As the evening sun creates an orange hue over the shimmering waters of Pulicat Lake, the fishermen get ready to launch their wooden kattumarams (catamarans) for the boat race. The participants, sitting in the middle of their boats and rowing furiously, plunge ahead amidst the cheering of villagers, who have dropped by to witness the event.

At least for a day, the fishing community and others, whose livelihoods depend on the marine ecosystem of the lake and sea, forget their troubles and have a good time. The boat race is a sort of affirmation by the village community around the lake to preserve it from environmental degradation.

As large-scale industrialisation and the construction of ports in nearby Ennore seem to have caused an imbalance in the lake’s ecosystem, the most visible impact is the drastic fall in water levels. This has affected marine life, and thus the livelihoods of the fisherfolk.

In Part 1 of a two-part series, we examine the depleting waters of Pulicat Lake and the fishing community that the water body sustains.

The catamaran race, held last month, is organised by AARDE, an NGO working to conserve wetlands, on Pulicat Day every year to coincide with Ramsar’s World Wetlands Day.  

Xavier Benedict, founder trustee of AARDE says, “The race is a way of drawing attention to the dying livelihoods of fishermen and the disappearing tradition of using catamarans to catch the once famous Pulicat mud crabs.”   


Read more: Calm after the storm in Chennai: What Cyclone Michaung left behind


A shrinking lake

Pulicat, the second largest brackish water lagoon in India is about 50 km from Chennai (in Thiruvallur district) and sustains residents living in 25 fishing villages around it. The wetland not only hosts many migratory birds during the winter months but, also attracts the Northeast monsoon rain clouds.

“The industrial activity caused silt to accumulate in the bar mouth of the estuary, resulting in a decrease in water level and also less flow/exchange of water between the sea and lake. This is a direct hit to the health of the benthic zone (the ecological area at the lowest level of a water body), which is important for the nourishment and growth of marine life. This causes dwindling harvests, directly affecting the income and livelihoods of the fishers,” says Yuvan Aves, naturalist and founder-trustee of Palluyir Trust for Nature Education and Research.

All this, coupled with the impending Adani port project, is pushing the Pulicat-Ennore ecosystem to the brink of further damage. 

Disparity in the boats 

pulicat2
Villagers from Jamilabad and Kolatthumedu, participate in the catamaran race, as part of the Pulicat day celebrations organised by AARDE. Jamilabad participants race with traditional wooden catamarans, while residents of Kolatthumedu use fibre catamarans. Pic: Sivasubramanyan M V

Kolatthumedu, a village with 250 families, does not have even one fisherman who owns a motorboat. Most of them have fibre catamarans, at best. Even worse, the fishermen of neighbouring Jamilabad, still use catamarans made of wooden logs.

Bose, a representative of the Kolatthumedu village council says, “Earlier there was good marine abundance close to the shores and catamarans were enough to catch good harvests. With all the issues over the years affecting the ecosystem, the fish population has receded inwards into the sea.”

This has necessitated the use of diesel-run motorboats that can travel much longer distances, making it impossible for mechanical catamaran users to make any money from fishing close to the shores. “Only these two to three villages are using these catamarans,” he adds.    


Read more: Oil spill in Ennore brings fishing to a standstill


Meanwhile, with consistently decreasing harvests, even fishermen using motor boats only earn between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 a day, of which Rs 800 is spent on diesel.

“Some days when there’s no catch, we return empty-handed, with no returns for the money spent on diesel,” says Jeyapaul, a 57-year-old fisherman, who has been in the profession for 30 years and is currently fishing with a motorboat.  

Threat to livelihoods

pulicat3
Fishermen Jeyapaul and Mahesh discuss going to Ennore to buy parts for the repairs. They usually manage small repairs by themselves and call boat mechanics for bigger issues. Pic: Sivasubramanyan M V

The fishing community has been grappling with a multitude of challenges, apart from the threat to their livelihood, and these include malfunctioning boats that get stuck in the water, medical emergencies and rough seas that kill almost 100 fishermen every year.

pulicat5
Mahesh says that the nets provided by the Fisheries department were of low quality. Stones, floaters, ropes and the net itself together costs around Rs 70,000 for 60 kg of fishing net. Any wear and tear requires constant mending that eats away their earnings. Pic: Sivasubramanyan M V

“The government gave us walkie-talkies with built-in GPS five years ago and also installed a receiving antenna tower,” says Mahesh, a young fisherman, pointing to the tower next to the fish market complex.

“Initially they were useful to communicate with other fishermen and the station on the shore.  But the devices stopped working within a year. Once people had to spend money for repairs all the time, they stopped using them. Good quality walkie-talkies will solve a lot of security issues for us,” adds Mahesh.

Facing a bleak future

pulicat4
Mullaikodi’s stall at the local fish market boasts almost 20 kinds of sea products. “There are literally hundreds of types, changing in abundance throughout the year,” she says. But, there has been a drastic decrease in both the variety as well as sizes of fish over the last 10–15 years. Pic: Sivasubramanyan M V

“The market, ideally designed for the local people to buy fish from the fisherfolk, and sell it to consumers, has been taken over by the more powerful exporting companies, that are ready to pay higher rates for the fish,” says Mullai Kodi, a 42-year-old local seller in the government-run fish market. She makes around Rs 1,000 on the days she manages to get a place in the market, which is around ten days a month.

Mullaikodi hopes the government would expand the market building so that more locals can do their business independently of big companies, thereby improving the livelihoods of other such single-income women like herself. 

Many like Mullaikodi, who depend on the marine ecosystem in more ways than one, are looking at an uncertain future. On February 1, 2024, Tamil Nadu became the state with the highest number of Ramsar sites, which puts the focus on the protection of wetlands like Pulicat and the people living around it. 

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Even as our cities grapple with diverse challenges and issues, there is always hope as long as there is an active citizenry willing to engage, act and push for positive change. In the 15th year of Citizen Matters and the 10th year of Oorvani Foundation, we are excited to host a convening of such people committed to making better cities. The India Civic Summit 2024 in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 23rd will bring together citizens and community volunteers, who are dedicated to solving civic, environmental and urban challenges in their respective cities.

There will be inspiring stories. There will be networking. And attendees can hear from changemakers on their initiatives and what makes them tick. How do they navigate local dynamics or address interlinked issues? What strategies help shift goalposts towards systemic solutions? What brings transformation and how do active citizen groups sustain themselves through the arduous journey without burning out?

The day-long event is designed to foster discussions, facilitate sharing of experiences and explore innovative and impactful civic solutions that are making our cities more sustainable and liveable.

Event details

  • Venue: Institution of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Queens Road, Bengaluru
  • Date: March 23rd, Saturday
  • Time: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Register here
  • For more details: http://oorvani.org/civic-summit

The sessions include:

  • Stories of change: Talks by civic changemakers about their initiatives
  • The secret sauce of civic change: Discussions on how diverse initiatives have helped in the journey towards sustainable and liveable cities, identifying best practices and solutions
  • Learning sessions on effective engagement, youth involvement and climate future of cities
  • Recognition of impactful civic initiatives

So, if you are passionate about your city and want to know how citizens like you are making a difference in theirs, do come join us for this exciting and enriching line-up.

India Civic Summit poster
India Civic Summit poster

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New names for eight suburban railway stations

The state government has given its in-principle go ahead for the renaming of eight suburban railway stations in Mumbai. Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale said that after the decision is ratified by the state cabinet, the proposal will be sent to the Union government.

Curry Road station will be called Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road will be renamed Dongri,  Marine Lines as Mumbadevi, Charni Road will be called Girgaon, Cotton Green station is set to be renamed Kalachowki, Dockyard is to be called Mazgaon, King’s Circle as Tirthankar Parswanath, and Mumbai Central as Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth.

Source: The Indian Express

Coastal Road open to public

On 11th March, a part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), officially called the Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The entire stretch extends to 10.58 km from Marine Drive to Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). Currently, a 9.5 km stretch has been opened for use. The entire stretch is expected to become operational by May 2024.

Vehicles can enter the coastal road at three points: Bindu Madhav Thackeray Junction, Rajani Patel Junction (Lotus Junction), and Amarsons Garden. The exit points are at Amarsons Garden and Marine Drive. Vehicles will be allowed to ply on the Coastal Road between 8.00 am am to 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday according to an announcement made by the Mumbai traffic Police on X. It will be shut for maintenance on the weekends.

Source: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times


Read more: As coastal road project advances, fishers worry about boats and livelihoods


Water levels dip in lakes that supply to Mumbai

As summer starts to scorch in the city, worries about reduced water stock and possible water cuts are back. The water levels in the seven lakes that supply to Mumbai have dipped to 37.9 %, lowest in three years. This year, onset of monsoon is predicted on June 25, which is a good three months away.

Vihar Lake in the northern suburbs of the city meets a part of the water requirement of thriving South Mumbai. Pic: Elroy Serrao/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

“While the lake levels Wednesday dropped to 37.9 per cent, last year on the same day, the water stock stood at nearly 44 per cent of the total capacity of the lakes. In 2022, meanwhile, the water touched 46.5 per cent, during the same period,” reported The Indian Express.

However, P Velarasu, additional commissioner, assured that water cuts will not be imposed as they have already received permissions to allocate additional supplies of potable water for the city.

Source: The Indian Express

In a first, BMC opens hostel for working women

The BMC opened a hostel for working women in Goregaon on the occasion of International Women’s Day. There are plans to open five more such hostels. The hostel has 16 storeys and will be able to accommodate 180 women. In addition to a canteen, there are facilities to cook at the hostel as well as recreational facilities.

The BMC, according to its Development Plan 2034, aims to increase the participation of women in the economic development of Mumbai. The opening of the hostel facilities is in keeping with this objective.

Source: The Times of India

Workers die after scaffolding collapse

Three workers died in an accident at a construction site in Borivali. One is critically injured and admitted in the ICU at Shatabdi Hospital.

There were five workers on the scaffolding of the 16th floor, when it collapsed. One of them escaped unhurt. The deceased were identified as Shankar Baidya, Piyush Haldar, Manranjan Samaddar. All three of them were migrant workers from West Bengal. The fourth worker, Sushil Gupta, is in a critical condition.

Work has been stopped at the construction site after the accident and a case has been registered against the foreman, the site engineer, and the contractor by the Borivali police.

Source: Hindustan Times, The Indian Express

(Compiled by Shruti Gokarn.)

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Food Safety Department collects food samples in Chennai

To curb the use of food colouring agents that have harmful chemicals in them, the Food Safety Department in Chennai has been conducting inspections in various food stalls and eateries around the city. In the last two days, the department has taken samples of food that may contain non-permitted food colour, from 200 eateries and sent them for analysis.

Almost a month ago, the sale of cotton candy in the city was banned after food safety officials found the presence of Rhodamine-B, an industrial-grade dye in the candies. According to officials, their teams are randomly collecting samples for testing, as many outlets sell food items that have food colours that are harmful for human consumption. Some of the foods that contain artificial colours include gobi manchurian, grilled chicken, rose milk and so on.

Source: The Hindu


Read more: Explainer: Dos and don’ts about food adulteration


No MRTS service between Beach and Chintadripet for another four months

Southern Railway officials have informed that the MRTS service between Beach and Chintadripet stations in Chennai, which was supposed to be resumed this month, will remain shut for four more months. The service on this route was suspended in August last year after construction work on a 4-kilometre-long fourth line between Chennai Beach and Egmore stations commenced. Even though the work is supposed to be completed by June, Railways officials have not indicated the services will resume after four months.

Source: DT Next

Chennai Airport gets special police patrol services

To ensure the safety of passengers departing and arriving at the Chennai Airport, the Chennai Police launched the ‘Airport Police Patrol Scheme’ on Thursday. This initiative aims to guide passengers outside the terminals and safeguard their belongings. Assistance will also be given to senior citizens and passengers from outside the country. As part of this scheme, police personnel in two patrol vehicles and one battery-operated vehicle will patrol the premises outside the airport.

Source: The New Indian Express


Read more: A delayed bridge and many missed trains: This part of Chennai needs immediate traffic solutions


Elephant Gate bridge partially opened to public

elephant gate chennai
Two-way traffic will be allowed on one side of the newly-opened Elephant Gate bridge. Pic courtesy: GCC

The Elephant Gate bridge, which connects North Chennai to other parts of the city was partially opened for public use on Friday. Two-way traffic is allowed till the other side is ready. Only two-wheelers and light motor vehicles can go on the bridge. It’s been almost five years since the old bridge was demolished and reconstruction was taken up.

The bridge was inaugurated by Member of Parliament from Chennai Central constituency, Dayanidhi Maran and Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, P K Sekar Babu. The bridge, located in Ward 57 in Royapuram zone of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The GCC (Rs.30.48 crore) and the Southern Railways (Rs.40.48 crore) are jointly constructing the bridge at a cost of Rs. 71.26 crore.

Source: DT Next

Learner’s licence application at e-Sevai centres

Most people in the city, who are learning to ride a bike or drive a car employ the services of motor driving schools or touts to get a learner’s licence (LLR), by paying a lot of money. The State government wants to discourage this practice and remove the role of middlemen. It has announced that people can now apply for LLR directly at any e-Sevai centre in the State by paying Rs.60. This facility will be available in all 55,000 centres across Tamil Nadu, according to a press release.

Source: The Hindu

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Ways to manage water

To tackle the water crisis , the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has banned using potable water to clean vehicles, gardening, construction, fountains, swimming pools and entertainment other than drinking water in cinema halls and malls. It imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 for violators.

It is now mandatory to take prior approval ahead of drilling borewells in the city’s limits, as over 3,000 borewells have dried up. The transport department has been asked to impound private water tankers.

The water shortage has hit citizens in various ways. Many reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water plants that were constructed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are inoperative, while private RO drinking water plants are closed. Many plants draw water from borewells, which are now dry or with reduced water levels. The BBMP had set up more than 600 water plants for subsidised drinking water to the public, where residents can buy 20 litres for just Rs. 5.

On March 12th, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) launched four new apps — Jalasnehi, Jalamitra, Jalasamrakshaka and Antharjala. Through ‘Jalasnehi’, consumers can request treated water from the BWSSB. ‘Antharjala’ eases the process of applying to drill borewells. The other two apps were launched to invite support from citizens and help them to raise complaints.  

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is confident that the issue may not stall the hosting of the Indian Premier League matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. It is meeting the demand for ground maintenance through the sewage treatment plant (STP) and will not require groundwater.

Source: Deccan Herald, Indian Express


Read more: How water meters saved time and money for this Bengaluru apartment


Yes to Phase 3 of Metro works

The Karnataka Cabinet, on March 13th, cleared Phase 3 of Metro works along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch in Bengaluru. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 15,100 crore.

Under Namma Metro, 44.65 kms of the new line will be added by 2028. It is expected to link Hebbal with JP Nagar via Goruguntepalya, Magadi Road, Mysuru Road and Kanakapura Road along the Outer Ring Road for 32.15 kms. Another line connecting Hosahalli and Kadabugere via Magadi Road for 12.5 kms has also been approved.

The eastern part of the ORR metro line, through Silk Board and K R Puram to Hebbal, is under construction and will be completed in two years.

Around 80-85% of the project cost will be funded by the state government, while the remaining amount is expected from the Centre. A feasibility study was carried out and the Centre has cleared the project.

Source: Indian Express, The Hindu


Read more: ORR-Sarjapura gridlock: Govt, IT sector, commuters must collaborate for solutions


Drive to prevent blindness

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao launched a comprehensive Eye Care Programme with innovative, health technology. It will be in line with the Vision Care Programme called Asha Kirana, under the National Health Mission’s National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI).

The programme seeks to deploy ophthalmic devices for digital solutions and cloud-based technology to eliminate preventable blindness from five years to over 70 years.

Representative image. Pic: Wikipdia/Kamil Sitov

The programme will take on challenges through technological solutions, such as a handheld auto refractometer with wavefront aberrometer-based technology to screen refractive errors and an AI-based Fundus camera that will capture retina images without pupil dilation, targeting adult population with retinopathies, glaucoma, and macular edema. 

The programme will be included in 24/7 PHCs, CHCs, taluk hospitals and bus depots for transport personnel screening.

Source: The New Indian Express

Kannada signage rules mostly enforced

On March 11th, the deadline for adhering to the 60:40 language ratio on signboards ended. Hence, the BBMP is getting ready for enforcement. On March 12th, about 1,116 establishments could not meet the requirement of 60% of space on signboards containing Kannada text. Still, the BBMP is confident that it would be able to meet the rule in a fortnight.

About 49,732 of the 50,357 establishments violating the rule in December 2023 complied. That leaves 625 to conform.

Portraits of late Shankar Nag and Puneeth Rajkumar
Artwork at an auto stand in North Bengaluru showing late Kannada actors Shankar Nag and Puneeth Rajkumar along with a Karnataka map. Pic: Bhanu S

BBMP officials have sealed many establishments after revoking their trade licenses. 

Source: Indian Express, Deccan Herald


Read more: Stronger state support needed for ‘Kannada Gottilla’ to ‘Baruthe’ journey


Deadline for rebate on property tax extended

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) extended the last date to avail the 5% rebate on payment of property taxes till July 31st. BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath said that residents could receive the rebate if they paid the property taxes for the fiscal 2024-25 by April 30th. It is now extended by three more months.

He explained that as the Revenue Department officials and staff are involved in poll-related work, it will be difficult to process the payments at the time.

Due to several public holidays in April, tax payers would not be able to pay them at select bank branches. Hence, the rebate period for tax payers has been extended from May 1st to July 31st.

Source: Indian Express

[Compiled by Revathi Siva Kumar]

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The traffic congestion at Outer Ring Road (ORR)-Sarjapura Road has been a long-standing issue. To address this, Citizen Matters held a panel discussion, ‘Solving Sarjapura-ORR Gridlock’ on February 26th. Moderated by Meera K, co-founder of Citizen Matters, the panel included G T Prabhakar Reddy, Chief Traffic Manager, BMTC; Vivekanand Kotikalapudi, Urban Mobility Advisor; Mukund Kumar, Managing Trustee, Iblur Environs Trust; and Srinivas Alavilli, Fellow- Integrated Transport and Road Safety, WRI India. 

Sarjapura Road is an integral connection to the IT corridor of south-east Bengaluru. ORR is completely developed with a focus on tech parks. There is currently a surge in residential projects on or around Sarjapura road.

CM event poster on Sarjapura-ORR gridlock
ORR-Sarjapura route continues to remain every Bengaluru resident’s nightmare. Pic: CM Event Poster

Key findings and highlighted issues

  • About 7 lakh people commute to work from different parts of the city to the IT corridor of ORR-Bellandur. About 75,000 to 1 lakh commuters live in or around Sarjapura Road, around half of them use their personal vehicles to commute, according to surveys by the Save Our Sarjapura coalition
  • Many of these areas are old village roads, which are narrow and potholed. Many residential apartments have come up here. The access to these neighbourhoods is not easy.
  • There are more than 15,000 passenger car units per hour during peak time at Iblur junction
  • The lack of decent footpaths at Iblur junction puts pedestrians’ lives at risk

Infrastructure development need of the hour 

Well-planned infrastructure will help in easing traffic in this route. But the metro station for Sarjapura will come up near the Iblur bus stop and not near the Sarjapura side, which would make reaching the metro station a challenge. A foot over bridge has been proposed by BMRCL, which is quite a long walk, but unavoidable. However, despite the challenges, the fact that Sarjapura will be getting a metro line is in itself a silver lining. 

BMTC’s services

  • There are three underutilised depots adjacent to Sarjapura. Two depots are at Kodathi and Sadaramangala, where BMTC can add around 50-100 schedules in each depot. One more depot is in Chikkanagamangala
  • Sarjapura will soon see 120 schedules as promised by BMTC
  • BMTC has also recently started 500 HS buses and have released four AC buses
  • AC buses on the Sarjapura-Hebbal route was launched a few days ago

Read more: Missing last mile connectivity: Sarjapura Road residents want better bus routes


Encouraging public transport

  • Incentivise employees who opt for public transport, and see if at least half the population to switch to public transport
  • Frequency of buses has increased and AC buses have been added. The key is to break the 15-minute barrier. If people see the buses, they will board
  • Create viable footpaths for ease of walking to bus stops. Walkability audits have to be done. Spotting bus stops is not enough, pedestrians should be able to easily reach them

Watch the full discussion:

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“I have been living in this shelter for almost three months since it was set up. It has helped me survive the bitter cold; otherwise, I might have died on the streets,” says Raj. Raj has been residing in a temporary shelter in the vicinity of Daryaganj that the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) had set up as a response to the extreme cold experienced by Delhi’s homeless population.

This last winter, DUSIB had established 190 shelters accommodating approximately 8000 people across the city. These tent shelters are part of DUSIB’s winter action plan to address Delhi’s extreme winters.

However, while these were constructed by DUSIB to help the poor and homeless survive the cold, they are now set to be dismantled with the onset of warmer weather. According to DUSIB, these shelters will be dismantled by March 15th. This has left many in the lurch.

Ramachandra, residing in another temporary shelter at AIIMS with his wife, says, “We’ve been here for four days. My wife is undergoing treatment at AIIMS for her tumour. We’ll have to come back here again in three months. When it’s cold, we get a tent, but when it gets warm and the tent is removed, we sleep near Metro gate no. 2.”

Neha, another resident of a temporary shelter around INA, also says, ‘Where can we go? We’ll have to go back to the streets.’

Summer vulnerability in the capital

Delhi finds itself equally vulnerable to both the biting cold of winter as well as intense and long heat waves during summer. Residents of the city are scorched by the blistering heat, characterised by soaring temperatures, especially between April and July. 

March 2022 went down in history as India’s hottest month on record according to the IMD*, while Delhi braved its second-warmest April in a span of 72 years. In April 2022, the capital endured a heat wave where temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for seven consecutive days.


Read more: Dire warnings: More deadly heat waves, more often, which could cause more deaths


According to D S Pai, director at the Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies, increasing concretisation, deforestation and changes in land use are causing extreme departures from normal maximum temperatures across India. Delhi is no exception.

With new or worsened heat patterns, temporary shelters for the homeless in summer are as crucial as in winter. Naturally, a call for their extension rings loud and clear. As Neha says, “These shelters should not only be extended but also equipped with facilities like fans and coolers for summers. Otherwise, what purpose do they serve?”

The inequity of climate impact

A recent study on homelessness and climate change in Delhi revealed that the impacts of extreme heat on homeless people are even more profound due to their extended marginality and limited ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Boy drinking water from tap
Access to water is also a critical issue for those living on the streets during summer. Representational image. Pic: Gopal MS, Mumbai Paused

According to the study, 88% of interviewed homeless individuals reported the lack of access to drinking water along footpaths, roads or shelters even during extreme heat. They confront a myriad of health challenges including dehydration, respiratory difficulties, fever, coughing, diarrhoea, and even cholera due to the scorching temperatures. 

“During the summer, it’s very difficult. We sleep here and there,” says Ramachandra’s ailing wife Meena, “The heat radiates from the ground all day long, making it difficult to even lie down on the streets.”

The severity of the situation is underscored by the tragic loss of numerous lives attributed to extreme heat. According to a study released by the IMD and quoted in this report, heatwaves claimed the lives of 30 individuals in 2022, marking it as the fifth warmest year on record since 1901.

And it is not just the heat. In June 2023, the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi issued a warning about the rising ground-level ozone pollution and multi-pollutant crisis that the city faces during summers. Air quality is often construed to be a winter issue, but the CSE release underlined that summer air in the region is also a toxic cocktail of gases and multiple particulate forms – particulate, ozone, nitrogen oxides and even high CO pollution.

As shelters are dismantled, and the poor turned out on to the streets, their exposure to the toxic air through the day and night become inevitable, creating disastrous health consequences.


Read more: Wounds of heat – Chennai’s climate catastrophe and caste


Inadequate adaptation plans: Too few shelters

While the extension of temporary shelters could provide a temporary solution, Rakesh Kumar, the caretaker of a shelter near AIIMS, highlighted, “It would be better if DUSIB constructed permanent shelters. If there was a permanent shelter near AIIMS, this problem would be solved.”

Beds and people inside the shelter near AIIMS Metro station
Delhi currently has a total of 195 shelters, that can accommodate 16,675 beds, approximately 92% below the estimated population of homeless individuals in the city. This is inside one of the shelters. Pic: Anuj Behal

The shortfall of shelters is not limited to areas around AIIMS; rather, Delhi faces a significant shortage of homeless shelters overall. Currently, there are a total of 195 shelters in the city, including 82 permanent structures (RCC buildings) in existing government buildings, 103 porta cabins made from tin sheets, and 10 shelters constructed under a ‘special drive’. 

Despite these efforts, the total capacity of these 195 shelters is only around 16,675 beds, which is approximately 92% below the estimated population of homeless individuals in the city. Independent experts and estimates suggest that in Delhi, at least 200,000–250,000 individuals live in homelessness, highlighting the urgent need for further action to address this issue.

What is stark is the fact that  Delhi’s Heat Action Plan released in 2023 leaves a chilling void: it completely overlooks the critical needs of the city’s most vulnerable: the homeless.

Note: The author is one of six selected Fellows for the Citizen Matters – Urban Environmental Reporting Fellowship 2023 focusing on the Delhi-NCR region. This short piece was produced as part of his work under the Fellowship.

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The BBMP budget 2024-25 seems to be full of measures that are contradictory, which also undermine the rule of law. It hopes to garner Rs. 1,000 crore by permitting additional floors on high-rises as ‘premium floor-area ratio (FAR)’, over and above what is permitted by law.  At the same time, the budget has reduced the penalty on property tax defaulters by which it will lose about Rs. 2,700 crore!  Both these measures modify existing laws in an arbitrary manner, conveying the impression that laws may exist on paper but can be allowed to be bypassed at the whims of the executive.

The other questions about the increase in FAR that need answers: How will these high-rises accommodate the additional cars that the new residents will bring?  And how will their water supply and sewerage systems bear this additional load? 

At the same time, “a complete IT-based transparent on-line system for creation and issuance of TDR will be rolled out”, which it is hoped will “revitalise the TDR/DRC market” and bring in lots of revenue.  Who will want to invest in TDRs, if one can build more floors anyway through the relaxed FAR?   

Bengaluru is already bursting at the seams and facing a deep water crisis. So, should not the proposed measures aid decongestion of Bengaluru and instead spread the investment to other tier-2 and tier-3 cities to make development more widespread across Karnataka?  Tellingly, these decisions are being taken at a time when the BBMP council is totally absent and officials are presenting the BBMP Budget for the fourth year in succession in a blatant violation of the Constitution. 

Notifications have also been issued making the guidance value the basis for calculating property tax, which is supposed to bring more revenue to BBMP. Whatever happened to the establishment of the “Karnataka Property Tax Board” under Section 102B of Chapter IX-A of the KMC Act, which appears to be still on the books?  It says that it is an “Act to override other laws” and “no municipality or corporation shall determine the rate of any zone, area or any nature or class of building for taxation without consultation of the Board?”  Is that one more law that has become a dead letter?   

Many more contradictions continue. Seed money of Rs. 200 crore is provided in the budget for a pilot project to construct tunnels in two places of heavy traffic congestion.  This project is likely to be extended to several other tunnel roads later.  When an underground Metro for Bengaluru was opposed as being too expensive, should one be incentivising private cars by creating tunnel roads for them?  

Overemphasis on road development

A sum of Rs.130 crore will be provided for sundry widening of roads. White-topping of about 145 km of roads will be undertaken with a Government of Karnataka grant of Rs. 800 crore and internal resources of BBMP of Rs. 900 crore. These roads are mostly in the Central Business District (CBD), which already has the best roads in the city. 

Digging up these roads to white-top them will create a lot of dust, which Bengaluru can ill afford, given its levels of air pollution causing high increase in respiratory diseases, especially among children. If the normal asphalted roads are laid as per specifications without 40% commission as alleged by contractors, they should be lasting 10 years too at one-tenth the cost! 

Further, Namma Metro, BBMP and K-RIDE will jointly plan to build “Integrated metro and road flyover (double decker road)”, for which a sum Rs.100 crore is being provided initially by the BBMP. Why a double-decker road for private cars underneath a Metro? The Metro is supposed to replace the private cars, right?    


Read more: Karnataka budget 2024-25: Focus on welfare programmes, Bengaluru infrastructure


So, a total of more than Rs. 2,130 crore are foreseen just for roads. These projects are being proposed despite opposition from knowledgeable circles and in contradiction to the already-proposed Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Development Goals. And has the BMLTA been involved in the decision-making for these projects?  The costs for the above projects far outweigh the budgets foreseen for improving health care, educational facilities and welfare activities, which total Rs. 1,527.71 crore. 

Waste management transfer stations; poorly implemented decentralised waste system  

Lands of 50 to 100 acres each are to be purchased in four directions outside Bengaluru at a cost of Rs. 100 crore for treatment of waste. It is proposed to establish scientifically-managed Waste Management Transfer Stations, one per division during the current year, to prevent black spots created during waste transfer within the BBMP. This is no doubt to ready the garbage for transfer to the distant processing centres away from Bengaluru. 

Meanwhile, merely four biomethanisation units with a capacity of five tonnes per day and one unit with a capacity of 50 tonnes per day are intended to be constructed. Just 250 households will be selected to convert raw waste into compost at their own houses for decentralised management of waste. This, when the High Court had ordered in 2012 itself that decentralised wet waste processing units should be set up in all 193 wards “within three months” and the order was repeated in 2018.  

The BBMP team after presenting the BBMP Budget 2024-25.
Presenting the BBMP Budget 2024-25 estimation. Pic: X/@bbmpcomm

It is being claimed in the budget that the 98 lakh tonne mountain of ‘heritage waste’ at Mandur, Mavallipura and Bellahalli is being bio-mined. But that is a claim being made before the court for more than a decade.  And appropriately, it is being called ‘heritage waste’ and not ‘legacy waste’ – which means that it is something to be preserved and not to be got rid of!” 

Grant for ward programme of works, 2011 Act not implemented

 For the Ward Programme of Works (POW), Rs. 75 lakhs each will be allocated to 225 wards of BBMP and a grant of Rs 1.25 crore will be given to each ward to undertake developmental works.

“Ward Committees have been given the authority to decide about the necessary works to be carried out in each ward.  Due to this type of action, the people of the city can actively participate in decision-making and to empower them in a democratic system,” says the budget. 

But there is no mention of notifying the Areas for the constitution of Area Sabhas with all voters, which are ultimately to plan and decide on the works for each of their Areas, as per the KMC (Amdt.) Act of 2011 and the Rules framed under it in 2016.  This law has remained unimplemented for eight years now. 

Further, in a regressive measure, the BBMP Act of 2020 says that ward committees will only be recommendatory or advisory bodies.  If so, how will they become part of the decision-making?

BBMP Advertisement Policy: How will it add to the city’s aesthetics? 

In a bid to increase the aesthetics of Bengaluru, a grant of Rs.100 crore is foreseen in the budget to “illuminate flyovers, underbridges, road junctions and parks in Bengaluru City with attractive coloured electric lights”. At the same time, “A new BBMP Advertisement Policy through BBMP Advertisement Rules, 2024, will be promulgated” says the budget, which will generate an advertisement revenue of about Rs. 500 crore  in a year. “This is expected to safeguard the aesthetics and visual spaces in the city,” claims the budget. 

How hoardings will improve aesthetics in the city is a moot point unless one enjoys seeing hoardings with the varied faces of politicians and their supporters wishing citizens on every possible festive occasion!  Hoardings are being rejuvenated, which were banned a few years ago through a decision taken by the BBMP Council and a High Court order.  And these will completely ruin the aesthetics hoped to be achieved by illuminating flyovers, etc!


Read more: CAG audit 2021-22: Revenue concerns, PSU returns hinder Karnataka’s fiscal efficiency


Is a sky-deck worth it? 

To develop the city of Bengaluru as an attractive and tourist destination under the Brand Bengaluru scheme, a 250-meter-high sky-deck is proposed to be built “in a design that will emerge as a landmark at the international level”. The total cost of the said project is estimated at Rs.350 crore. Do we really need such luxuries when basic needs are lacking?  And what will the tourists see from the sky-deck?  The totally built-up, unplanned, concretised area, the lack of greenery, the slums and the garbage lying all around?  The 8-10 acres of land proposed to be acquired for this project are better used for creating decent social rental housing for the temporary migrants flooding the city and living in squalid conditions.

Feasibility of environmental measures vis-a-vis infrastructure projects 

Many well-meaning and high-sounding initiatives for preserving the environment, “to build resilience against climate change hazards such as flooding, urban heat, water scarcity and air pollution” have been proposed. Measures for planting more greenery, rejuvenating lakes, recharging borewells, digging recharge pits for rainwater collection, etc. have been delineated. 

However, the amounts allocated appear to be too minuscule when compared to the amounts being spent on roads, etc., and when compared to the size of the problem. Also, while welcome, a lot of dependence is being placed on voluntary takeover of responsibilities for climate action and resilience building by stakeholders, that is, citizens, corporates, RWAs, educational institutions, etc. So, is this a means of abdicating the government’s duty?  

Also, unless the environmental impact is made a mandatory part of the feasibility studies and cost-benefit analysis for all the road and other infrastructure projects being proposed, one hand may be undoing what the other hand is trying to achieve. 

Allocations for health care, education and welfare 

BBMP taking over all the primary health care facilities and the secondary and tertiary health care facilities being handed over to the Department of Health and Family Welfare is a good measure.  An expenditure of around Rs. 200 crore is proposed to be spent over two years to upgrade the health care services under ‘Brand Bengaluru’. But budgetary allocation of only Rs. 20 crore is made in the current year. So, how will Rs. 200 crore be spent in two years?

It is difficult to gauge whether the amounts for health care, education and welfare being allocated by BBMP are adequate as the amounts being spent by the state government line departments, such as the Women & Child Development, Education, Health and Social Welfare departments within BBMP’s area are not available. 

However, to improve the quality of education for the 24,089 students studying in 167 educational institutions run by BBMP for the under-privileged, well-equipped computer labs, digital labs, IT labs and e-libraries are being proposed for which Rs.10 crore is being allocated.

A neglected area that BBMP needs to focus on is on providing day-care centres in every ward for the zero to six-year-olds of the marginalised for whom these facilities are currently unavailable even by the line departments of the state, considering that there are a lot of women working as domestic workers, construction workers, self-employed vendors, etc., whose young are often left unattended or are looked after by older girl siblings, foregoing school.  

A good move: Sub-registrar office transactions as per e-khata

The initiative that provides some ray of “light amid the encircling gloom” is that the transactions in the sub-registrar offices shall be based on the e-Khata with tight integration of Namma Swathu’ with KAVERI-2. The transactions in the sub-registrar offices will electronically flow to ‘Namma Swathu’ System of BBMP and the process of mutations will get automatically started electronically, where the Aadhaar of the owner has been seeded in the BBMP property. Hopefully, this will end the possibility of someone registering a sale deed for having sold the Vidhana Soudha to a gullible buyer, which was possible earlier!

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On March 3rd, Primary Health Centres (PHC) in Chennai conducted the annual Pulse Polio Immunization campaign for children between the age group of 0-5 years. To ensure no child is missed, the Urban Health Nurses (UHN) made door-to-door visits on March 4 to administer polio drops. 

While the initiative garnered praise from all quarters, the tireless efforts of health nurses who walked kilometres under the scorching sun, went unnoticed.

On March 4, at 2.30 pm, Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam weather stations in Chennai recorded the maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees C and 31.4 degrees C. However, as the humidity levels were at 44% and 60% at Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam stations, the real feel temperature in these stations was 33 degrees C and 36 degrees C respectively, as per our calculation

heat index chennai
Temperature recorded at Meenambakkam on March 4
heat index2
The temperature recorded at Nungambakkam weather station at 2.30pm on March 4.

Victims of heat stress

Almost 99% of Urban Health Nurses (UHNs) in Chennai and Tambaram Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are women. There are around 700 UHNs working at the 140 PHCs of Chennai, according to Dr M Jagadeesan, City Health Officer, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). 

Their duties require them to be out in the field at least twice a week. Heat stress is a reality these nurses have to cope with every day, while they diligently go about their work in the community.


Read more: Delays plague maternity scheme: Expectant mothers in Chennai left in limbo


Carrying a four-kilo bag slung from her shoulder, Guru (name changed), a middle-aged health nurse at Tambaram, trudged one kilometre to a locality in Tambaram to administer polio drops to a three-year-old child. Before setting out, she applied ointment to her shoulders and neck, as prolonged sun exposure can trigger a skin allergy.  

“I drink plenty of water, yet I feel thirsty all day,” Guru told Citizen Matters. Summer hasn’t fully arrived yet, but she’s been experiencing dizziness, and her haemoglobin levels have dropped over the past month. “That’s why I’ve started carrying fruits with me these days,” she added.

A nurse out for field visits in the summer.
Nurses have to be out in the field at least twice a week. Representational image. Pic: Madhav Raj

Guru has served as a health nurse for the past 32 years. Each summer seems to be more challenging than the last, yet she hasn’t received any assistance from nodal agencies—the Tambaram Corporation and the health department. “It’s the least we expect from the department that keeps us overworked every single day,” Guru lamented.

Her home visits extend beyond administering polio drops. As part of her duties, Guru visited the homes of 39 pregnant women in February, raising awareness about the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme and assisting them with online pregnancy registration. She is also responsible for administering vaccines to newborns every Wednesday, while filling in for two vacant positions at the hospital. 

The combination of her workload and the oppressive heat exacerbates Guru’s fatigue to the extent that she struggles to fall asleep each night.

Women and heat stress

“Working on hot days also means decreased productivity,” said the six health nurses we interviewed. 

These women have been experiencing heat burns, dehydration, body aches, skin allergies, and urinary tract infections as early as January. “It’s not even summer yet. But I’ve been feeling extremely hot since Pongal (mid-January),” shared Suma*, a 59-year-old nurse from Chennai.

“The fatigue, body pain and discomfort create a deadly combination, making it challenging to complete our work. There are days when I work until 2 am, entering data for pregnant women online,” she added.

In urban areas, each UHN is responsible for more than 30,000 people, far exceeding the ideal number of 5,000. In Tambaram alone, there were six vacancies for UHN positions as of five years ago, according to a senior health official. “The vacancies for UHNs in Chennai are being filled currently,” Jagadeesan told Citizen Matters. 

While the city police department provides chilled water and buttermilk to officers on the field as an acknowledgment of their service, the health department has never considered such gestures. “I feel like a donkey carrying a big bag of chilled water, fruits, and the necessary medical kit when I’m on field work,” Suma remarked. 

Like other health nurses, Suma isn’t compensated for her commute, forcing her to walk long distances in the heat or spend her own money. “We advise the public about precautions during heat waves. But, who takes care of us?,” she added.


Read more: Heat: The silent killer that threatens both body and mind


“I’ve been in this profession for 40 years. Forget about coming up with prevention strategies; no one in the city health department has ever asked us about the challenges we face in the heat,” shared another 59-year-old nurse from Chennai.

Are women more susceptible to heat?

Biologically, women are at a disadvantage when it comes to adapting to heat, reports suggested. 

“Women sweat less than men and have lower cardiorespiratory fitness, higher metabolic rate, higher percent of body fat, lower body weight, lower body surface area, and higher surface area–to–mass ratio, which put their thermoregulation at a significant disadvantage,” as per the 2016 pilot study on Environmental Heat Stress Among Young Working Women.

The study added that the hormonal cycles (of those who do not use medicinal hormones) significantly affect temperature regulation.  

What makes it intolerable for these female nurses is the poor working conditions. On the days of working at PHCs, they have access to shade and toilet facilities. However, as public toilets are either scarce or shut down in the city, nurses end up reducing water intake.

“I had a case of a health nurse developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of Unknown Etiology. While I am not certain that it is due to heat stress, she said that she had been drinking less water while on field,” said Dr Venkatesh, Nephrologist, Doctors Association for Social Equality. 

Long term exposure to heat can lead to kidney failure. There is a need for a scientific study on health nurses developing kidney related ailments, added Dr Venkatesh. 

Affirming Dr Venkatesh’s opinion is a news release by the World Health Organisation which states that heat can trigger exhaustion or heat stroke and exacerbate existing conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney diseases, as well as mental health problems.

Besides stomach cramps and sodium loss, heat stress can result in exhaustion and hyperthermia-related injuries, comatose and even organ failure, Dr Venkatesh said. 

Preventive strategies

Experts suggest measures that the civic bodies can adopt to provide a conducive work atmosphere for health workers working outdoors. “There should be a policy of established work break culture. Secondly, periodic health check-ups should be conducted for the nurses,” suggested Dr Venkatesh. 

As a quick measure, coconut water and electrolyte rich fluids should be supplied at PHCs, so that the nurses can find some respite on the field, he added. 

“The government can provide nurses with two-wheelers, so we don’t have to walk long distances in the sun. If the public health department fills the 3,000 vacancies of health nurses across the state, the workload would reduce. The move would ensure we don’t overwork in the peak summer,” said R Indhira, State President, Tamil Nadu Government All Health Nurses Association. 

Globally, there are many examples of employers embracing short, medium and long term strategies to help employees cope with heat stress. Groups such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US are launching a heat illness prevention campaign and taking action against employers who fail to comply with heat safety standards, as suggested by the World Economic Forum

Short term strategies could include embracing overnight work during heat and as part of medium term strategies, employers can deploy technology-assisted heat stress monitoring. Providing shading infrastructure and urban ventilation pathways could be part of long term strategies, it added. 

Only time will tell if the Greater Chennai Corporation would adopt these strategies to make the lives of its healthcare workers easier in the heat.

Call to action

What the GCC and the health department must do to ensure the well-being of urban health nurses:

  • Ensure sufficient breaks.
  • Offer electrolyte-rich fluids at primary health centers.
  • Conduct regular health check-ups.
  • Allocate funds for reimbursing urban health nurses’ commute.
  • Address staff shortages to prevent nurses from being overworked and vulnerable to heat stress.

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A month after the BMC announced its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, experts called for greater citizen participation in the planning and implementation of the budget.

Not only is the BMC the richest civic body in the country, but also this year they have announced the highest budget ever at nearly Rs. 60,000 crore. Secondly, elections have not taken place after the term of the previous elected officials ended in March 2022.

The Municipal Commissioner, appointed as the administrator, has been at the helm of the civic body’s functioning for two years now. The corporation was put under an administrator after a period of 38 years, and for the first time the administrator’s rule has lasted for such long period of time.

The discussion organised by Mumbai First at Walchand Hirachand Hall had eminent speakers such as Prashant Pisolkar, the former Chief Auditor at MCGM, Amita Bhide, Professor at Centre for Urban Policy and Governance at TISS, and Milind Mhaske, CEO of Praja Foundation. The panel was moderated by Sanjay Ubale of Mumbai First. The experts highlighted the gaps in budget planning and implementation and also drew attention to people’s role.

Prashant Pisolkar said that all the proposals go to the Municipal Commissioner, and he signs them in his capacity as the commissioner, as the standing committee, and as the corporation, which puts a lot of power in the hands of one individual. He said, “There is no elected representative. Councillors are not there. So, it is very difficult to represent citizens to this highest body.”


Read more: BMC budget 2024-25: Focusing on long-term infrastructure projects


People’s role

All three panellists mentioned the significance of civic participation in the forming of the budget as well as its execution. The BMC had asked citizens to send in their suggestions on where they would like to see their money being spent.

While this is a laudable step, Milind pointed out that this call for suggestions should have been put out when the administrative process for the creation of the budget started.

He said, ” …this year and the last year we had participatory budgeting exercise done which I think was a tick box. It was opened up in January. By the time there is nothing left to be written in the budget. The budget has actually gone for printing.”

Panel discussion on BMC budget for 2024
Mumbai First had organised a panel discussion on decoding BMC’s budget for 2024. Pic: Shruti Gokarn

Had this process been started in conjunction with the administrative process, in August or September, the suggestions of citizens could have informed the budget. He further added that even if the call for participation is sent out late, citizens should avail of this opportunity to put their suggestions forward.

Both he and Amita gave the examples of other cities like Pune and Bengaluru, where the call for citizen participation is carried out in a far more effective manner. Amita pointed out that in its effort to seek participation, the BMC does not indicate what kind of projects and how much amount can be suggested by people. As opposed to that, the corporation in Pune which gives citizens an upper limit to suggest for the projects they would like to see undertaken.

Prashant emphasised the importance of holding the BMC accountable by creating vigilance groups at the ward level. This helps to keep a watch on the projects being carried out there, to approach the BMC to get problems solved, and to question the civic body, if needed. He said, “It is absolutely necessary that we should have some pressure groups, who are going to watch at least the projects, which are in their ward or in their vicinity, and they should monitor it.”

Accountability of the BMC

Amita highlighted a reason for the reduced accountability of the BMC: reduced property tax. She explained that when citizens contribute property tax, they also feel the need to make sure their money is utilised effectively for the city. She said, “Property tax is a very, very important instrument. For one, it is not only the own revenue of the corporation, but it is also the citizen contribution to the city government, and therefore a way for strengthening the corporation’s accountability.”

Milind stressed that citizens must read the budget, which is available on the BMC website to understand how their money is going to be spent and to ensure it is well spent. He also spoke about the utility of the municipal secretary’s office, which acts like a conduit between citizens and the BMC, telling the audience that they could approach them.


Read more: BMC health budget utilisation at 71%, lowest in five years


BMC’s skewed allocation of funds

While speaking about fund allocation, Amita drew attention to the irony that the wards which require the most resources for development, are provided a tiny fraction of the budget and the so called VIP wards which are already developed are given a large part of the funds.

She illustrated this by giving the example of M-East ward, “How much do we allocate to this ward? We carried out a budgetary analysis of just the amount which has been allocated to the development plan. Capital expenditure was something around 0.75 %. It reached its maximum in 2021 at about 1.79%. In the current budget it is 0.02%.”

This kind of inequity is also reflected in the way funds are earmarked for ward level work and big infrastructure projects, with ward level allocation faring far lower. In fact, Milind pointed out that the budget has kept aside a mere 16% for the wards.

The best way to make sure that the BMC spends public funds in the most effective manner is for citizens to hold them accountable. They can do this by being active participants in the budgeting process and questioning the corporation.

Resources-

You can find the BMC’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 here.
You can take a look at previous budgets here.

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