Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny skies and pleasant wind.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru stands at an average elevation of 920 metres. For comparison, Chennai’s average elevation is 6.7 metres, Chandigarh’s 321 metres, and Lonavala’s is 624 metres.
🥥 A coconut shell crisis
The city’s lone processing plant is inadequate in ridding the problem of coconut litter.
Story so far: Who doesn’t like drinking tender coconut water in the summer? But the increase in profits for coconut vendors brings with it the problem of discarded coconut shells littering the roads and pavements. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) operates only one coconut shell processing plant.
- Bengaluru generates around 300 tonnes of coconut shells on a typical summer day. The BBMP plant can process only 40 tonnes of coconut shells.
- Plant workers also complain about an insufficient workforce. Earlier, the BBMP had floated a tender for another plant, but the project hasn’t come through.
Why it matters? Coconut shells are processed into cocopeat, a fertiliser for plants. They are also processed into coir, a fibre for making ropes and mattresses. With the Palike taking a backseat, private firms are attempting to set up a new plant.
🛺 Protesting auto drivers detained
Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers were detained after launching a strike against bike taxis.
Story so far: Bengaluru’s autorickshaw drivers have been on strike to demand that the government ban bike taxis. Amidst this, the police detained several autorickshaw drivers at the City Armed Reserve Headquarters ground.
- The number of detainees remains contested. The General Secretary of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union said that 300 drivers near the railway station were detained.
- The union’s president alleges that the police detained 500 drivers near the railway station. He said that the total number of detainees across the city is 2,000.
Why it matters? The autorickshaw unions argue that bike taxis have been operating unlawfully in the city. It diminishes the former’s earnings. Union leaders have attempted to prevent all autorickshaw drivers from running during their strike.
😋 Samosa entrepreneurs clear the air
Samosa Singh’s founders clear some misinformation about their food-tech business.
Story so far: The couple behind Samosa Singh, a city-based food-tech company that sells traditional Indian snacks with a modern twist, was recently in the news. The entrepreneurs share their bewilderment at the claims made by some media outlets.
- Co-founder Nidhi Singh clarified that they did not earn ₹45 crore annually, as suggested in the news. It is Samosa Singh’s annual run rate.
- The founders initially prioritised B2B operations because of financial restrictions. They supplied cinemas, the aviation industry, and corporate clients. Later, they turned to the cloud kitchen business.
Why samosas? The founders have been clear about their vision since day one. They realised that though samosas were immensely popular, they were sold mostly in the unorganised market. They decided to fill in the gap by creating samosas consistent in quality and taste.
🇮🇪 St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Prominent Bengalureans and the Irish community celebrated St Patrick’s Day together.
Story so far: At Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s exclusive gathering to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, the city’s Irish community and locals were dressed and coloured in green. Bengaluru’s connection with Ireland runs deep. Shaw conceived the idea to set up the Science Gallery in Bengaluru while studying at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
- Former badminton player Prakash Padukone, MAP founder Abhishek Poddar, and TTK Prestige chairman TT Jagannathan attended the gathering with their spouses.
- Shaw opined that India and Ireland share great synergy in the technology and life sciences vision.
Who said what? Elaine Kennedy, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland to India, said 2023 is the centenary of Ireland’s inclusion in the League of Nations (now United Nations). It is also the 25th year after the Good Friday agreement.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you remember names easily?
- Yes, I can remember names easily.
- No, I can’t remember names easily.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What are some things you can’t step out of your house without?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Despite JAC’s withdrawal, a section of the transport union will continue with their strike.
- The ‘Stop Tobacco’ app has seen 50 complaints against public smokers on its portal.
- The Bengaluru Police collect ₹12 crore in traffic fines.
- Bescom nears its completion of laying high-tension wires underground.
- Indian Oil Corporation flagged off a luxury car and bike rally for International Women’s Day.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have used a dating app: 47.1%
- I have never used a dating app: 52.9% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s a new skill you’d like to pick up?
Datta: “Ability to say No”
SriKanth: “Kalaripayattu”
Rahul: “Beat ChatGPT in its own game”
Raghuram: “I’d like to skill up to impress girls”
Vedant: “Bartending”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!