Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.
🧐 Did you know? The Old HAL Airport was the only one in the world where civil and defence aircraft used to operate from the same airstrip.
💦 Water charges hike likely
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in charge of Bengaluru development, has suggested a potential increase in water charges for the city.
What’s it about? Highlighting the financial difficulties faced by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Shivakumar noted that the board has not been able to initiate new projects due to its loss-making status.
- The water tariff in Bengaluru has not been revised in the past ten years, leading to significant financial losses for the BWSSB.
- The state government recently increased the sales tax on fuel, making petrol and diesel costlier by ₹3 and ₹3.5 per litre, respectively.
Dire need: Shivakumar emphasised that with 70% of BWSSB’s expenses going towards power bills and labour costs, the board is in dire need of financial restructuring to undertake new projects like the ongoing Cauvery fifth phase water supply project.
🛣️ Following Hyderabad
Bengaluru will emulate Hyderabad in constructing the long-delayed 74-kilometre Peripheral Ring Road (PRR).
What’s it about? Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state government plans to return 40% of the land to farmers, suggesting that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) may notify additional properties for acquisition in the future.
- Previously, the government intended to provide cash compensation to farmers for the PRR, with the BDA estimating land acquisition costs at around ₹21,000 crore and construction costs at approximately ₹7,000 crore.
- Shivakumar criticised this proposal, highlighting discrepancies in compensation structures between the PRR project and other layout developments.
Benefitting locals: The government favours a land-pooling model, successfully used in states like Gujarat (Sardar Patel Ring Road) and Hyderabad (60-metre-wide Ring Road). The model aims to return 40% of value-appreciated land back to the farmers, ensuring that local residents also benefit from the new infrastructure project.
🚕 Cabbies at risk
A study by NIMHANS’ Department of Epidemiology reveals that app-based cab drivers in Bengaluru face heightened risks of non-communicable diseases.
What’s it about? The researchers interviewed 340 drivers, each with at least one year of experience, through in-person and video calls. Drivers were found working an average of 8.7 hours per day, six days a week, leading to significant lifestyle and health challenges.
- The study identified multiple NCD risk factors among the drivers, including physical inactivity (78%), tobacco use (22%), and alcohol consumption (16.8%).
- 97% of drivers exhibited one or more NCD risk factors. Drivers were five times more likely to consume unhealthy diets, 9.3 times more likely to use tobacco, and four times more likely to be overweight due to long working hours.
Policy intervention sought: Dr Gautham Melur Sukumar, the study’s principal investigator has urged legislation for NCD prevention programs, basic occupational health services, and social security provisions for cab drivers to mitigate these risks.
💐 Kempegowda Jayanti plans
The 515th birth anniversary of Bengaluru’s founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, will be celebrated statewide on June 27.
What’s it about? Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that each taluk will receive ₹1 lakh, and district headquarters will get an additional ₹50,000 to organise cultural activities and events for the anniversary.
- In Bengaluru, the venue for the celebrations is yet to be decided, with Kanteerava Stadium and Palace Grounds being considered.
- A committee chaired by BL Shankar will select recipients for the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Award.
Tomb and fort: Plans are also in place to develop Kempegowda’s tomb and fort, with 10 acres identified in Devanahalli and five acres near Sumanahalli on Magadi Road for constructing the Kempegowda Authority’s head office.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do utility hikes make you view the government negatively?
- Utility hikes make me view the government negatively.
- Utility hikes do not make me view the government negatively.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How can cab drivers’ work conditions be made better?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- A Bengaluru couple found a live snake taped to their delivered Amazon package.
- Yelahanka residents have complained about steam and noise emissions from the Yelahanka Gas Plant.
- Former Councillor G Krishnappa has been appointed as the head of Bengaluru’s Guarantee Committee.
- KIA Terminal-1’s facelift is set to begin by August.
- BBMP will be demolishing illegal constructions in Whitefield’s White Rose Layout soon.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I would rent my roof to install a mobile tower: 11.1%
- I would not rent my roof to install a mobile tower: 88.9% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!