Articles by News Desk

Rain provides respite for Delhi air pollution Delhiites finally got a chance to breathe in some air of “good” quality – for the first time in 2018 -- following continuous downpour over a few days that naturally washed away the usual pollutants present in the air. On Friday, July 26th, The Air Quality Index in the city was recorded at 43, which is categorized as good. However, experts find little cause for cheer or complacency in that. According to global environmental group Greenpeace, the reason for such improvement was largely natural: meteorological factors – in this case, rain, which cleanses…

Relief for property owners: property tax hike reduced to 50% Within days of announcing a likely increase in property tax to as much as 100%, the Government reduceD the cap to 50% for residential buildings. The rollback on tax hike came after requests from the public, and resident welfare associations. The owners of residential buildings, irrespective of whether they are self-occupied or rented out, will now face a tax rate hike of not more than 50%. Source: Times of India Are private schools hampered by the fixed fee rule? The recent controversy surrounding the demand of a caution deposit by…

Tamil Nadu will be banning single use plastic and other biodegradables from January 2019. Not wishing to impose restrictions on unprepared citizens, the state government has given itself and its people a good six months before the ban kicks in and plans to conduct back-to-back campaigns over this period. From sensitising shopkeepers and consumers about switching to biodegradable bags to campaigning against plastic in schools, the civic body is leaving no stone unturned to ensure successful implementation.   But, how are the people of the city reacting to the prospect of doing away with single-use plastic altogether? Responses have been mixed…

16 traders lose licences for using disposable plastic At a council meeting held in July, BBMP had declared an ultimatum to traders who do not stop using disposable plastic material (cups, plates and spoons). Mayor Sampath Raj had chalked out a week's deadline for the shopkeepers to permanently shift to using eco-friendly materials instead, failing which the licences of establishments would be cancelled. True to their word, the corporation's health department cancelled 16 trading licences of shops in Avenue Road, Bommanahalli and Neelasandra. One and a half tonnes of plastic was recovered through the raids conducted over two days, along with…

As many as 150 volunteers from VMWare India participated in a community electronic waste (e-waste) collection and awareness drive, under the bE-Responsible programme, on July 21st, from 11am to 1 pm. These volunteers walked the streets in small groups and went door-to-door to collect e-waste from households in three areas of Bengaluru - Koramangala 4th Block, ST Bed and Jakkasandra Extension Layout, says a pressnote from ENSYDE. Shweta Kadaba, a resident from Palm Springs Apartment in Koramangala 4th block, appreciated the initiave. “I gave the volunteers an old printer which had been lying in my apartment for the last 8-9…

How can cities as drivers and victims of climate change cope with its risks and become custodians of a livable environment? Chennai, having already been directly affected by the effects of climate change, especially needs to find answers to this question. EYES ON THE CANAL, an initiative focused on reimagining one of Chennai´s most important spatial and functional elements, the Buckingham Canal, has now floated an open call for ideas to raise awareness on the issue of climate change in urban areas and especially to propose visionary, but also feasible, solutions to improve the current situation alongside the canal.  How…

With truckers nationwide strike, veggie prices likely to shoot up Truck operators across the nation called for an indefinite strike against rising fuel cost, and calling for rationalising road toll plazas. Though the strike might not impact the supply of essential items like milk, water and medicine it is likely to affect the prices of vegetables. In Tamil Nadu it is estimated that around 4.5 lakh lorries would be off the road. Source: New Indian Express Key bus terminuses likely to be put to commercial use The MTC that has been financially strained with steady loss of commuters is likely…

Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) has been designated as the state nodal agency for Climate Change in Karnataka to provide technical support in conducting research, training and capacity building in climate change programs. To strengthen state climate change cell in Karnataka, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India has sanctioned a project, “Establishing/Strengthening the state climate change centre/cell under NMSKCC (State Climate Change Centre-National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change) in the state of Karnataka”to EMPRI at a cost of Rs. 2.83 Crores, says a press note from Information Department, Karnataka. The project started in…

State transport department in dire need of funds  Transport Minister DC Thammanna has said that the state transport corporations BMTC, NEKRTC, and NWKRTC have run into annual losses worth Rs 600 crore, and a fare hike may be inevitable if operations are to be continued. The decreasing fuel efficiency (mileage) of buses caused by halting in congested, traffic-ridden roads and additional taxes for fuel have only added to the debt, the minister complained. In order to make profits and generate some revenue, a proposal for a 20% hike in bus fares has already been made. The matter is being considered by the…

A press note from the Information Department, government of Karnataka, says that BMTC is issuing student passes for the convenience of the students at concessional rates. An online system has been introduced this time, to avoid inconvenience to students like submission of documents and standing in the queues. This system is directly integrated with the Education Department database, where student can directly apply through Education Institutions or directly by themselves through e-form. This article lists the procedure to be followed for online application of student passes. For details of the updated service launched in 2019, click here.  Type: Upto 10th…