Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: Generally cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Bengaluru airport was the third greenfield airport under a public-private partnership in India, after the Hyderabad and Cochin airports.
🧑🏽🎓 New education policy push
The Karnataka government has established a 15-member commission to draft a new state education policy, replacing the National Education Policy (NEP).
What’s it about? This move comes as a part of the state’s initiative to review and enhance the education system across schools and higher education institutions in Karnataka. The initiative was announced by the Karnataka Higher Education Minister and comes after the state government decided to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP) and introduce a State Education Policy (SEP).
- The commission is expected to work on policies aimed at increasing enrolment, expanding education with improved quality, and ensuring equal access to quality education for all individuals.
- The members of the commission include experts from various fields related to education.
Localised approach: The move to replace the NEP with a state-specific education policy underscores the state’s intent to have a more localised approach to the education policy framework.
🛬 Need for a second airport
Bengaluru is projected to require a second airport by 2032-33 due to an anticipated surge in passenger count to 92 million annually.
What’s it about? As Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is expected to reach its maximum capacity by 2030, there’s a pressing need for a second airport. The city’s rapid growth and increasing air traffic necessitate this expansion.
- The KIA is on track to reach its structural capacity in the next decade.
- For FY2023, the passenger count is expected to increase by 25% from the previous year to 40 million.
CEO’s concern: The urgency is further underscored by the airport’s CEO, Hari Marar, who has expressed concern over the airport reaching its capacity even before the first half of the concession period is over.
🧑🏽⚖️ Illegal hoardings: BBMP lambasted by HC
The Karnataka High Court criticized the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its laxity towards the rampant illegal hoardings in Bengaluru, branding it as the city’s “first enemy”.
What’s it about? The court’s remarks came while hearing petitions on illegal hoardings and flexes in Bengaluru. Commercial hoarding operators are supposed to remit fees to the BBMP, but collusion with advertisers has led to a surge in unauthorised hoardings, causing financial loss for BBMP and burdening citizens.
- The court directed BBMP to conduct a comprehensive survey of hoardings, advertisement boards, and flexes across the city, focusing on permissions granted, fees collected, and unauthorised structures.
- It also urged decisive action against officials neglecting their duty to curb illegal hoardings, with 242 notices already issued to erring junior officers.
Past action: This issue has been persistent, with previous criticism during the May Assembly elections for inaction against unlawfully erected flex banners. The government banned hoardings during political gatherings, and BBMP fined several firms, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, for displaying banners on Queen’s Road.
♻️ Christ University’s sustainability drive
Bengaluru’s small sustainable businesses displayed their products at Christ University’s “Jharokha – A Window to a Sustainable World” event, aimed at promoting sustainability and cultural heritage.
What’s it about? Through the Hazaar Bazaar fair, part of the Jharokha event, various sustainable businesses, like Tengin, Masmara, and Bas Ek Pal, showcased and sold their products, engaging over 1,000 visitors and successfully earning between ₹7,000 to ₹9,000 on average.
- These businesses work closely with local artisans and farmers, promoting local products, and enhancing livelihoods.
- Workshops like Block by Block and Re-Culture imparted practical skills to students while promoting sustainable practices.
Sustainability and heritage: The event, organized by the Liberati student association, not only aimed at promoting sustainability but also at fostering an appreciation for Indian heritage, as seen in the varied range of products and workshops offered, merging sustainability with cultural exposure.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Watch the India vs Pakistan ODI World Cup match this Saturday at Fandom at Gilly’s Redefined.
- Learn Salsa by joining the Introduction to Salsa Dancing workshop this Saturday.
- Want to be a poet? Attend a fun poetry writing workshop this Saturday to hone your skills.
- Enjoy live music performances at IISc’s Rhapsody 2.0 event this weekend.
- Watch Ashwin Srinivas’ comedy standup this Saturday at Wire Up.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I live in an apartment complex: 44.4%
- I live in a private house: 55.6% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!