Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? The Shivanasamudra Dam was Asia’s first hydroelectric power station.
🌧️ Rainwater harvesting pits sanctioned
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has approved a ₹2.5 crore project to construct 250 percolation pits and recharge borewells in city parks.
What’s it about? This initiative addresses the severe water shortages experienced in Bengaluru, aiming to enhance groundwater levels and mitigate future shortages. The project includes two main systems: percolation pits and borewell-recharge techniques.
- BBMP’s Deputy Director of Horticulture, Chandrashekhar MR, has emphasised that the benefits of rainwater harvesting will also be there for tree root moisture.
- Bengaluru’s water crisis, marked by critical shortages in March and April, prompted this initiative.
Huge deficit: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has highlighted a deficit of 500 million litres per day in the city, underscoring the urgency of sustainable water management measures like this one.
🎤 Smart systems for Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway
The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway will be equipped with the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) starting July 1.
What’s it about? ADGP Alok Kumar announced that the entire road network, including Mysuru district and city, will become a fully functional ITMS corridor, aiming to enhance traffic management and reduce road accidents.
- The system includes 250 ANPR cameras and 80 RLVD cameras.
- Installation costs are estimated at ₹8.5 crore, covering major roads in Mysuru.
Enhancing Road Safety: The ITMS initiative will extend to four major highways connecting Bengaluru to nearby taluks and districts. Plans also include integrating Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) for real-time traffic updates.
🪖 City firm sanctioned for aiding Russia
Japan has sanctioned a Bengaluru-based technology firm among at least 10 companies from multiple countries for allegedly assisting Russia in bypassing economic sanctions.
What’s it about? These measures, including asset freezes and export bans, were announced by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Other sanctioned countries on the list include China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and UAE.
- Japan’s punitive actions are under the country’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.
- The sanctions align with the G7’s ongoing efforts to penalise Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
G7 promises: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had emphasised at the G7 summit in Italy the importance of targeting entities aiding Russia in evading sanctions. These measures are part of a broader strategy to pressure Russia economically and diplomatically.
💼 State’s (job-fraud) capital
Bengaluru alone accounts for 6,905 of the state’s job fraud cases, making it the state’s hotspot for such scams.
What’s it about? Karnataka has seen a steady increase in online job fraud over the past five years, totalling 9,479 cases from January 2020 to May 2024. 73% of Karnataka’s online job frauds originate from Bengaluru.
- Victims include moonlighting techies, students, unemployed individuals, and fresh graduates.
- These frauds are an online extension of traditional job scams, with scammers targeting job seekers by mining their personal data from banks and other sources.
Trend slowing: Increased awareness is believed to be slowing the trend recently, but the numbers remain high. A shift has also occurred with some scam calls now originating from Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Is your residence fitted with rainwater harvesting measures?
- My residence is fitted with rainwater harvesting measures.
- My residence is not fitted with rainwater harvesting measures.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who is your biggest cheerleader?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Eleven locations tied to reputed builders were raided by the ED in the city.
- Bengaluru might see its wettest June in 157 years.
- Scheduled power cuts will be in effect from today due to BESCOM taking up essential maintenance projects.
- ReshaMandi laid off 80% of its staff due to funding issues.
- Biocon has received the nod from the European Medicines Agency to produce biosimilar cancer drugs.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- The Civil Service Examination is methodologically flawed: 87.5% 🏆
- The Civil Service Examination isn’t methodologically flawed: 12.5%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!