Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: High: 35 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky.
🧐 Did you know? The Kannada term “Pourakarmika” combines “Poura” meaning “citizen” and “Karmika” meaning “labourer,” referring to individuals who work to clean the city.
🚰 Plummeting groundwater levels
TV Ramachandra from IISc’s Energy and Wetlands Research Group highlights the severe depletion of groundwater in Bengaluru due to urban development.
To the depths: Ramachandra pointed out that the groundwater level in Bengaluru has plummeted from 100 feet to 1,800 feet over the years, with no water being found at this depth. He attributed this to the loss of lakes and green cover in the city.
- Bengaluru has witnessed a 1,055% increase in concrete area and an 18% loss in vegetation cover over five decades.
- The city has also experienced a 79% loss of water bodies, further exacerbating the groundwater situation.
What should be done? Ramachandra emphasised the importance of setting up a Bengaluru Lake Information System (BLISS) to monitor the city’s 193 lakes. He stressed the need for measures to preserve wetlands and forest cover, particularly in the Cauvery basin, to ensure sustainable water resources for Bengaluru’s residents.
🍛 From Banking to Idlis
Krishnan Mahadevan transitions from investment banker to successful restaurateur, running the popular Iyer Idly in Bengaluru.
The journey: Krishnan Mahadevan, once an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, left his lucrative job to take over his family’s restaurant business, Iyer Idly, founded by his father in 2001. The restaurant is renowned for its delicious idlis and has become a staple for food lovers in Bengaluru.
- Iyer Idly sells over 50,000 idlis monthly and has recently expanded its menu to include Vada, Kesari Bhaat, and Khara Bhaat.
- After his father’s demise in 2009, Krishnan and his mother took full responsibility for the business, leading to his decision to leave his banking career.
The startup bug: The success story of Krishnan Mahadevan highlights the growing entrepreneurial spirit in India, where individuals are increasingly willing to pursue their passions and dreams, even at the cost of leaving secure, high-paying jobs.
💰 CureSkin’s Series B boost
CureSkin secures $20 million in Series B funding, led by HealthQuad, to enhance AI capabilities and expand operations.
Scaling ops: The consumer healthcare startup, founded in 2017, specializes in AI-driven skin condition detection and care. The fresh funds will be used to scale operations, strengthen technology, and widen distribution. CureSkin has previously participated in the Google Launchpad Accelerator Programme 2019.
- This investment brings CureSkin’s total funding to $26 million.
- Over 70% of CureSkin’s users are from Tier III locations, aligning with HealthQuad’s mission to address healthcare accessibility and affordability in India.
Investors list: The round saw participation from existing investors including JSW Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Sharrp Ventures.
🧹 New uniforms for pourakarmikas
BBMP plans to procure new uniforms for pourakarmikas at a cost of ₹7.3 crore, considering their preferences for colour and texture.
What’s it about? The decision comes in response to pourakarmikas’ demands for new, blue uniforms, replacing the current green and orange ones. The BBMP will provide two aprons, saris with blouses, sweaters, and caps for female workers, and T-shirts, track pants, sweaters, and caps for male workers. The procurement will be done through the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation.
- The allocation for women’s uniforms is ₹4,811, and for men’s, it is ₹3,578, excluding GST.
- BBMP will consult with pourakarmikas’ representatives to finalize the uniforms’ quality, colour, and prices.
Durable clothing: The move aims to ensure pourakarmikas have quality uniforms that last at least a year without damage. The BBMP is taking steps to address their needs and improve their working conditions.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you believe in the concept of a soulmate?
- I believe in the concept of a soulmate.
- I don’t believe in the concept of a soulmate.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which Shakespearean play do you like the most?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore may change its name to Royal Challengers ‘Bengaluru’.
- A ‘One station, one product’ kiosk has been inaugurated at Bengaluru’s SMVT station.
- Shriram Properties has initiated a new residential project in Bengaluru.
- A new waste transfer unit has been established in Ejipura.
- 49,732 shops in Bengaluru have adhered to the rule requiring 60% Kannada on signboards, with 625 still non-compliant.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I usually wear the left shoe first: 62.5% 🏆
- I usually wear the right shoe first: 37.5%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!