In depth – Citizen Matters

Death in a Delhi sewer…and lives of those left behind

February 22, 2019 Bhasha Singh / PARI

After Anil’s death while cleaning a sewer in Delhi, Rani has been struggling to make ends meet, while battling grief and barbs about not being his legally married wife. “On how many fronts can I fight?” she asks, and hopes the state will now bring in machines for cleaning drains.

Citizenship Amendment Bill has lapsed, but why are north-eastern cities still simmering?

February 15, 2019 Linda Chhakchhuak

From Guwahati to Imphal and Aizawl to Itanagar, north-east India broke out in massive demonstrations as the Citizenship Amendment Bill loomed on the horizon. But now with the bill having lapsed, can one look forward to peace and calm in the region?

Aadhaar amendment bill: Here’s why you need to be concerned

February 13, 2019 Shree D N

The bill introduces the concept of opting out of Aadhaar, offers alternative ids for authentication and helps people get justice in case of disputes related to Aadhaar. But why then are activists still critical of the Aadhaar Amendment Bill?

To develop a city for transit, or transit for a city?

February 9, 2019 Sonal Kulkarni

As urban centres thrive and expand beyond the reach of walking and cycling distances, it becomes important for cities to understand and provide the most efficient and sustainable ways of moving people and goods. Can transit oriented development hold the key?

How our bright cities are making life difficult for stargazers

January 21, 2019 Sahana Ghosh

A study published in January 2019 shows that brightness from outdoor lights has risen sharply in various parts of India over a 20-year period. We are, however, still ignorant about the disruptive and harmful effects of over brightness on the ecosystem as well as human health.

Facts you need to know before you plunge into the reservation debate

January 18, 2019 Arjun Rajan

Parliament nod to the Constitutional amendment providing 10 percent reservation to economically weaker sections has predictably stirred a hornet’s nest. But how much do you really know about how the system of quotas works and how the latest move will change the math?

For almost 15 million migrant children, education remains a luxury

January 17, 2019 Navya P K

In a land of 453 million internal migrants, a majority among whom seek work in cities, children’s education is the greatest casualty. Government schemes notwithstanding, most migrant children never end up joining school in host cities or eventually drop out.

How two Delhi flyovers convert 20-minute commute to two-hour trip

January 16, 2019 Sashikala V P/Patriot

Perpetually under construction, these projects cause regular bottlenecks for traffic in Delhi and paint a telling picture of what makes driving around the capital city such a nightmare.

All eyes on biogas plants as cities continue to grapple with overflowing landfills

December 29, 2018 Manupriya

India is set to have 5000 waste to energy plants in the next five years that will convert agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste into usable biogas. But are the conditions conducive and will it solve the waste crisis in our cities?

Why Rs 759 crore over 16 years has failed to revive Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake

November 28, 2018 Nusrath Sidiq

Almost synonymous with Kashmir, the Dal Lake is dying a slow death, marred by ineffective sewage disposal, rampant encroachments and inefficient administration. The J&K High Court, too, has observed that “crores have been spent so far, but nothing has happened on the ground.”

Updating land records in Telangana: What cities could learn from the rural exercise

October 31, 2018 Varun Panickar

The Telangana Land Records Updation Programme (LRUP) has been hailed as a success, especially for the planned and extensive use of state resources to complete the survey in an intensive time-bound manner. Yet gaps in scope are evident, and the state must keep these in mind when it initiates the same exercise in cities.

Explained: How can dengue deaths be prevented?

October 30, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

How do you know if your fever is dengue? What are the different types and is one more dangerous than the other? Can dengue fatalities be prevented? Can we immunise against the disease? This will answer most of your questions about the dreaded disease.