Articles by News Desk

Bengaluru has seen its share of mobilised violence. Mobilised violence refers to violence perpetrated by a group of people to achieve an identified objective. There are significant socio-political, historic and economic factors that engender mobilised violence, but the inadequacy of the legal system and absence of sensible policing also play a role in preventing it. Existing legal approaches have failed to curb mobilised violence. While some laws aim to address it by imposing restrictions on hate speech and the formation of associations or assemblies, they are often broadly constructed, vague and invariably misused. The discretion conferred by these laws to…

Indira Canteen contractors not paid for seven months Contractors of 198 Indira Canteens, including mobile canteens, find it difficult to operate as the BBMP has not paid their bills for more than seven months. The contractors include Chef Talk Food and Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd, Rewards, and Adamya Chetana. Udaykumar of Rewards used to operate 88 canteens, but is now managing 50, according to the new tenders which came into effect on August 1. The government subsidy (for three meals per day) was earlier Rs 37, but has been reduced to Rs 30.3 (Rs 9.8 for breakfast and Rs 10.25…

Cyclone Nivar ravages city Cyclone Nivar made landfall near Puducherry on November 25th. It brought heavy rain and strong winds to Chennai. Ram Nagar in Velachery, parts of Madipakkam, Puzhuthivakkam, Pulianthope and KK Nagar are some of the localities that witnessed severe inundation as a result of the cyclone. Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner G Prakash stated that high tide was one of the reasons behind inundation in the city. While Chennai’s flat gradient reduces the speed of water draining, the high tide makes it difficult to pump out water from areas with water stagnation.  The commissioner further added that…

Farmers reach Delhi The farmers from Punjab, protesting against the Centre's controversial farm laws, reached Delhi on 27th November. After more than five hours of confrontation between the police and farmers, the former were instructed to let the farmers in. The "Delhi Chalo" protests are being organized by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee and various other outfits of Bharatiya Kisan Union. The farmers planned to reach Delhi through five highways connecting the national capital. In Haryana, the police authorities used water canons and tear gas to disperse the farmers but failed to do so. The farmers in retaliation broke…

Cyclone Nivar brought with it heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu with winds going upto speeds of 130 km/h as it made landfall near Puducherry on the night of November 25th. The cyclone rapidly gained strength in its last few hours and was categorised as a "severe cyclonic storm”. With repeated warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to brace for the cyclone, many districts shut down completely and suspended transportation services to ensure safety. Cities in the region, including Chennai, experienced heavy rain and flooding.  Link with climate change With the cyclone having…

Cyclone Nivar is the first cyclonic storm to hit Tamil Nadu since the devastating Cyclone Gaja in 2018. The cyclone is expected to cause heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds. The cyclone is set to make landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around midnight of November 25th (and early 26th). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the wind speed of Cyclone Nivar will be at 100-120 kilometre per hour (KMPH), gusting up to 140 KMPH in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Tiruvarur districts. The tentative path of the cyclone set to make landfall between 25th and 26th. Pic:…

Rainfall, groundwater data to be available online Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has expedited work to patch the automatic water gauge and digital water recorder devices. This will help inform residents of the city about variations in the groundwater table as well as the volume of rainfall in their respective neighbourhoods through data available on the CMWSSB website.  According to officials, the rainfall data would be useful to determine how it impacts the level of groundwater table, its quality and also assess over-exploitation of water as it happens. The agency also intends to distribute water based on the…

Bengaluru was 'cleanest' city post Deepavali Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's Air Quality Index data during this year's Deepavali (November 14 to 16) showed that air pollution levels in Bengaluru were lower by 30.34% when compared with the corresponding days last year. With an AQI between 50 and 70, it had the cleanest air among other cities. The most polluted localities on those days were Chandra Layout, Vijayanagar, Hampinagar and Nayandahalli, with an average AQI of around 90. The least polluted areas were the Kempegowda International Airport, Madiwala, Bellandur, Bommanahalli, Yemlur, Koramangala and HSR Layout. There has been a 20%…

Central and state government Public Sector Units (PSUs) have encroached upon 656 acres of the Kosasthalai River’s backwaters in Ennore since the disastrous floods of 2015, according to a report by Save Ennore Creek Campaign. Released on the eve of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Chennai, the report highlighted the fact that central government PSUs, including Kamarajar Port, NTECL Vallur and Bharat Petroleum had converted 417 acres into industrial real estate since 2015. Shah’s program in the city includes the inauguration of a new berth in Kamarajar Port. TIDCO’s poly park – a plastics industrial estate – encroached into…

Post Diwali, air quality worsens in Delhi-NCR On the night of Diwali (14th November 2020), pollution levels in the national capital rose up to eight times above the safe limit and further worsened on Sunday morning. Air quality in the NCR area was in the 'severe' category due to Diwali celebrations. On Sunday morning at 6 AM, the level of PM 2.5 (particles that are directly inhalable and as small as 2.5 micrometers) in Delhi was 469.3 ug/m3 against the safe limit of 60 ug/m3 as per Indian standards. As of 9 AM on Sunday, AQI (Air Quality Index) for…