners to attend any of their meetings and their grievances or suggestions were not considered. When the committee advocate was asked to respond he repeatedly mentioned that the petitioners are never stopped and "they can attend the meetings as observers." The Adalat retorted that the petitioners were not mere observers but participants. This was one of the major clauses of the high court ruling to form this committee. Yellapa Reddy, Chairman of the Empowered Committee, came to the hearing with several members of the committee. Arguing his case, he accused the petitioners of forcing him to take action against the M R Suresh, the tree officer of BBMP. As Reddy tried justifying the tree felling done by the BBMP, the Adalat warned him on talking on behalf of the authorities and advised him to take a balanced view. He was asked to listen to the petitioners and the respondents without any bias. This was a key moment in a saga that has gone for several months. Wheelchair participant in A 'Namma Raste' walk held recently in protest against 'reckless' tree-cutting brought nearly a 1000 citizens. File Pic: Deepa Mohan. More issues were raised by the petitioners, including the 'illegality' of tree felling, irregularities in following the procedures of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act and so on. But as the Adalat does not have the powers to pass rulings, it concentrated on solving the disputes. "The Adalat is like a conciliator and cannot deliver judgments", said Justice Manjunath. However, in response to the grievances, the Adalat insisted that Reddy fix a date and time for the next committee meeting in front of the court. Justice Manjunath also asked the committee to ensure participation of the petitioners, and was told that failure to do so would be considered contempt of court. Reddy finally announced that the next committee meeting would be held on Monday 24th November, and that he would ensure petitioners' participation. BDA Commissioner H Siddiah was also present at the hearing.* ?* Supriya Khandekar 20 Nov 2008 /Supriya Khandekar is a staff journalist at Citizen Matters./ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-1402 Type: application/defanged-1402 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081120/1fd77a5f/attachment-0001.bin From esg at esgindia.org Mon Nov 24 00:20:31 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:20:31 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Significant victory for Access to Information and Justice Message-ID: <4929A5F7.30501@esgindia.org> Dear Friends, We report to you a significant victory in our efforts to make decision making forums more accessible to the public at large. Since the High Court of Karnataka ruled that an Empowered Committee would review and pass orders on all transport infrastructure projects in Bangalore, consequent to a PIL filed by Environment Support Group and ors., our efforts to access this forum have been frustrated. On 19th November, the Hon'ble Lok Adalat constituted as a part of the Karnataka Legal Aid Services Authority ruled that the proceedings of the Empowered Committee must be open to all. The Committee was also directed to hear all pending submissions made by the Petitioners on Monday, 24 November. This is a significant victory for efforts to make Access to Information and Access to Justice more transparent and people friendly. A copy of the order is online at www.esgindia.org Warm regards ESG Team Bangalore, India www.esgindia.org *Environment Support Group ®* *105, East End B Main Road, Jayanagar 9*^*th* * Block East, Bangalore 560069.INDIA* *Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26534364* *Email: *_esg at esgindia.org _ or* *_esgindia at gmail.com _* Web: *_www.esgindia.org _* * *PRESS RELEASE: Bangalore: 21 November 2008* *Lok Adalat asks Empowered Committee to open its doors to All* On 28^th June 2008 Justice Gopal Gowda and Justice Ravi Malimath of the High Court of Karnataka had ruled in a Public Interest Litigation (WP 7107/2008) filed by Environment Support Group and Ors, that an Empowered Committee involving experts proposed by the Petitioners and Respondents under the Chairmanship of Shri. Yellappa Reddy would to review road widening and related transport projects of Bangalore. The Committee was directed to consult the public before allowing projects to be implemented in conformance with law and ensuring they were sustainable. A copy of this direction is online at www.esgindia.org. Since the constitution of the Committee, Environment Support Group, affected communities and members from the general public have been making representations for due consideration and decisions. Apart from proposing various credible alternatives to road widening, for instance, these representations have also pointed out that road widening as presently undertaken would result in displacement and loss of livelihoods of thousands, destroy hundreds of homes and businesses, eat into parks and public spaces, compromise on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, senior citizens, differently abled, hawkers and so on. Those being affected by the Bangalore Metro being built on elevated ramps through prime roads, have also appealed to the Committee that credible alternatives of taking taking the Metro underground have not been explored. Despite proactive efforts by various groups and affected communities, the Empowered Committee has not deliberated on any of the applications made either by the Petitioners or the general public. The Committee has also denied the Petitioners, or wide public, the right to participate and observe the proceedings of Committee. In the meantime, road-widening and Metro works with consequent felling of hundreds of old and charming trees is being undertaken without conformity with the Hon'ble High Court's directives. Constrained by this lack of response from the Committee to the Petitioners' and affected communities submissions, the Lok Adalat* *was approached for resolving the dispute as provided for in the order of the High Court. On 19^th November 2008, Justice KL Manjunath, Chairman of the Karnataka Legal Aid Services Authority and Dr. H. C. Sharatchandra, Member and Chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, constituting the Hon'ble Lok Adalat, heard these appeals of the Petitioners and passed an order. The Hon'ble Adalat made several oral observations including that a /quasi judicial /authority should be open, publicly accountable and transparent. The Petitioners right to observe the proceedings should be upheld in conformance with the norms and procedures of an open court. It was also observed that all works being carried out should have the prior sanction of the aforementioned Committee as required per the Hon'ble Court's order. In its written order, the Hon'ble Lok Adalat has directed the Committee to hear all pending applications of the Petitioners observing that "(/s)ince both the parties are willing to appear before the Committee and the Committee is also willing to take up the cause of the Petitioners and the Committee is willing to hear both the parties in the //*presence of all*/," (emphasis added). In conformance with the direction of the Hon'ble Lok Adalat, the Empowered Committee has issued a notice of Hearing on 24^th November 2008 at 10.30 am at the office of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. Divya Ravindranath For Environment Support Group and Hasiru Usiru -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081124/b887cfd1/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-64113 Type: application/defanged-64113 Size: 363 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081124/b887cfd1/attachment.bin From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Tue Nov 11 08:37:41 2008 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:37:41 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Invitation to the Launch of EmpoweringIndia.org Message-ID: Dear all, EmpoweringIndia.org launches in Hyderabad tomorrow. Please circulate widely among friends who might be interested in attending. We are seeking partners to help us with disseminating the information. Look forward to seeing all of you at the launch tomorrow. Best wishes, Zainab *Liberty Institute* In partnership with the *Friedrich Naumann Stiftung - für die Freiheit* Cordially invites you for the launch of its new initiative *Empowering India* *Making democracy meaningful* * * *www.EmpoweringIndia.org* *A unique website on candidates and constituencies* *by* *Sri J M Lyngdoh* *Former Chief Election Commissioner of India* Date: *12 November 2008* Time: *11 am* Venue: Conference Hall, *Centre for Economic & Social Studies* (CESS), Begumpet, Hyderabad. Tel. 2340 2789, 2341 6780 *Programme:* *11 am to 12 noon: Release of Empowering India web site* Launch of Empowering India: *Shri J M Lyngdoh,* former Chief Election Commissioner of India Guest of Honour: *Dr I V Subba Rao,* I.A.S., Chief Electoral Officer, Andhra Pradesh, Introducing Empowering India: *Sri Barun Mitra,* Director, Liberty Institute *12 noon To 1 pm: Panel discussion on "Making Democracy Meaningful"* President: *Prof C V Raghavulu,* Former VC, Acharya Nagarjuna, University Panelists: *Sri Yanamala Ramakrishnudu,* Former Speaker, Telugu Desam Party, *Dr N Jayaprakash Narayana,* President, Lok Satta Party. 1 to 2 pm: Lunch *2 to 4.30 pm: Workshop on Empowering India* President: *Sri Y Lakshman Reddy,* President, Jana Chaitanya Vedika. Guest of honour: *Sri C Arjuna Rao,* IAS (Rtd), Former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Detailed demonstration of Empowering India: *Sri Barun Mitra,* Liberty Institute Feedback and Discussion with potential partners 4.30 to 5 pm: Tea and Coffee *RSVP:* Ch. Narendra, Mobile : 98495 69050 *Empowering India: An introduction * Active citizenship is central to democratic governance. While freedom to vote is fundamental, on average only about half of those eligible actually cast their vote. However, freedom to vote also includes the freedom to exercise the right not to vote. Empowering India seeks to empower the citizens with information, encourages them to cherish their political freedom, and urges them to exercise their democratic rights meaningfully. Towards that goal, Empowering India web site has information about elections and affidavits filed by candidates during state assembly and parliament election. We are also working to include information about constituencies, and performance indicators of legislators. *Making Democracy Meaningful* Empowering India is an initiative of Liberty Institute, an independent, non-profit, public policy research and awareness organisation based in New Delhi. We believe politics is not only a necessary function in an open and democratic society, but must also be seen as a noble profession. Empowering India was born in an attempt to understand when and how good policies make good politics. Our key objectives are the following: - Encourage voters to make informed choice during elections; - Promote transparency and accountability; - Stimulate good governance; - Monitor performance of elected representatives; - Improve understanding of the democratic processes; - Nurture a dialogue between citizens and political activists; - Foster a rational discourse on public policy issues. Contact us at the following address. *Liberty Institute* Julian L. Simon Centre C-4/8, Sahyadri Plot 5, Sector 12, Dwarka New Delhi 110078 *Email:* *Telefax:* +91-11-28031309 www.EmpoweringIndia.org www.InDefenceofLiberty.org Empowering India was initiated with the support of *Friedrich Naumann Stiftung - für die Freiheit* www.southasia.fnst.org FNF is the foundation for liberal politics. It was founded in 1958 by, amongst others, Theodor Heuss, the first German Federal President after World War II. The Foundation currently works in some sixty different countries around the world – to promote ideas on liberty and strategies for freedom. Our instruments are civic education, political consultancy and political dialogue. -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places ... http://wbfs.wordpress.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081111/3bf1fbd0/attachment-0001.html From cugambetta at yahoo.com Mon Nov 24 21:48:25 2008 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:18:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Nov 25th, Modern Lives of Historic Cities: Conservation and Development in Karnataka Message-ID: <749604.70400.qm@web56801.mail.re3.yahoo.com> If in Bangalore, this will be of interest. Jyoti Hosagrahar will be presenting the work she has been doing in Karnataka at the NIAS auditorium, IISc. See the image attachment/link below for more information. Nov 25th, 15-16:30 This should be a great opportunity to engage with work about the contemporary life of historic cities in India, work taking place at the intersection of architecture, historiography, policy and conservation. Curt Click on image link below, or see the attachment ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "Art, Resources & Teaching Bangalore" To: Curt Gambetta ; Carol Upadhya Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 3:07:15 AM Subject: Modern Lives of Historic Cities: Conservation and Development in Karnataka Art, Resources & Teaching 79 Hutchins Road IInd Cross St Thomas Town, Bangalore 560 084 +91.80.2580.0733 info at artscapeindia.org www.artscapeindia.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081124/dc6744f4/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 29egi02.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 217333 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081124/dc6744f4/attachment-0001.jpg From conlon at u.washington.edu Wed Nov 26 08:07:38 2008 From: conlon at u.washington.edu (Frank Conlon) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:37:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Remembering James Heitzman In-Reply-To: <749604.70400.qm@web56801.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <749604.70400.qm@web56801.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Curt and colleagues: This H-ASIA post will be of sad interest to some of you. Frank Frank F. Conlon Professor Emeritus of History, South Asian Studies & Comparative Religion University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-3560 USA Co-editor, H-ASIA President, H-NET Humanities & Social Sciences Online Managing Director, Bibliography of Asian Studies Online H-ASIA November 25, 2008 Remembering James Heitzman (October 27, 1950-November 15, 2008) (x-post Indology-with editorial modifications) *********************************************************************** From: christoph.emmrich at UTORONTO.CA Obituary: James Heitzman "James Heitzman (October 27, 1950-November 15, 2008), historian of South Asia and urban studies scholar, passed away in Stanford hospital, California, while receiving treatment for cancer. He received his Doctorate in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 and an M.S. in Information Studies from Drexel University in 1989. He held numerous professional appointments including as a research analyst in the Library of Congress (1987-1988); a history professor in Cazenovia College, NY (1989-1997) and Georgia State University, Atlanta (1997- 2004); and as the Director of Summer Sessions, University of California, Davis (2004-2006). He is remembered for his love of South Asia and his life-long commitment to furthering knowledge of the region's history and society. His numerous publications and research interests (in Buddhism, Chola history, the medieval world, cities, Bangalore, science and technology) include books such as _Gifts of Power_ (1997), _The World in the Year 1000_ (2003), _Network City_ (2004), and _The City in South Asia_ (2008)." (Re-printed from The Hindu, November 24th 2008) For those of us who knew and worked closely with James this has come as a sudden and sad loss. He was not just a fine scholar of medieval South India, doing path-breaking work on issues of Chola historiography and agriculture, but a larger-than-life figure, a perceptive reader and editor of the works of others and a staunch and loyal friend. He also had a wonderful and ironic sense of humour -- particularly about the vagaries of the academic life -- which had so much defined his own existence. He is survived by his wife Smriti Srinivas, Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis with whom he enjoyed an extraordinarily creative scholarly collaboration in the last decades of his life and by his 3 children including the youngest, one-year-old Maitreyi Heitzman. Srilata Raman Assistant Professor, Modern Hinduism University of Toronto. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed. note: James Heitzman was a remarkable individual--a truly dedicated scholar who entered the profession in a time of economic constraint, but who continued as an active student of his field, making very important contributions and expanding our understanding of pre-modern South Asia, especially South India and to the dynamics of urbanism both in medieval South India and in 21st century Bangalore. That he be snatched by illness at such a young age is one further illustration of the tragic consequences of this Kali Yuga. I have listed some of his many publications below. FFC _The city in South Asia_ Abingdon, Oxon, England; New York: Routledge, 2008. ISBN: 9780415343558 (hardback) 9780203483282 (ebook) _Network city : planning the information society in Bangalore_ New Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN: 0195666062 9780195666069 _The world in the year 1000_edited by James Heitzman, Wolfgang Schenkluhn. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2003 ISBN: 0761825614 _Gifts of power: lordship in an early Indian state_ Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN: 0195639782 9780195639780 _India : a country study_ (by James Heitzman; Robert L Worden; Library of Congress. Federal Research Division) Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 1996 5th ed ISBN: 0844408336 9780844408330 _Bangladesh : a country study_ edited by James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress ; 2nd ed. Washington, D.C. : Federal Research Division, 1989) [Rev. ed. of: Area handbook for Bangladesh / coauthors, Richard F. Nyrop ... et al. 1975.] LCCN 89600298 "Middle Towns to Middle Cities in South Asia, 1800-2007" _Journal of Urban History_ 35: 1 (2008): 15-38 ISSN: 0096-1442 "Warrior goddess versus bipedal cow: sport, space, performance and planning in an Indian city" pp 139-172 in _Subaltern sports: politics and sport in South Asia_, James Mills, editor. London: Anthem Press, 2005 ISBN: 1843311674, 1843311682 "Urban geography and land measurement in the twelfth century: the case of Kanchipuram" [with S. Rajagopal] _Indian Economic and Social History Review_ 41: 3 (Jul-Sep 2004) 237-269 ISSN: 0019-4646 "Geographic information systems in India's 'Silicon Valley': the impact of technology on planning Bangalore" _Contemporary South Asia_ 12: 1 (Mar 2003) 57-84 ISSN: 0958-4935 "Intersecting paths in early South Asian historiography" _Indian Economic and Social History Review_ (Delhi) 39: 1 (Jan-Mar 2002) 101-111. ISSN: 0019-4646 "Urbanization and political economy in early South India: Kancipuram during the Cola period" in Kenneth R. Hall _Structure and society in early South India: essays in honour of Noboru Karashima_ New Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 0195651502 9780195651508 "Sports and Conflict in Urban Planning: The Indian National Games in Bangalore" _Journal of Sport & Social Issues_ 23: 1 (1999): 5-23 ISSN: 0193-7235 "State formation in South India, 850-1280" in Hermann Kulke, editor, _The State in India, 1000-1700_ Delhi; New York: Oxford University Press, 1995 ISBN 0195631277 9780195631272 "Nepal : historical setting" in _Nepal and Bhutan : country studies_ (by Andrea Matles Savada; Library of Congress. Federal Research Division) Washington: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 1993. 3rd ed ISBN: 0844407771 9780844407777 "Ritual polity and economy: the transactional network of an imperial temple in medieval South India" _Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient_ 34: 1 (Feb 1991) 23-54 ISSN: 0022-4995 "Information Systems and Development in the Third World." _Information Processing and Management_ 26:4 (1990) 489-502 ISSN: 0306-4573 "Temple urbanism in medieval south India" _Journal of Asian Studies_ 46: 4 (Nov 1987) 791-826 ISSN: 0021-9118 "State formation in South India, 850-1280" _Indian Economic and Social History Review_ (Delhi) 24: 1 (Jan-Mar 1987) 35-61 ISSN: 0019-4646 "Early Buddhism, trade and empire" pp. 121-137 in Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, Kenneth and Gregory L. Possehl, editors _ Studies in the archaeology and palaeoanthropology of South Asia_ New Delhi: Oxford & IBH: American Inst. of Indian Studies, 1984 LCCN 83906915 ****************************************************************** To post to H-ASIA simply send your message to: For holidays or short absences send post to: with message: SET H-ASIA NOMAIL Upon return, send post with message SET H-ASIA MAIL H-ASIA WEB HOMEPAGE URL: http://h-net.msu.edu/~asia/ From elkamath at yahoo.com Wed Nov 26 10:57:51 2008 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:27:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Critical Mass-- Bangalore Message-ID: <549025.3765.qm@web53607.mail.re2.yahoo.com> FYI-- Critical Mass -- Bangalore All you people out there with any kind of cycle...doodhwala cycles, newspaperwalla cycles, mtb's, road bikes, with and without gearwallas (and walis), with and without helmets... here's calling all of you to bring along your cycles and join in the first ever Critical Mass ride in Bangalore spread the word and join the bandwagon.... Let's make it happen guys!!!! The intention is to ride in a single line (i.e one cyclist behind the other) and draw attention to the fact there there are people who cycle on the roads and that other people using the road should know about us and provide us equal opportunity to use the roads. Just a simple peaceful ride! Be there and lets have fun and make a statement! Those who are interested to participate please turn up at the start point by 6.30pm. Start : Lalbagh West Gate End: To be decided Time : 6:30 pm. Date : 28.11.08 (last Friday of the month) We cycle in a single file No breaking red lights No cussing No arguing with motorists Just a quiet ride. And it'll be fun. A little background about Critical Mass. All over the world, The Critical Mass (CM) is done on the last friday of the month.. Even though its a working day, the idea is to spread the message in a live form to a large commuter base. If it were to be on a weekend it would simply be a weekend leisure ride. CM helps in recognizing the importance of respect that cyclists who commute daily deserve. The first Critical Mass event was organised on September 25, 1992 in San Francisco, USA. Over the years, citizens of 300-odd cities across the world have embraced the concept. It is known by different names, such as bike-lifting, corking and mass-up, in various cities. Some Critical Mass events across the world have participants not only on cycles, but also on skateboards and wheelchairs. India is still not convinced about promoting cycling as a means of transport but Amsterdam (Netherlands), New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Portland (in USA), London (UK) and Paris (France) boast of a flourishing bicycle culture Btw, Even Delhi is having a CM on the same day http://www.cyclists.in/events/delhi-critical-mass-on-28th http://www.delhicriticalmass.in/how_to_start_Index.htm Please pass on this email to all you know. And Hope to see you there! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081125/3ddf6555/attachment.html From elkamath at yahoo.com Thu Nov 27 09:05:40 2008 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:35:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] A complicated bus ride Message-ID: <521106.9685.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Editorial: A complicated bus-ride (By Sunita Narain) ============================= What does Barack Obama's election as president of the US have to do with buses in India? A lot. Obama stands for what he calls 'change' -- in the way we think and do business. But the call will remain rhetoric unless we translate it into practical, everyday life, changes. To do that, we must bring changes in our business model and, most importantly, in what is essential and what needs to be invested in. What have we learnt about translating good ideas into hard realities? Anyone who lives in Indian cities and gets crushed under the weight of traffic and pollution will accept we need a massive transition to public transport. This is a win-win answer, almost as persuasive as saying 'we believe in change'. Yet, the number of buses in our cities has gone down and not up. In 1951, one of every 10 vehicles sold in India was a bus; today, out of every 100 vehicles sold, one bus makes it to roads. Last year, the automobile industry placed another feather in its cap by selling over 1.5 million cars. In the same year, it sold only 38,000 buses. Not surprisingly, latest estimates by government-sponsored studies show that in spite of huge investment in flyovers and road expansive, driving speeds have come down in every Indian city. Let's not even talk about choking lungs. This is only the beginning of the problem. For even if we want buses we cannot have them. Why? Because our rich automobile companies, busy churning out cars for congested cities, do not have the capacity to manufacture buses. There are only two real players in the market -- Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland. These companies do not make buses. They manufacture a truck chassis, on which various body builders assemble a bus body. As a result, when the city of Delhi or Ahmedabad places a tender for an urban bus, with improved design for comfort, it does not get many takers. Then, when the city finally does place an order, the manufacturer cannot deliver buses in the quantity and speed required. Delhi placed its first order for some 500 low-floor urban buses over a year ago. It is still waiting for all the buses to be delivered by Tata Motors. The company says it can manufacture only 100 units a month in its newly developed facility in Lucknow. Now Delhi has placed another order for over 2,500 buses, this time dividing it between Tata and Leyland. Leyland says it will begin delivery some time next year and will also be able to manufacture only 100 units each month. Delhi adds 1,000 vehicles each day on to its roads. It desperately needs to overhaul its entire public transport system, now handled by individual operators. In this situation, it will need to order another 6,000-odd buses. But who will make them? For believers of a market-led economy, this question is a no-brainer. They will say if there is a demand for buses, manufacturers will crowd it. But this is precisely where we need to heed the call for change, Obama-style. We need to recognise the market needs a product that currently is outside the reach of consumers. The urban bus will cost more than current variants, because it requires components for comfort and convenience. Therefore, the challenge is to manufacture high-comfort but affordable buses-- a Nano-type solution. When Ahmedabad wanted to order the same-Delhi type buses, it found, to its horror, that bus companies quoted astronomical prices. It then had to settle for a standard diesel vehicle, tweaking its look with some creative bus body-building. The bus market is not the car market, and that's the problem. The latter has been carefully developed by manufacturers and credit agencies. So, even as manufacturers push and peddle their ware, they do little to push a vehicle that could take millions to their destinations. The bus is the poor person's vehicle and nobody wants to do business in it, for buses will have to be driven by agencies that agree to take up the business of transporting people in cities. Currently, all our bus companies operate in the red. It is easy to dismiss this problem by calling it the curse of inefficient public sector utilities, and so completely miss the point. The fact is even the most efficient modern bus service, in our poor cities, will cost more than the market can afford. Particularly if we want to get better buses on our roads, which means more capital investment. But even as we are willing to understand this affordability gap, when, say, it comes to subsidizing air travel, we refuse to do the same for buses. We will even subsidize cars, by charging them less road tax than a bus, or not charging them for their running cost. But we will never do this for buses. The Union ministry of surface transport has itself calculated that the combined losses of the state-run public utilities -- it was Rs 2,000 crore in 2004-05 -- would go down to less than Rs 900 crore if various Central and state taxes on bus companies were removed. It is, therefore, intentional policy that drives down this market. The policy is derived from an ideology that believes the market will fix everything, without considering how the market can be made to work where there is demand but less purchasing power or credit-worthiness. Why does this happen in a country where the majority still takes a bus to work? Why is the voice of the majority neutered in our democracy? Maybe this is why we need, most of all, to understand Barack Obama's victory, where the people spoke for change. Maybe, change is in the air. Read this editorial online >> http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=1 To comment, write to >> feedback at cseindia.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081126/42dccbf3/attachment-0001.html From cugambetta at yahoo.com Thu Nov 27 23:22:23 2008 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:52:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fw: H-ASIA: Remembering James Heitzman Message-ID: <259177.25242.qm@web57412.mail.re1.yahoo.com> ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Frank Conlon To: H-ASIA at H-NET.MSU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:07:37 PM Subject: H-ASIA: Remembering James Heitzman H-ASIA November 26, 2008 Remembering James Heitzman--please contact Professor Leslie Orr ************************************************************************ From: Leslie Orr Further to the sad news of the passing of James Heitzman, I would like to invite all interested parties to contact me regarding possible ways of recognizing and honoring his many contributions. - --Leslie From divyarrs at gmail.com Fri Nov 28 11:30:07 2008 From: divyarrs at gmail.com (divya r) Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:30:07 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Reminder--Join the Campaign to Reclaim Bengaluru. Yes Again! Saturday, 29th November, 5 pm. Town Hall In-Reply-To: <250ac9ab0811272157k1738dfc7xd44c1483e39af8f9@mail.gmail.com> References: <250ac9ab0811272157k1738dfc7xd44c1483e39af8f9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <250ac9ab0811272200q2321995bhfa98962a296e2d86@mail.gmail.com> Dear Friends, Parthiv Shah, a nine year old boy, came to the* Hasire Usiru *organised "*Walk to Reclaim Bengaluru" *on 9th November with a video camera. He did not know how to use it, and less so to edit the film. So enthused was he by what he had participated in, that he decided to make a short film on the Walk. Watch this impressive video where he is raising some really big and critical issues for our common attention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xm4BWq9cXQ Hundreds walked with Parthiv on that Sunday certain that Bangalore's problem of traffic congestion could not be resolved by road widening. What's more, they knew it was illegal. For hundreds who would lose their properties (homes and businesses), there is no compensation - only a promissory note called a TDR, without market value. For tenants, sorry no compensation. *No space left to plant trees. No space left for street vendors. * No space for street children. No space to walk or cycle. *For all the trouble, and destruction of our city, that widening over 100 roads would put us through, Bangalore's streets would be filled up with vehicles in less than five years. * This is mathematical certainly: because 1,500 vehicles are being added every day and nothing is being done to make people drive less. Will our authorities want to widen roads again in five years? How many more homes and businesses will they destroy then? Of course, then, they would not have any trees left to cut. As intelligent, concerned and logical people, we must take charge of our city. There are solutions that do not require making Bangalore a free for all motorway - killing and maiming hundreds. That is what road widening has already done - when in the rush to provide connectivity to the new airport, engineers and planners (Commissioners and Administrators) *simply forgot that people cross roads*. And that safe pedestrian crossings are an essential feature of road design. Study any or all of the designs for widening the 91 roads presently proposed, and it will be clear that there is simply no consideration for the Rights and Needs of pedestrians, cyclists, elderly, children, differently abled, etc. who also use our roads. Something is maddenningly wrong about this road widening project. Besides this mega project of road widening (costing Rs. 4,000 crores at least - that only for civil engineering) Bangalore is also being forced to accept a Metro that runs on elevated tracks, reducing road space, destroying our parks (Lal Bagh, Lakshman Rao Park, K. R. Road Park - already destroyed). The Metro can go underground, even if it would make it twice as expensive. *All that the Government needs to do is stop investing in wasteful projects*such as super high speed rail links for air travellers and elevated roads for the elite (they aren't paying these costs anyway). And put that money in the Metro and take it underground. That way, Bangalore will be able to retain its present charm and be ready for the future. But for all this to happen, you need to step out and Join the CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM BENGALURU. Again! Yes. Again! * Come with friends, family and colleagues to Town Hall, on 29th November 2008, Saturday, 5-7 pm. * *Be there to make your city your own. * Please circulate this message widely, along with the attached flyer. * * Environment Support Group Team for *Hasiru Usiru* - a progressive network of individuals and organisations to protect public and social spaces. -- "Only when the last tree has died And the last river has been poisoned And the last fish has been caught We will realize that we cant eat Money" http://captured-on-camera.blogspot.com -- "Only when the last tree has died And the last river has been poisoned And the last fish has been caught We will realize that we cant eat Money" http://captured-on-camera.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081128/c9f7dffb/attachment.html From esg at esgindia.org Tue Nov 25 16:22:47 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:22:47 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Join the Campaign to Reclaim Bengaluru. Yes Again! Saturday, 29th November, 5 pm. Town Hall Message-ID: <492BD8FF.2040405@esgindia.org> Dear Friends, Parthiv Shah, a nine year old boy, came to the/ Hasire Usiru /organised "*Walk to Reclaim Bengaluru" *on 9th November with a video camera. He did not know how to use it, and less so to edit the film. So enthused was he by what he had participated in, that he decided to make a short film on the Walk. Watch this impressive video where he is raising some really big and critical issues for our common attention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xm4BWq9cXQ Hundreds walked with Parthiv on that Sunday certain that Bangalore's problem of traffic congestion could not be resolved by road widening. What's more, they knew it was illegal. For hundreds who would lose their properties (homes and businesses), there is no compensation - only a promissory note called a TDR, without market value. For tenants, sorry no compensation. *No space left to plant trees. /No space left for street vendors. /* No space for street children. No space to walk or cycle. /For all the trouble, and destruction of our city, that widening over 100 roads would put us through, Bangalore's streets would be filled up with vehicles in less than five years. / This is mathematical certainly: because 1,500 vehicles are being added every day and nothing is being done to make people drive less. Will our authorities want to widen roads again in five years? How many more homes and businesses will they destroy then? Of course, then, they would not have any trees left to cut. As intelligent, concerned and logical people, we must take charge of our city. There are solutions that do not require making Bangalore a free for all motorway - killing and maiming hundreds. That is what road widening has already done - when in the rush to provide connectivity to the new airport, engineers and planners (Commissioners and Administrators) _simply forgot that people cross roads_. And that safe pedestrian crossings are an essential feature of road design. Study any or all of the designs for widening the 91 roads presently proposed, and it will be clear that there is simply no consideration for the Rights and Needs of pedestrians, cyclists, elderly, children, differently abled, etc. who also use our roads. Something is maddenningly wrong about this road widening project. Besides this mega project of road widening (costing Rs. 4,000 crores at least - that only for civil engineering) Bangalore is also being forced to accept a Metro that runs on elevated tracks, reducing road space, destroying our parks (Lal Bagh, Lakshman Rao Park, K. R. Road Park - already destroyed). The Metro can go underground, even if it would make it twice as expensive. _All that the Government needs to do is stop investing in wasteful projects_ such as super high speed rail links for air travellers and elevated roads for the elite (they aren't paying these costs anyway). And put that money in the Metro and take it underground. That way, Bangalore will be able to retain its present charm and be ready for the future. But for all this to happen, you need to step out and Join the CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM BENGALURU. Again! Yes. Again! * Come with friends, family and colleagues to Town Hall, on 29th November 2008, Saturday, 5-7 pm. * */Be there to make your city your own. /* Please circulate this message widely, along with the attached flyer. */ /* Environment Support Group Team for /Hasiru Usiru/ - a progressive network of individuals and organisations to protect public and social spaces. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081125/31b282bd/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Namma Raste_Flyer_TownHall_29thNov08.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 145007 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081125/31b282bd/attachment-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg_vcf.DEFANGED-14 Type: application/defanged-14 Size: 341 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20081125/31b282bd/attachment-0001.bin From esg at esgindia.org Sun Nov 30 17:36:33 2008 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:36:33 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fantastic Response for Campaign to Reclaim Bengaluru Message-ID: <493281C9.3020807@esgindia.org> 30 November 2008, Bangalore FANTASTIC RESPONSE FOR "CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM BENGALURU" Campaigners Light a Candle in memory of victims of senseless attacks in Mumbai Over 2,000 people gathered on the steps of the Town Hall in Bengaluru on the evening of 29^th November, Saturday, in a strong statement of strength against projects the destroy lives, livelihoods and greenery in Bangalore. This gathering was a follow-up to the /Walk to Reclaim Bengaluru /that was organised as an initiative of /Hasiru Usiru /on 9^th November. More details at _www.esgindia.org _. Everyone gathered held a candle through the evening in memory of the victims of the senseless attacks in Mumbai. A moment of silence was observed in memory of our brave soldiers and especially those who have laid down their lives to ensure safety for thousands. Major Unnikrishnan was especially remembered as a fellow Bangalorean who made the ultimate sacrifice in an act of extraordinary courage to protect his subordinates and the lives of tens of civilians caught in the cross fire. Saturday's gathering witnessed excellent response for communities affected by the road widening and Metro projects in Bangalore. The Avenue Road Traders Association decided to down shutters for the evening, and every shopkeeper along with workers trooped to Town Hall, raising slogans against the illegal and destructive road widening projects. Similarly, those affected by road widening in Chamrajpet, Infantry Road, Devanga Hostel Road, Tannery Road, Banaswadi Main Road, and tens of other roads joined this Campaign in large numbers. Bamboo weavers of K. R. Road joined this Campaign questioning why the Metro project could not go underground and save unnecessary destruction of livelihoods, homes, greenery and public spaces in Bangalore. The street that has sustained their livelihoods for over 40 years is now being claimed for the Bangalore Metro, in total contravention of Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act and various other laws. They protested against the threat to their livelihoods as the Metro displaces them but without in any manner compensating them as they are not property owners. Joining the Campaign, Dr. Hemachandra Sagar, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, called upon everyone gathered to build their strength and protest against projects that destroy the city, livelihoods and greenery. He demanded that the Government must involved the public and elected representatives in decisions relating to mega projects such as the Metro and road widening projects. He assured affected communities that he would raise their issues and concerns with the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He encouraged everyone concerned about the sustainable and just development of Bangalore to come out in large numbers and join the /Campaign to Reclaim Bangalore/. /Dr. Hemachandra Sagar, MLA, joins the Campaing and holds a Candle for the Mumbai Victims/ Representatives of various affected communities spoke at the Campaign. In particular, Sreedhar of Avenue Road Traders Association announced that the next major action in the Campaign would be to hold a festival of Old Bangalore including Avenue Road, Balepet, Chickpet, and other surrounding areas. Not only would this celebrate the spirit of old Bangalore, but would also serve as a major action to demand heritage status for such areas. He demanded that the Chief Minister must ensure that mere connectivity to the International Airport through high speed roads should not be at the cost of the lives and livelihoods of lakhs of traders, homeowners, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. Leo Saldanha of the Environment Support Group demanded an immediate stop to the illegal road widening programmes in light of many other progressive and less impacting solutions that could be implemented to relieve traffic congestion. He also called for diversion of unnecessary investment in elite projects such as high speed rail links and elevated roads to the airport and invest such monies in pushing the Metro underground to the benefit of all. Such visionary action would save Bangalore for today and ensure its strong future as well. Everyone gathered shouted slogans energetically demanding that unviable and unnecessary road widening projects must be abandoned. They called upon the government to play its role in ensuring just development and not keel under the pressure of the elite and invest in useless projects. They demanded that only lawful and sustainable projects must be implemented, and that too after consulting the public at large as required per law. Issued by Environment Support Group Team on behalf of /Hasiru Usiru --/ a progressive network of individuals, organisations and affected communities working to protect lives, livelihoods and public and social spaces in Bangalore. Environment Support Group, 105, East End B Main Road, Jayanagar 9^th Block East, Bangalore 560069. INDIA Tel: 91-80-22441977/26531339 Email: _esg at esgindia.org _ Web: _www.esgindia.org _ More pictures of the Campaign may be viewed at _http://picasaweb.google.co.in/leo.esgindia/NammaRaste_29Nov08_HasiruUsiru_ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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