Comments on: Urban Development http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/ Conning people into thinking I'm intelligent. Since 1982. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:37:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Meera http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-113627 Meera Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:06:04 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-113627 <p>Swaroop, very interesting point on the need for information on various civic/public works happening in the city.</p> <p>But this is PUBLIC information and should be publicly available. Unfortunately in India, very often the only way to get public info is through the media or by using RTI.</p> <p>We are not competing with hyperbolic news channels. We have started the initiative with the premise that good and engaging local journalism can foster informed city-communities and better dialogue and discourse. As part of this, we will make available any "public" information that we are able to gather!</p> <ul> <li>Meera, Citizen Matters</li> </ul> Swaroop, very interesting point on the need for information on various civic/public works happening in the city.

But this is PUBLIC information and should be publicly available. Unfortunately in India, very often the only way to get public info is through the media or by using RTI.

We are not competing with hyperbolic news channels. We have started the initiative with the premise that good and engaging local journalism can foster informed city-communities and better dialogue and discourse. As part of this, we will make available any “public” information that we are able to gather!

  • Meera, Citizen Matters
]]> By: Pramod Biligiri http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-2703 Pramod Biligiri Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:30:38 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-2703 <p>Touche! Transparency and accountability are totally lacking in what happens to Bangalore. I don't mind official inaction as long as I know <i>what's</i> going on in the first place.</p> <p>CitizenMatters.in looks good!! I had high hopes from Janaagraha but of late they have been pretty low key.</p> <p>Also, don't shy away from this topic. Blog about it every time it strikes you. Any worthwhile idea bears repeating :)</p> Touche! Transparency and accountability are totally lacking in what happens to Bangalore. I don’t mind official inaction as long as I know what’s going on in the first place.

CitizenMatters.in looks good!! I had high hopes from Janaagraha but of late they have been pretty low key.

Also, don’t shy away from this topic. Blog about it every time it strikes you. Any worthwhile idea bears repeating :)

]]> By: Ravi http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-2702 Ravi Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:36:27 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-2702 <p>Hi Swaroop, Came here through a google alert that I subscribe to. Nice blog...very well expressed points of view. Ravi</p> Hi Swaroop, Came here through a google alert that I subscribe to. Nice blog…very well expressed points of view. Ravi

]]> By: John Samuel http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-2701 John Samuel Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:48:52 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-2701 <p>I do agree with you. There must be transparency in all the matters. Just like Singapore's Urban Development site which has details about their master plan, we too must have a vision and transparency of plans for our cities.Whatever we plan, it must be put before the public. Let all things be transparent, from the initial stage of planning to completion of a project. In fact I think IT can play a big role. Because everybody hates to stand in long queues and only quite a less people would approach the government offices to know about the projects being undertaken in their local areas. But if the information is available in a website, the public participation can be increased (which in turn will bring transparency)</p> I do agree with you. There must be transparency in all the matters. Just like Singapore’s Urban Development site which has details about their master plan, we too must have a vision and transparency of plans for our cities.Whatever we plan, it must be put before the public. Let all things be transparent, from the initial stage of planning to completion of a project. In fact I think IT can play a big role. Because everybody hates to stand in long queues and only quite a less people would approach the government offices to know about the projects being undertaken in their local areas. But if the information is available in a website, the public participation can be increased (which in turn will bring transparency)

]]> By: Swaroop http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-2700 Swaroop Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:11:58 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-2700 <p>@Anush: Sad to hear the state of affairs.</p> @Anush: Sad to hear the state of affairs.

]]> By: Anush Shetty http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/urban-development/#comment-2699 Anush Shetty Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:58:19 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/urban-development/#comment-2699 <p>I have been very actively involved in the protest against the Tree Cutting exercise in bangalore citing Metro/Intl Airport as the reason. I have attended so many meetings in the BBMP Office and everytime I am disappointed. They hardly listen to you. Though the law says that tree cutting initiatives should involve public too, they have never followed the rule book. Now what we have is tree-less Bellary Road, Nrupathunga Road, St Johns Road and many more to come.. </p> <p>As you rightly pointed out that sites like CitizenMatters are just competing with the hyperbolic news channels at the end of the day, I think we need some <em>public</em>, voluntary and participative initiative. No private media can fill in that requirement.</p> I have been very actively involved in the protest against the Tree Cutting exercise in bangalore citing Metro/Intl Airport as the reason. I have attended so many meetings in the BBMP Office and everytime I am disappointed. They hardly listen to you. Though the law says that tree cutting initiatives should involve public too, they have never followed the rule book. Now what we have is tree-less Bellary Road, Nrupathunga Road, St Johns Road and many more to come..

As you rightly pointed out that sites like CitizenMatters are just competing with the hyperbolic news channels at the end of the day, I think we need some public, voluntary and participative initiative. No private media can fill in that requirement.

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