Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: Some cloud cover and cool winds.
🧐 Did you know? Pata Kunita is a folk dance performed in groups by Vaishnava men during religious festivities in rural parts of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumkur, and Mandya. The dancers hold a decorated bamboo pole in their right hand and a cloth in their left hand while dancing.
🥏 India’s biggest drone
India’s largest all-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (e-UAV) is being tested in the city.
Story so far: The country’s largest vertical take-off drone is being ground-tested in Bengaluru. It will undergo the critical “Cruise Test” in two months. A special container truck transported the e-UAV from Chennai to the city.
- The drone was developed by The ePlane Company and incubated at IIT Madras. It can traverse 200 km at a speed of 160 km/hr.
- It has a take-off weight of 200 kg. The drone was displayed at a global conference on Short Haul Mobility on Monday.
Why it matters? Presently, drones in India can carry freight between 5 kg and 10 kg and fly a maximum distance of 30 km. Logistics company DHL, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the Indian Army, and the Indian Navy are interested.
- The ePlane company has also designed an electric flying taxi.
🚰 Rampant borewell drilling
The BWSSB doesn’t have the bandwidth to curtail borewell drilling.
Story so far: The city is witnessing a spike in illegal drilling of borewells. In 2019, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) refused permission to those digging borewells to cater to construction needs rather than the lack of water supply in the locality. However, the board has failed to enforce this.
- Rampant drilling could severely deplete the groundwater table. The BWSSB’s laxity might promote illegal drilling.
- People in neighbouring areas are running out of water. In Mahadevapura, where water used to be 900-1,200 feet below ground, it’s now below 1,700 feet.
Solutions: Civilians have devised a few ways to tackle the issue. Treated water could fulfil construction needs. People digging borewells could compensate for the groundwater by building recharge wells. It takes the responsibility off the BWSSB and shoulders it on residents.
🧱 An unconventional architecture studio
Taliesyn builds an unconventional studio space with unfinished materials in south Bengaluru.
Story so far: Taliesyn, an Indian architecture firm, has finished the design and construction of its office in Bengaluru. It’s a unique office space featuring textured walls and earthy materials. Founded in 2007 by designers GS Mahaboob Basha and Shalini Chandrashekar, the studio has projects across south India.
- The new studio is in south Bengaluru. It’s got two buildings – a two-storied studio and a material library inside a converted shipping container.
- The construction materials are exposed, and the buildings lack ornate finishing. The studio’s facade is split between terracotta blocks on the top and cement panels on the bottom.
The idea: Taliesyn’s design is an attempt to make its core values tangible. The architects wanted to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration in an unconventional studio space. They derived inspiration from the blend of materials on the studio site.
🚍 Feeder buses
Commuters can use the feeder buses running between Baiyappanahalli and KR Puram.
Story so far: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is operating 160 feeder bus services between Baiyappanahalli and KR Puram to help passengers avail of the nascent Whitefield metro line.
- After the new metro line became operational, several passengers were left confused about buses between the Baiyappanahalli and KR Puram stations.
- The lack of designated bus stops and signs is another issue. Some had to board regular buses that dropped them halfway at the Tin Factory stop.
Why it matters? The Baiyappanahalli-KR Puram metro line is yet to open. Until then, these feeder bus services will be indispensable for helping passengers move between the KR Puram-Whitefield and Kengeri-Baiyappanahalli lines.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever attended a circus?
- Yes, I have attended the circus.
- No, I haven’t attended the circus.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which language/s can you speak?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- BBMP launches 50 Ayushmati women’s clinics in primary health centres.
- Karnataka lays thrust on genome sequencing for tracking new Covid variants.
- A residential society imposed rules forbidding bachelors and spinsters from having guests after 10 pm.
- CM Basavaraj Bommai hopes to lay the foundation stone for a lift irrigation project before it finalises bids.
- Here’s a piece about the best restaurants offering Indian and international cuisines.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I’d like to live in a village: 27.3%
- I’d like to live in a city: 72.7% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!