Concerns over glass facade

Good morning, Bengaluru!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Sunny with some haze.

🧐 Did you know? The city gets most of its drinking water from the Kaveri. Its impressive 95 km journey takes it to Shiva Anicut. From here, it travels to the Mandya district to be pumped to Bengaluru. Kabini, a tributary of the Kaveri, travels 140 km to reach Mandya.

🪧 Dharna against waste processor

Residents are up in arms against a nearby waste processing unit.

Story so far: Residents from Banashankari 6th stage announced an indefinite dharna to demand the shifting or closure of a waste processing unit (WPU) in the neighbourhood. The residents allege that the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) unit emits a sickening stench and is potentially hazardous to people’s health.

A resident revealed that the WPU processes 200 tonnes of waste, amounting to almost 30 truckloads worth of garbage every day. Its proximity to the Banashankari 6th stage has upended the lives of children and the elderly who complain of lung infections.
Another resident reveals that the WPU has created a conducive habitat for an increased mosquito and fly populations which swarm the friendly, nearby houses. The same resident fears that there might be leachate percolation in the groundwater.

Why it matters? The WPU has been under fire since 2021. First set up in 2014, the WPU was closed down in 2021 by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Since some technical errors beset the old waste unit, NGT directed the BBMP to secure a fresh environment clearance. But the BBMP delayed its renewal by asking the Supreme Court for more time.

The civic body obtained a provisional nod from the Pollution Control Board for operating the plant, subject to meeting the board’s stipulations. Later, the PCB revealed that BBMP has failed to comply with its norms.

BSWML’s response: According to BSWML’s chief engineer, the protestors’ demand to shut the facility is implausible since waste processing is critical to the city’s wellbeing. It was set up in the public interest, but issues with its functionality, if they exist, can be resolved.

🌆 Glass facade concerns

Buildings with a glass facade could be fatal for birds and the environment.

Story so far: Being one of the most developed cities in the country, Bengaluru has its fair share of high-rise buildings wrapped in glass facades. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) noted concerns about the environmental impact of glass facades of buildings in the city. The petitioner contended that such buildings reflect solar radiation to surrounding areas.

The petitioner revealed that Karnataka’s State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) had issued two different environmental clearances for glass facades. In 2016, it restricted glass use by 40%, while in 2019, it redacted the stipulation.
The statutory body directed SEIAA to present a detailed and scientific report on the matter. It further invited an explanation of the two contradictory clearances.

Why it matters? The petitioner submitted a host of evidence to the NGT to support his claim. According to the Indian Institute of Science, glass facade buildings raise energy consumption to more than ten times that of non-glass buildings. The excessive use of air conditioning further contributes to ozone depletion.

The petitioner also spotlighted the plight of birds that crash into the illusory glass facade buildings. Per the Audubon report, 90,000 birds crash into buildings in New York every year.

🧑‍🌾 Plots for farmers

Authorities consider devising a plot allocation system based on fairness and justice.

Story so far: At the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) head office, a high-level meeting debated distributing land-losing farmers with a portion of the developed land within their property rather than some other. The officials considered using a randomisation technique to apportion the land.

During the meeting, the BDA commissioner stressed the need for greater coordination between the multiple boughs and branches of the BDA to better address the needs of the public.
The commissioner was keen to digitise the BDA’s interaction with the public to expedite responses. He reviewed the issues that the allottees of Arkavathy and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout face so that they could be addressed.

What’s the sitch? Currently, farmers who lose their land to development projects are allotted plots on other lands. This becomes a burning issue when one watches their land situated in a prime spot be allotted to others while one has to make do with compensatory plots in far-off, less lucrative properties.

While computerised randomisation is already a thing in land allotments, this would be the first time the BDA would allot farmers some percentage of their own land. The commissioner said that this system is being considered to ensure justice.

🚺 SHE toilets

E-toilets will promote inclusive community access and involvement in public spaces.

Story so far: The BBMP plans to introduce a hundred SHE toilets, a fully automated public toilet facility for women. SHE toilets have previously been introduced in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Kerala, but have run into upkeep issues. According to a toilets campaigner, this is a forward-thinking move that should be implemented with the same hyperopia.

Under the PPP model, the Palike identified a hundred suitable locations for the e-toilets. Each unit will have a toilet, a sanitary napkin vending machine, a feeding room, and a foyer room.
The project will be executed in a public-private partnership. Each unit is expected to cost ₹18 lakh, for which a tender has been floated already. While most e-toilets of this kind have a user fee, the BBMP resolved to not do so.

Why it matters? Women’s access to public spaces is severely limited in India due to gender insensitivity in urban planning and a climate of unsafety. The new toilets will cater to the previously ignored needs of women, such as sanitary pads and feeding stations.

This move is expected to increase women’s access to public spaces, ensure their hygiene and safety, and make life more comfortable for daily commuters.

📊 Today’s Poll

(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)

Do you like listening to Coke Studio music?

Yes, I enjoy listening to Coke Studio music.
No, I don’t enjoy listening to Coke Studio music.

❓ Today’s Question

(Only subscribers can submit their answers)

Which famous person, presently alive, do you find inspiring, and why?

Reply to this email with your answers.

🗞️ In other news…

Health Minister Sudhakar agrees to hike ASHA workers’ honorarium.
Here’s a piece about Vishnu Tenkalaya, a Bengalurean who was a videographer at Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra’s wedding.
Bengalureans claim their monthly electricity bills have spiked.
Anand Mahindra tweeted a video of a man making music with vessels while working at a food stall.
Karnataka Legal Services Authority proposes to extend the deadline of a 50% rebate on traffic fines.

🛋️ Local Lounge

Yesterday’s Poll:

I can fly a kite: 63.5% 🏆
I don’t know how to fly a kite: 37.5%

Answers to Yesterday’s Question:

What is your idea of a good weekend?

Sriranga: “Take Activa and go on a long ride somewhere outside the city on Saturday and a screen-free Sunday. This helps me to be perfectly recharged for Monday.”

That’s it for today. Have a great day!

Concerns over glass facadeC