Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? Legend has it that Bengaluru got its name from the Kannada words for boiled beans, ‘Bendha Kaalu’, that was offered to King Veera Ballala by a poor woman when he was lost in a jungle.
🔍 ‘40%’ probe resumes
The Justice HN Nagmohan Das Commission has resumed its investigation into the 40% commission allegations in BBMP works.
What’s it about? The commission issued a notice requesting detailed documentation on 75 projects executed between July 2019 and March 2023. In response, BBMP has assigned four executive engineers as nodal officers to provide the necessary information.
- The investigation will cover major departments including road infrastructure, stormwater drains, electrical, solid waste management, and lakes.
- The BBMP Contractors’ Association has also made new allegations of corruption, accusing engineers of harassment and undue demands during the bill payment process.
Court dissatisfied: This probe was reignited after the Karnataka High Court set a new deadline in February, expressing dissatisfaction with the delays.
🎮 Entertainment centres’ inspection ordered
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has directed the BBMP to inspect all entertainment centres in Bengaluru for fire safety compliance.
What’s it about? In a letter to BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, Shivakumar emphasised the need for stringent fire safety checks, particularly in shopping malls.
- The directive targets shopping malls with gaming zones and adventure sports, stressing compliance with fire safety regulations.
- The BBMP is tasked with taking suitable actions to avert disasters, ensuring all entertainment centres adhere to fire safety standards.
Rajkot haunts: The action likely comes in the wake of a tragic fire at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, which claimed 30 lives.
🚂 Summer special trains
The South Western Railway and East Central Railway are launching special summer trains from Bengaluru to Muzaffarpur, Sambalpur, and Bhubaneswar.
What’s it about? The South Western Railway will run two trains between SMVT Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar, and two more between SMVT Bengaluru and Sambalpur. The East Central Railway will operate two additional trips between Muzaffarpur and Yeshwantpur.
- Train number 05271 will depart from Muzaffarpur at 3:30 pm on May 31, reaching Yeshwantpur at 7:00 pm on Sunday, while train number 05272 will leave Yeshwantpur at 7:30 am on May 27 and June 3, arriving in Muzaffarpur by noon on Wednesday.
- Train number 06271 from SMVT Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar will leave at 12:10 am on May 31, arriving at 4:00 am the next day, and train number 06272 will return from Bhubaneswar at 6:30 am on June 2, reaching SMVT Bengaluru at 9:00 am the following day.
Summer spikes: The move has been undertaken to cater to the increased demand during the summer season which has caused a surge in passenger traffic.
🏗️ Sewage put to use
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is facilitating the use of surplus treated sewage from apartments and IT companies in construction.
What’s it about? The NGT’s Zero Liquid Discharge order mandates that all treated sewage be reused, prohibiting any discharge into roadside drains, with violations incurring fines of ₹5,00,000 per instance.
- The Indian Institute of Science has confirmed that treated sewage is safe for construction use, ensuring public health is not compromised.
- The KSPCB will also outline standards for treated water quality, enforce compliance, and propose ultra-filtration systems with Ozonation for transport logistics.
Stakeholder meeting: The KPSCB has also scheduled a meeting for May 29 at the Hotel Radisson on Outer Ring Road to connect stakeholders from the construction industry, residential complexes, and other sectors to facilitate the sale and usage of treated sewage.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever had a train journey without a confirmed ticket?
- I have travelled without a train ticket.
- I have not travelled without a train ticket.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What are some of your favourite games to play?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- 125 bags of trash were collected from the Yele Mallappa Chetty Lake in a clean-up by the Indian Ploggers Army.
- 12,192 traffic offences have been recorded in just 16 days on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway by the ANPR camera.
- More than 3,800 posts are lying vacant in the Bengaluru City Police force.
- A 2mn sq ft business park with hotels and a concert arena is underway at the Kempegowda International Airport.
- Bikes and autos are still plying on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway despite a nearly year-old ban.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I will be stocking up for the dry week: 33.3%
- I won’t be stocking up for the dry week: 66.7% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!