News | Citizen Matters

Report card: How charged up are electric buses in Indian cities?

July 18, 2019 Revathi Siva Kumar

In June, the government called for proposals from state transport departments for deployment of 5,000 electric buses, to be supported under the FAME-II scheme; but how close are our cities to realising that vision?

How one of Delhi’s tallest structures is contributing to climate change

July 17, 2019 Sri Krishna

Intense summers are not uncommon in Delhi, but when temperatures soared to 48 degrees this June, it was a record even by city standards. Could emissions from the East Delhi Ghazipur landfill have had a role to play?

Why Mumbaikars are getting angrier about tree felling

July 16, 2019 Hepzi Anthony

Around 500 people from different walks gathered at a public hearing on July 8th to raise their voices against the proposed felling of 2702 trees in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony. This is just the most recent example of growing citizen engagement and efforts to save the green cover of the city.

Ill-planned, ill-executed PPP projects behind Uttarakhand’s crumbling health services

July 13, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

Health centres in villages have become mere referral points for private hospitals in the city, which themselves suffer from inadequate infrastructure and failing emergency services. Proposed PPP projects show a big gap between potential and actual results.

Traffic jam at 13000 feet: What summer tourism means for hill towns in Himachal!

July 10, 2019 Ashwani Sharma

Summer heat in the northern plains sees tourists flocking in huge numbers to Shimla, Kullu-Manali and the scenic Rohtang Pass. But just look at what it does to the ecology and the regular lives of citizens here.

What’s making the water in Shillong oily and undrinkable?

July 9, 2019 Linda Chhakchhuak

Authorities say it is because of the high usage of chemicals needed to treat the turbid waters in the once pure rivers and springs of the region. But what is polluting the water in the first place?

Will Kochi’s new integrated transport system be more friendly towards people with disabilities?

July 6, 2019 Nelda Tomy

A recent survey undertaken as part of an academic project brought to light the woes of people with disabilities in Kochi when it came to commute. A look at what needs to be done to make the city transport system more inclusive

A must-have checklist for apartment buyers as cities run dry

July 5, 2019 Vishwanath Srikantaiah

Multi-storied apartments dot the skyline in all our cities, defining the aspiration of many urban citizens. But don’t forget the terrible water crisis we face today; if you are planning to invest in a flat, make sure the apartment has smart water management in place.

Will NGT crackdown force Lucknow civic body to sort out its waste mess?

July 4, 2019 Atul Chandra

An NGT-appointed committee has recommended fines of Rs 5 crore and Rs 2 crore respectively on the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and its chosen private partner in solid waste management, Eco Green. Here’s why.

Bhopal left with water for two weeks, thanks to neglect of iconic Upper Lake

July 3, 2019 Anup Dutta

Crores have been marked for wetland preservation and urban water supply; yet, shrinking lakes, ineffective sewage management and diminishing green cover have brought Bhopal to a situation where its natural water reserves may dry up within a matter of weeks.

Resilience, diversity in focus as Bhubaneswar tries to restore trees lost to Fani

July 3, 2019 Basudev Mahapatra

Government, civil society and corporate bodies have joined hands to regreen cyclone-ravaged Bhubaneswar, but what is needed is not just replantation but also proper urban forest planning.

Seven action items that could make India’s electric mobility vision a reality

June 28, 2019 Pawan Mulukutla

The push from the government for electrification of mobility in our cities has been unmistakable, and several cities/states have started deploying EVs in public transport services. But to scale up the adoption of EVs across the board, some more action is needed on these fronts.