GENRE: Explainers

(In Part 1, data analysts explained how they arrived at a definition of water security. In Part 2, the analysts explained the methodology used in estimating the Cauvery index and the results have been obtained. In continuation, part 3 will explain the methodology used in estimating the remaining indices and its results) Groundwater index Borewell count: The OpenCity borewell dataset was used to map borewells into Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) wards and compute the number of borewells per ward. Assuming an average yield of 5,000 litres/day, water supply from borewells was normalised with ward population and the wards were…

(In Part 1 of the series, data analysts explained how they arrived at a definition of water security and created a location-specific index. In Part 2, the analysts will explain the methodology used in estimating the use of the Cauvery index and how the results have been obtained) The variables (below) were indexed and weighted with the Cauvery index, which was prioritised due to its significant impact on Bengaluru’s water security. Groundwater and land-use indices, being interdependent, received equal weights, followed by the governance index. Here is a summary table: Parent IndexVariableWeight AssignedCauveryCauvery supply to Ward1GroundwaterBorewell Water supply (litres/person/day)Ward area…

Bengaluru’s water crisis hit new lows in March 2024, which led to disruptions in water supply. There are areas in the city where water supply is irregular, expensive and unpredictable, bringing the daily lives of many communities to a standstill. It was this issue that made us, as a group, tackle the issue of water security at the Bengaluru Water Datajam held by Opencity.in in March. The notion of water security is a tricky problem to address. It depends on multiple factors like ecological security, risk management of the city, to name a few (Aboelnga et. al., 2019). Therefore, we…

India has been under the grip of a devastating heat wave for the past few months. Since April this year several parts of the country have seen abnormally high temperatures. For instance,  Bengaluru recorded a maximum temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius on a Sunday, the city's hottest April day since 2016. The city and parts of Southwestern regions of the country have experienced relief with the arrival of monsoon. Representational image. Civic workers in the heat in Chennai. Pic: Padmaja Jayaraman However, conditions appear to be dire in North, Central and Eastern India. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued…

Table of contentsThane: Naresh Mhaske, Shiv SenaElection results for Thane constituencyWho is Naresh Ganpat Mhaske?Political experienceChallenges in the Thane constituencyKey promises made by Naresh MhaskeKalyan: Dr. Shrikant Shinde, Shiv SenaElection results for Kalyan constituencyWho is Dr. Shrikant Shinde?MPLADs spending of Dr. Shrikant ShindePolitical experienceChallenges in the Kalyan constituencyKey promises made by Dr. Shrikant ShindeAlso read: Both the Thane and Kalyan constituencies have been bagged by the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde led faction) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The two MPs who have been elected from Thane and Kalyan are Naresh Mhaske and Dr. Shrikant Shinde respectively. Here is comprehensive…

Table of contentsBangalore North: Shobha Karandlaje, BJPElection resultsAbout Bangalore North constituencyShobha Karandlaje's political experience Positions heldEducationCriminal recordAssets and liabilitiesChallenges in the constituencyKey promisesBangalore South: Tejasvi Surya, BJPAbout Bangalore South constituencyElection resultsTejasvi Surya's political experiencePositions held:EducationCriminal recordMPLAD detailsAssets and liabilitiesChallenges in the constituencyKey promisesBangalore Central: PC Mohan, BJPAbout Bangalore Central constituencyElection resultsPC Mohan's political experience Positions held:EducationCriminal recordMPLADS detailsAssets and liabilitiesChallenges in constituencyKey promisesBangalore Rural: Dr CN Manjunath, BJPElection resultsAbout Bangalore Rural constituencyDr. CN Manjunath's political experience EducationCriminal recordAssets and liabilitiesChallenges in the constituencyKey promisesAlso read The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a victory in all four Parliamentary Constituencies in Bengaluru in the 2024…

Table of contentsMumbai South - MP Arvind SawantWho is Arvind Ganpat Sawant?Election results for Mumbai South constituencyPolitical experienceHow did Arvind Sawant use MPLADS funds?Challenges in Mumbai South constituencyKey promises made by Arvind SawantMumbai South Central - MP Anil DesaiWho is Anil Yeshwant Desai?Election results for Mumbai South Central constituencyPolitical experienceChallenges in Mumbai South Central constituencyKey promises made by Anil DesaiMumbai North Central - MP Varsha GaikwadWho is Varsha Eknath Gaikwad?Election results for Mumbai North Central constituencyPolitical experienceChallenges in the Mumbai North Central constituencyPromises made by Varsha GaikwadMumbai North - MP Piyush GoyalWho is Piyush Goyal?Election results for Mumbai North constituencyPolitical…

India has witnessed intense heat waves this year with temperatures soaring above record levels, particularly in urban areas, sometimes even breaching the 50°C mark. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has observed that the country is experiencing the effects of climate change as extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, heat waves and intense tropical cyclones are occurring more frequently. One contributing factor for these extreme weather patterns is the rapid warming of the Indian Ocean. A study Future projections for the tropical Indian Ocean, published by Elsevier and led by Roxy Mathew Koll, scientist with Climate Research Lab, Indian Institute…

Table of contentsNew MP, Chennai North: Dr Kalanidhi VeerasamyPolitical experience of Dr Kalanidhi VeerasamyEducation and Criminal RecordMPLADS spending of Chennai North constituencyAssets and Liabilities as declared in affidavitChallenges in Chennai North constituencyKey promises made by Dr Kalanidhi VeerasamyNew MP, Chennai Central: Dayanidhi MaranPolitical experience of Dayanidhi MaranEducation and Criminal RecordsMPLADS spending of Chennai Central constituencyAssets and Liabilities as declared in affidavitChallenges in Chennai Central constituencyKey promises made by Dayanidhi MaranNew MP, Chennai South: Thamizhachi ThangapandianPolitical experience of Thamizhachi ThangapandianEducation and Criminal RecordMPLADS spending of Chennai South constituencyAssets and Liabilities as declared in affidavitChallenges that the new MP faces in her…

(Part 1 covered the components of BESCOM bill, tariff structure and sanction loads. Part 2 delves into electrical system maintenance) With the adoption of electric vehicles, owners are tapping into their existing meters to charge their vehicles, leading to electrical mishaps. If you need to connect a 3.3 kw/7.2kw EV charger, your sanctioned load needs to be enhanced. This leads to cable/wire, MCB (miniature circuit breaker) and RCCB (residual current circuit breaker) replacement, possibly the energy meter too may need to be replaced.  Overall, if every household enhances sanction load, this leads to constant tripping of the transformer and short…