Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 34 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Clear sky
🧐 Did you know? Madiwala means ‘washerman’ in Kannada. It used to be a place where many washermen and washerwomen once resided.
💧 Replenishing Bengaluru’s water sources
Bengaluru’s civic authorities have launched a plan to combat the city’s water crisis by refilling drying lakes with treated water and enhancing groundwater replenishment.
Restoring lakes: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), aims to restore lakes and install filter borewells and water plants near them. Initially, lakes in Bellandur, Varthur, Nayandahalli, Herohalli, Attur, and Jakkur will be targeted.
- Bengaluru needs 2,100 million litres per day (MLD) of water, with a shortfall of 250 MLD due to reduced rains and groundwater exploitation.
- The government has taken control of private water tankers to manage water supply from sources outside the city.
Opposition protest: To address the water mafia issue, BWSSB has extended the registration deadline for water tanker owners to March 15. The Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has stated openness to constructive suggestions from the opposition BJP, which plans a protest against the alleged mismanagement of the water crisis.
♻️ Women ecopreneurs showcase green innovations
Over 30 women entrepreneurs presented their eco-friendly solutions at the ‘Bridging Gaps to Emerging Solutions’ event in Bengaluru, promoting sustainable development.
What’s it about? The event, organised by #GreenHustlers and Bharat Climate Startups, provided a platform for women-led businesses to showcase projects that support India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The keynote panel discussed public-private partnerships and funding for climate startups.
- Villgro’s Kalyani Krishna emphasised the role of incubators in supporting entrepreneurs.
- Sonika Choudhury of People + AI highlighted the importance of collaboration for innovation in the climate and sustainability space.
More events: The summit included rapid presentation sessions, interactive storytelling workshops, and an audience-voted favourite pitch. #GreenHustlers aims to foster an inclusive climate startup ecosystem in India.
🗿 Ancient self-sacrifice sculptures unearthed
Researchers from The Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project have discovered 14 sculptures depicting self-sacrifice practices from the 13th and 14th centuries in various locations across Bengaluru.
What’s it about? The sculptures were found at Begur, Bannerghatta, Doddagubbi, and Domlur, revealing a historical tradition of self-sacrifice to ward off evil and seek communal well-being. These acts were often performed to please deities during hardships or to express gratitude after overcoming calamities.
- The sacrifices were considered heroic acts for the greater good, such as overcoming drought or disease.
- Different styles of sacrifices are depicted, including beheading and jumping onto swords.
Honouring heroes: Some sculptures feature decorations indicating royal family members. The sacrifices were celebrated as heroic acts, with sculptures erected near temples to honour the individuals. A GIS-based digital archive of the findings is available online for public viewing.
✈️ Boost for advanced aircraft project
India’s most advanced aircraft project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), received a significant boost with a ₹15,000-crore approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
What’s it about? Based in Bengaluru, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has completed the design phase of the AMCA, a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and is now moving into the development phase. This project is considered the next major step after the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
- The AMCA project plans to build five prototypes, with the first expected to fly by the end of 2028.
- Stealth is a key feature, allowing the aircraft to complete missions without being detected by enemy radars.
More details: The AMCA will have advanced features like internal weapon bays and serpentine air intakes to reduce radar signature, making it more lethal. The project will initially use GE 414 engines and aims to start production and induction within ten years. The LCA programme’s success has laid the foundation for the AMCA project.
📊 Today’s Poll
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❓ Today’s Question
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When did you first fall in love?
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🗞️ In other news…
- Bengaluru hosted the Karnataka Police Run 10K/5K event, which raised awareness about the risks of drugs and narcotics.
- Two more Vande Bharat express trains will be connected to Bengaluru.
- aPaulogy gallery by artist Paul Fernandes showcases Bangalore of the ’70s.
- Bengaluru railway stations will get theme-based rail coach restaurants by the end of March.
- The BBMP has installed 301 CCTV cameras within the jurisdiction of the JB Nagar police station.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!