Good morning, Bengaluru!
đŚď¸ Todayâs weather: Thundershowers and light winds.
đ§ Did you know? Tickellâs thrush is a passerine bird common in the Himalayas. During winters when they migrate to Nepal and southern India, they can be sighted in Bengaluru too.
đ Books of Church Street
Book shops on Church Street are gifts that keep on giving.
Story so far: Anyone who boasts of having their nose inside a book for the better part of the day knows the value of Bengaluruâs Church Street. With bookstores in different formats, all confined to one location, itâs a haven for bookworms. Recently, historian Ramachandra Guha called it the essence of the city.
- Guha would often visit the bookshops one after the other and return home with a bag full of books. There is Select Bookstore, Bookworm, Blossoms, and Goobeâs.
- In these stores, one will find a wide array of genres. One can discover 50-year-old copies of âMan-eaters of Kumaonâ by Jim Corbett, Tiger Roars by Kenneth Anderson, and âMathematics can be funâ by Mir Publishers.
The aesthetic: Some of these stores have turned into institutions. PhD students frequent them as often as they would attend university. And it shows. The stores generally have faded walls, musty smells, and a keen bookkeeper.
đ´ World Bicycle Day
The cityâs Rotary Club organised a cyclothon to mark World Bicycle Day.
Story so far: On Saturday, the Rotary Club of Bangalore celebrated World Bicycle Day with over 75 people participating in their cyclothon. The United Nations recognises June 3 as World Bicycle Day to spread awareness about the benefits of cycling for health and the environment.
- Professional and amateur cyclists embarked on a 35-km ride that traversed south and central Bengaluru.
- The Rotary Club felicitated two Guinness World Record holders for the longest journey by bicycle in a single country.
Why it matters? Many people harbour a passion for cycling, and the event was an opportunity to celebrate it. Itâs one of the many efforts to build an active community in the city and increase the practice of sustainable travel.
đ¸ Tax rebate deadline extended
Bengaluruâs municipal corporation extends the deadline for a 5% property tax rebate to June 30.
Story so far: On Thursday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) extended the previous deadline for the 5% rebate on property tax, which was April 30. The new last date, June 30, will apply to those yielding property taxes on or before June 30. For those who paid in May, the rebate will be adjusted in their subsequent tax payment.
- The deadline push is at the behest of Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar.
- The decision was made keeping in mind that the BBMPâs election duties had come in the way of many people being able to pay on time.
Tell me more? Typically, the BBMP extends a 5% rebate at the beginning of the financial year and extends it for another month. However, this time, the extension was not offered to property owners due to a code of conduct restriction.
đď¸ New promises for Bellandur Lake
The new guard has set 2024 as the deadline to remove sewage from Bellandur Lake.
Story so far: On May 31, the new environment and forest minister, Eshwar Khandre, set a new date, 2024, as the new deadline for the completion of Bellandur Lakeâs rejuvenation and ridding it of sewage. He also directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officials to carry the silt loads at night to avoid contributing to daytime traffic.
- The minister confirmed that the lakeâs rejuvenation was delayed partly due to the officials facing technical issues.
- Nine new sewage treatment plants are being installed while five old ones will be upgraded to treat the 550 Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) of sewage.
Whatâs the fuss? In 2017, a wetland specialist discovered that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Boardâs (KIADB) activities had reduced the size of the stormwater drain (SWD) connecting Bellandur Lake from the city market. It exacerbated the problem of garbage dumping and blocked drains.
đ Today’s Poll
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Can you locate Bengaluru on Karnatakaâs map?
- Yes, I can pinpoint Bengaluru on the map.
- No, I need help finding Bengaluru on the map.
â Today’s Question
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What do you think is the cityâs signature food?
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đď¸ In other newsâŚ
- Apple partner Imagine inaugurated a new store at Bengaluruâs Forum Mall.
- The Balasore train accident continues to affect peopleâs travel from Bengaluru.
- Read about the Bangalore Palace here.
- Pickpockets exploit political distractions in Bengaluru.
- The Karnataka government has issued guidelines for benefiting from Yuva Nidhi.
Thatâs it for today. Have a great day!