Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: It’s going to be a fun day if you like light rains and a gentle breeze.
🧐 Did you know? Bollywood hits Ghajini and 3 Idiots were both shot in Bengaluru. IIM Bangalore alumni can probably spot their classrooms and dorms in the latter!
🗳️ Low voter turnout
Despite many efforts by the Election Commission, civic bodies, and citizen groups, Bengaluru sees low voter turnout.
Story so far: Not even food can get Bengalureans to try their hands on voting machines. The city’s electoral trend of low voter turnout has prevailed this time around too, despite Karnataka breaking records with the highest-ever voter turnout since 1957.
- Provisional polling percentages showed Bengaluru Urban at 56.98%, BBMP Central at 55.45%, BBMP North at 52.88%, and BBMP South at 52.8%.
- The ECI had set the turnout target for Bengaluru at 65%.
Why it matters? This is despite high civic participation and the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to hold it on a weekday and not a long weekend. The BBMP had set up 264 theme-based polling booths.
🚀 ISRO’s success in its new facility
ISRO’s new semi-cryogenic stage testing facility successfully carries out the first integrated test.
Story so far: On May 10, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully executed the first integrated test on an intermediate configuration of its 2,000 kilonewtons (kN) Semi-Cryogenic Engine at the newly commissioned Semicryogenic Integrated Engine & Stage Test (SIEST) facility in Mahendragiri.
- It’s the first in a series of tests that will validate the low-pressure and high-pressure turbo-pumps, the gas generator, and the control components of the propellant feed system.
- It demonstrated the chill-down operation wherein after the Liquid Oxygen (LOX) circuit cooled, the kerosene feed circuit was topped up, and LOX was let into the gas generator by opening the injection valve.
Why it matters? The test was a key milestone before the complete integration of the engine. Its successful execution will help ISRO map out the entire operation sequentially for the future.
About SIEST: The shiny new facility has a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control system and data acquisition system. It can test semi-cryogenic engines up to 2600 kN thrust.
💸 What happened to the IFMS portal?
A Bengaluru-based NGO wrote to the state government to restore the BBMP’s financial transparency portal.
What it’s about? City-based Right to Information (RTI) NGO Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra (MHAK) has asked the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government about the recent closure of the Integrated Finance Management Services (IFMS) portal and the transfers worth ₹1,000 crore to contractors without the making the information public.
- MHAK dubbed the closure of the portal as a complete violation of transparency by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The IFMS portal was set up to ensure informing the public about the payments before they occurred.
- They argue that the portal being down for a whole month is illegal and impinges on the citizens’ right to information. They say bogus bills were paid to some contractors.
Tell me more? The IFMS portal allowed the BBMP to upload all documents associated with the projects undertaken by it. Apart from an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation, the MHAK has demanded immediate restoration of citizens’ access to the portal.
🌉 Check dam down in the dumps
Bengaluru’s smart city plan goes awry with Cubbon Park’s check dam turning into a waste dumping spot.
Story so far: The check dam built in Cubbon Park as part of the Bengaluru Smart City plan has soiled with plastic water bottles and chips packets thrown in. Check dam systems are often included in parks to improve water quality and control soil erosion.
- The dam is left unattended and without regular cleaning. It’s become a waste dumping spot. But that’s not the only problem.
- The dam water has started to stink and has become a mosquito breeding ground.
Problems on problems: Recently, when sanitation workers were cleaning the dam, they did so without proper equipment like gloves. Cleaning dirty water without equipment could be potentially hazardous.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Cook and learn all about food at APCA’s live demo class by a pastry and culinary chef on Saturday.
- Learn sculpting and clay modelling at this introductory workshop at Lahe Lahe on Saturday.
- Explore the skies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium shows in English and Kannada.
- If you like adventure and dancing, then check out Wonderla. It’s open all week!
- Sit together and share a bite at this Sunday picnic by Banjara and Gypsy.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I voted yesterday: 69.2% 🏆
- I did not vote yesterday: 30.8%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which apps have made life easier for you?
Rahul: “Food delivery apps (my hunter-gatherer ancestors are drooling :D)”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!