Articles by News Desk

Delhi world's 'most polluted' city post Diwali: Study Delhi's Diwali night blazed with colours and high-decibel firecrackers. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) department received a record number of 318 distress or emergency calls of fire accidents, out of which 280 were alerts. According to Swiss firm IQ Air, the air quality index stood at over 345 shortly after dawn, in the "hazardous" category, with New Delhi at the top of a real-time global list as the world's most-polluted city. However, on November 1st, Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed gratitude to Delhiites for "largely refraining from bursting firecrackers" on Deepavali, which helped…

Praja, the NGO which works to ensure government accountability, has released a target based manifesto for reforms in Maharashtra for the upcoming assembly elections. The manifesto is designed to empower local governments as they are best placed  to understand and resolve local urban issues. It outlines four major urban governance reforms, each with clearly identified goals, issues and targets which are in alignment with the sustainable development goals. Urban governance reforms Empowered City Elected Representatives and Legislative Structure: Empowered governance leads to effective governance. This requires urgent measures like timely and regular municipal elections and training for councillors. Service delivery: Devolution…

Cyclone Dana lashes Odisha, Bengal The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on October 25, in its 10 am bulletin, that the landfall process of Cyclone Dana, which touched the Odisha coast with a ‘severe’ storm, is complete. The heavy rains and strong winds caused extensive damage in Odisha and West Bengal. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that more than 30% of the targeted 10 lakh people had been evacuated to safe places by October 23rd evening. About 288 rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services have been…

Maharashtra is at a critical juncture in its urban development. As cities expand and populations grow more diverse, the state's transportation infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Rising pollution, worsening congestion, and increasing social inequities have escalated from issues of inefficiency to a full-blown crisis. As the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections approach, these mobility challenges require urgent action. Also Read: Local and ethical candidates only, Govandi citizens tell political parties ahead of elections To address this, Parisar, Waatavaran, and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC), with support from the Sustainable Mobility Network (SMN), have co-drafted the Maharashtra Urban Mobility Charter…

The members of Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum have written an open letter for the political parties about candidates they field from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency in the upcoming assembly elections. The letter stresses that citizens want their candidates to be local and ethical candidates. Based on the opinions of voters, citizen groups, and citizen welfare associations, the letter outlines the qualities that the voters are looking for in their leaders. Infrastructure challenges in Govandi The constituency has several issues such as poor infrastructure, poor sanitation and substandard living conditions. The letter highlights the following challenges. Slum conditions: With a large population…

Firecracker ban can reduce nanoparticle emissions by 22% A study published by Delhi Technological University has revealed that strictly following the firecracker ban in Delhi from October 14 to January 1 can help reduce 20-22% of nanoparticle emissions. This includes reducing the sale and online distribution of fireworks, the study published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health said. The researchers measured and collected data on particles within the size range of 10 to 1,000 nanometers, inside DTU for 11 days in 2021 and 2022, for the study titled ‘Are Delhi residents exposed to lesser particle number concentration due…

As the Northeast monsoon intensifies in Tamil Nadu, the fishing community in Ennore has asked the State government to clear blockages and encroachments along the Kosasthalaiyar River and Ennore backwaters. In an open letter addressed to K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Minister for Revenue, District Revenue Establishment, Deputy Collectors for Disaster Management and P Amudha, Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the fishers point out that these blockages are affecting the health of the Ennore wetlands and could cause flooding in Chennai, if not cleared. While the services of the fishers and fishing boats are called upon every monsoon for flood rescue,…

Bengaluru's AI signals reduce traffic flow New AI-powered signals, as part of the Bengaluru Adaptive Traffic Control System (or BATCS) scheme have enabled Hudson Circle junction, in the heart of the city, show a 33% reduction in travel time, according to the traffic police. It utilises the Composite Signal Control Strategy (CoSiCoSt), developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), to measure dynamic traffic flow, using camera sensors to change signal timings. The BATCS covers 60 junctions, including National College, Town Hall and Halasuru Gate junctions. Its aim is to cover 165 junctions by January and 500 by…

According to the 2016 Comprehensive Mobility Plan by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, 51% of trips in Mumbai are by walking. Notably, 72.5% of trips to educational institutions and 60% of trips involving public transport start and end with walking. Despite these figures, Mumbai's infrastructure is not pedestrian-friendly, and road safety remains a significant concern. Recent projects like the coastal road and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link prioritise cars over pedestrians. Elections and pedestrians' needs With the assembly elections approaching, the Walking Project, an NGO that works towards creating a safe, convenient, and enjoyable walking experience, has released its…

Namma City most congested Bengaluru is the most congested city in India, says the Traffic Quality Index (TQI), which gives a snapshot of road conditions. Bengaluru scores high above 800 in the extreme congestion category. It is followed by Mumbai (787), Delhi (747) and Hyderabad (718). Even 9,000 AI-powered CCTV cameras, from which data collected feeds into map-based services, find it difficult to develop solutions. Traffic management is daunting, especially during rush hour and the monsoons. Score: Deccan Herald Green War Room to fight Delhi air pollution A 24×7 ‘Green War Room’ to control air pollution was launched by Delhi…