Articles by News Desk

Police vehicles purchased for women being used as escort vehicles for Shinde govt MLAs Since July, vehicles purchased by the Mumbai Police under the Nirbhaya fund to combat crimes against women have been used as escort vehicles for MPs and MLAs of the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The fund is a corpus set by the Centre in 2013 for state governments to ensure women's safety in the aftermath of 2012 Delhi gangrape. In June, Mumbai police spent Rs 30 crore under the Nirbhaya fund and purchased 220 Boleros, 35 Ertigas, 313 Pulsar bikes and 200 Activas. Source: The…

Potholes back on roads after heavy rains By December 12th, 11.30 p.m., Cyclone Mandous led to a thunderstorm in Bengaluru and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) observatory recorded 75 mm of rainfall this December. For HAL airport, rainfall recorded was 53.4 mm and for Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), it was 67.2 mm. Heavy rains jammed many roads and held up traffic, in Silk Board Junction, Basavanagudi, Queen’s Circle and Sulthanpet Main Road, due to poor drainage. The continuous showers ruined the roads and brought back potholes again, while recently-built roads also developed potholes. New potholes developed in a recently-laid road…

Some roads to be free of litter in Chennai by 21st December Across all 15 zones, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to make some roads litter-free, with the help of enforcement squads. This is part of a slew of initiatives to improve solid waste management in the city. There are also plans in place to solicit wider cooperation from residents and shop owners in avoiding littering. The enforcement squad will have conservancy inspectors and supervisors led by the zonal assistant executive engineer of GCC's Solid Waste Management department. They will issue spot fines to people who illegally dump garbage…

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…