Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌦️ Today’s weather: Light rain and some winds.
🧐 Did you know? Nilgiris on Brigade Road used to be Nilgiris Dairy Farm when it moved to Bengaluru in 1936. During World War II, this famous landmark was the only establishment on Brigade Road to allow Italian prisoners of war to visit.
🆘 Safety booths for SOS situations
The Bengaluru police have introduced around 30 ‘Safety Island’ devices across the city.
What’s it about? The safety booths are strategically placed in areas with high female footfall. These telephone booth-like structures, painted in blue, serve as a lifeline for those in distress who may be unable to access their mobile phones.
- People can contact nearby police stations through these booths. Each safety island is equipped with CCTV cameras, providing real-time updates to the police regarding the person seeking assistance.
How it works: People can access these devices by pressing the SOS button, which connects them to the nearby control room. The police staff promptly respond based on the caller’s situation, ensuring swift assistance. These devices serve as an alternative to the toll-free emergency number 112.
💧 Drying borewells cause water shortage
Delays in monsoon and sparse rain have caused borewells to dry in Bengaluru’s peripheries.
Water trouble: Bengaluru is facing a water shortage crisis due to a delay in the monsoon and scanty rainfall. While the city’s core areas are less affected, the 110 villages added to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2008 are experiencing the brunt of it.
- In Kalkere, for instance, residents have been deprived of water supply for nearly 20 days, as two out of three borewells in the area have dried up, leaving only one non-functional borewell.
- Approximately 20 borewells in the vicinity have dried up. It’s distressed around 100 families who now depend on water tankers for their needs.
Root causes: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been delaying providing Kaveri water supply. The BBMP is blamed for neglecting borewell maintenance. Residents claim that the BBMP-appointed contractor has been postponing repair works for nearly 20 days.
🚰 Drinking water amenities at Richmond Park
On Monday, Richmond Park unveiled a new drinking water facility.
Story so far: The Inner Wheel Club of Bangalore (IWCB), in partnership with the Citizens’ Welfare Association of Richmond Town and Langford Town, received support from the Palike to execute the ‘Water for Life’ project. It will be led by former ICWB presidents who plan to undertake similar ventures annually in the Central Business District (CBD).
- With an estimated cost of ₹1.3 lakh, the initiative aims to provide people with vital drinking water amenities.
- The water cooler will cater to the needs of park visitors, vendors, traffic police, and others in the vibrant area.
🍅 Tomatoes at ₹125
Tomato prices have risen above ₹100 due to supply disruptions.
What’s it about? The unusual rise in tomato prices will make La Tomatina seem like a wasteful extravagance. The price of tomatoes in the state has soared over the past few weeks, reaching a staggering 200% increase. This surge in price has led to a kilogram of tomatoes being priced at ₹125, compared to ₹40 in May.
- The tomato trading hub in Kolar, known for its significant tomato trade, witnessed crates of tomatoes being sold for ₹1,080-1,100 on Monday. Traders in Bengaluru acquired them at even higher prices.
- While the surge will benefit tomato farmers, its end-users are already feeling the pinch as they are compelled to shell out more.
Why though? The price hike is attributed to supply disruptions from tomato-growing districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, and Bengaluru Rural. The spread of the ‘white fly’ disease has led to crop losses. Farmers, facing previous years’ losses, opted for alternative vegetables instead of growing tomatoes.
- The high perishability of tomatoes has affected their availability in the market, with the shelf life decreasing from 54 to 42 hours during transit.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever contacted the BBMP for a civic issue?
- I have contacted the BBMP for civic issues.
- I haven’t contacted the BBMP for civic issues.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s a family recipe you would like your future generations to have?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The BBMP bans animal sacrifice on Bengaluru roads and public places.
- Golfer Aditi Ashok is chosen for the Karnataka government’s Kempegowda Award.
- PM Modi flagged off the inaugural Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Dharwad.
- The surge in dengue cases in Bengaluru puts Dakshina Kannada’s health departments on alert.
- While free BMTC (non-AC) buses reportedly affected autos, Namma metro sees increased ridership.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have attended Happy Streets: 12.5%
- I haven’t attended Happy Streets: 87.5% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!