Articles by News Desk

Worrying AQI levels call for an action plan Mumbai's average air quality index (AQI) has consistently been in the "Poor" and "Very Poor" levels this week. The stagnant winds, low temperature and high moisture accumulate and keep pollutants in the air longer. In response, the 24 wards have been asked to take remedial measures advised by Airavat Enviro Engineers and Consultants. The consultancy has suggested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) take the following steps: clean dust and sprinkle water on roads; introduce a ban on open garbage dumping and burning; monitor construction sites, heavy potholed roads and industrial areas; direct…

HC nod to axing trees for metro line The High Court, on December 7th, said that the BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Lmt) can go ahead with the felling and translocation of trees, as outlined by the Technical Expert Committee (TEC). It has permitted the BMRCL to fell 466 trees, translocate 21 trees, and retain four trees on the Kempapura to Shettigere stretch on the Phase-2B of the Metro line to Kempegowda International Airport. The BMRCL can also remove 114 trees, translocate 12 trees, and retain three trees on the Central Silk Board to Kodineesanahalli metro station stretch of the…

Permanent pathway for persons with disabilities set up in Chennai's Marina Beach As a solution to years of struggle by PwDs to access Marina beach, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has set up a permanent pathway. The pathway was inaugurated by Triplicane MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin on November 27. The ramp, which is 263m in length and three metres in width, is made of babool, red maranthi and Brazilian wood at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore. While access points have been provided at every 10m for easy entrance and exit, the viewing point is set up 10m from the sea. …

SEC seeks to speed up BBMP polls The SEC (State Election Commission) filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the government to issue a fresh notification to fix the reservation for the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) wards immediately. The SEC alleged to the courts that the state government is seeking three more months to issue a notification, so that it can delay the BBMP elections beyond May 2023. The Assembly polls are due before May, so if the election schedule is declared, then the BBMP elections would get postponed indefinitely. The hearing on the state application…

State deploys 11-member task force to control Measles crisis Maharashtra has formed an 11-member task force to control the measles crisis in the state. The task force will include paediatricians, an epidemiologist, representatives from WHO, UNICEF, health officials from BMC and National Institute of Virology, Pune. There have been 89 measles outbreaks in Maharashtra so far with 12,241 suspected cases and 745 confirmed cases. This is a 700% jump compared to the previous year. Data suggests Mumbai to be the epicentre, accounting for 37 of 89 outbreaks. Source: Times of India Read: Missed vaccines, misinformation and other gaps highlighted by…

Cooler weather in Chennai reduces the demand for electricity Owing to cooler weather, the electricity demand decreased by 20% in Chennai, pegged at 2141 MW on November 23rd. The city has been experiencing below-normal temperatures due to low pressure in the north of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal. TANGEDCO sources say that the electricity demand has reduced due to less usage of air-conditioners in Chennai. Usually, the monsoon season sees a power demand of 2500 MW-2700 MW in the city. On November 20th, a Sunday, the electricity consumption came down to 2013 MW because workplaces were closed in…

A comprehensive parking policy in the works The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims it has completed drafting a parking policy for the Mumbai Parking Authority (MPA), which would be legally authorised to fine illegal parking. It will go live on a pilot basis early next year in the wards: D (Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road), G-South (Worli), K-West (Andheri west) and S (Powai, Bhandup). The civic body has been under deadline after the High Court ordered parking spaces be designated in the city. While all NOCs have been acquired, the digital platform and a centralised data system is yet to…

Coldest November day in a decade The minimum temperature of 13.9 degrees celsius, on November 21st, was the lowest reported in November in a decade, said the IMD (India Meteorological Department). At HAL airport station the temperature was reported to be 12.5 degrees celsius, while at Bengaluru International Airport station, it was recorded to be 14.7 degrees celsius. The maximum temperature on November 21st was 25.2 degrees celsius. It was on November 21, 2012, that the temperature plummeted to 13.3 degrees celsius, but the all-time low record was 9.6 degrees celsius on November 15, 1967. Source: The Indian Express Read…

Street parking in Chennai has always been a contentious issue between pedestrians and vehicle owners. As the former wonders where to walk, the latter wonders where to park.  This question becomes even more prominent as Chennai roads bear almost 60 lakh private motor vehicles as of 2021, which is one-fifth the total number of vehicles in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, the count of privatised motor vehicles has increased by two times. With these recent developments, street parking has become a pressing issue that affects daily life in the city. Attempts have been made to address the issue with the proposal for…

Teen footballer's death causes uproar The death of a 17-year-old football player, R Priya from Vysarpadi, due to medical negligence at the government hospital in Chennai has created an uproar across the State. Priya was admitted to Periyar Nagar Government Peripheral Hospital where she underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the ligament on her right knee on November 7. She then developed complications due to prolonged pressure caused by a compression bandage and was shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) where her leg was amputated and treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). On November 15, she was…