In depth | Citizen Matters

Bulk of Dehradun’s e-waste ends up with illegal recyclers; here’s why

December 13, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

A majority of citizens and traders dealing in electronic items have never heard of e-waste management rules or extended producer responsibility. Where does the city’s large quantum of electronic waste go then?

Delhi fire tragedy a grim reminder of the city’s 32000+ child labourers

December 12, 2019 Oommen C Kurian

Between 2011 and 2017, child workers under the age of 14 increased from a little over 2000 to 32,330 — 41% of them Dalit and 55% Muslim. Now with the recent fire at Anaj Mandi claiming several such young lives, will the Delhi government sit up and act on this mounting problem?

Bhopal closes controversial abattoir, but no sight of alternative yet

December 5, 2019 Shuriah Niazi

As a result, both man and animal have been hit hard and the likelihood of illegal slaughter has also risen. Political wrangling, however, makes it appear improbable that the problem will be resolved soon.

Gurgaon Rapid Metro: A public project for private gain

December 3, 2019 Sri Krishna

Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka’s scathing letter to the state government called attention to the irregularities in the Gurugram Rapid Metro project and how a select few real estate companies have profited from it. A look at the details

Despite CM Uddhav Thackeray’s support, fight to save Aarey far from over

December 2, 2019 Hepzi Anthony

Shortly after taking charge, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announced a stay on the metro car shed project in the forest land, but that is just one of the many projects planned. Some of these are even known to have enjoyed Shiv Sena support in the past. What, then, could be the future of Aarey?

Eight months after launch, Kolkata’s ‘pink taxis’ hardly in the pink of health

November 30, 2019 Gurvinder Singh

The pink taxis launched in Kolkata in February 2019 meant to provide a safe commute option for women. They also promised to open up a new world for the 10 women drivers chosen to drive the fleet. Today, not only are they not making enough money, their days are filled with challenges on the roads and off.

Rs 15 crore spent on potholes over two years, yet Mumbai roads continue to be death traps

November 27, 2019 Jahanvi J

An RTI filed by a social activist shows that the civic body spent over Rs 15 crore to fill 8,879 potholes on Mumbai roads in the last two years; yet, accidents due to bad roads are on the rise, with three fatalities in October alone. Is citizen action the only solution?

Blocked roads, waterlogging, power cuts: Kashmiri cities caught in unseasonal snow fury

November 20, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

It’s only the second time in a decade that Kashmir has seen such heavy snowfall in November, and it has made lives more difficult for citizens, already facing the effects of a three-month lockdown. Here’s how the administration and people are coping with the vagaries of an early winter.

Garbage to gold: Shillong women’s group shows the way

November 15, 2019 Linda Chhakchhuak

Ambitious, big-money plans remain on paper, but a women’s self help group comprised of waste pickers-turned-recyclers could help the hill station solve its ugly waste crisis.

Why the Kashmir situation is bothering Amritsar’s textile industry

November 14, 2019 Raj Machhan

Countless manufacturing units in the once-thriving textile sector lie idle today, and 80% of the two lakh people directly and indirectly employed by the industry have returned home. The Kashmir clampdown may not be the only reason, but is making matters worse for sure.

Waste woes in Paradise: Srinagar’s struggle to clear garbage from streets during lockdown

November 7, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

In the days following abrogation of Article 370, Srinagar became a stinking mess, as municipal staff were unable to report to work and mounds of garbage accumulated on streets. While proactive officers and safai karamcharis have managed to tide over the crisis in the face of odds, waste management in the city needs serious fixes for the long term.

What is making rainwater in Guwahati toxic?

November 6, 2019 Sahana Ghosh

A study suggests that a cocktail of natural and man-made pollutants wafting in the air is tinkering with the rainwater quality in Guwahati.