Rishabh Shrivastava Citizen Matters

COVID has changed tourism. Will it also make it more responsible?

January 6, 2021 Rishabh Shrivastava

This is the time for the government to identify early stage start-ups practising sustainable tourism and help them scale up and create best practices to be replicated.

Varanasi’s horrible air quality typical of issues faced by cities of Indo-Gangetic plain

December 19, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

An alarming report on air pollution in these plains from the University of Chicago (EPIC) shows that residents here are losing 7.5 years of their lives as a result. What’s causing this?

Char Dham highway project will only add to urban woes

November 27, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

While the big focus is on mobility, the ramifications of the Char Dham project on urban ecology of the several small towns situated on the highway deserve more scrutiny.

What makes our cities clean: On Swachh Survekshan, rankings and beyond

September 29, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Key highlights from a webinar organised by Citizen Matters on the Swachh Survekshan 2020 and the deeper insights from experts.

Will MP government’s ‘Kill Corona’ campaign be enough to reverse the spike in Bhopal and Gwalior-Chambal belt?

July 13, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

It was only in June that the state implemented a number of steps, like setting up fever clinics, to curb the spread of the virus. There are also concerns that the upcoming elections may hurt transparency.

Does latest government protocol quell fears over safety of Aarogya Setu?

May 15, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Who can access your personal data from the Aarogya Setu app and for how long? Latest govt rules clarify, but does that address safety concerns?

Phased exit from lockdown: What does the Centre’s containment plan say?

April 10, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

As coronavirus positive cases near the 6000 mark, an immediate end to the nationwide lockdown on April 15th is very unlikely. Instead, states are looking at containment strategies to keep ‘hotspots’ under total lockdown. Here are the basic guidelines from the Ministry of Health that will drive such containment strategies.

“If lockdown is extended, economic consequence could be worse than health consequence”

April 6, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

In an exclusive interview with Citizen Matters, Shekhar Tomar, Asst Professor of Business and Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, says economic decision makers must chalk out a clear blueprint on how to respond to the economic crisis which could linger even after the lockdown ends.

Reorientation time: How Indian cities are using their existing infrastructure to battle COVID-19

April 4, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Cities and towns in India continue to be the hot spot for the coronavirus infection; at the same time, it is our cities that have the maximum potential to fight this most effectively. Several steps have been taken to utilise the physical and digital infrastructure of the cities creatively to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

Enforcing the ‘right to walk’ in Indian cities

February 29, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Despite countless reports underlining the threats faced by pedestrians on Indian roads and the high number of casualties, Indian cities have failed to provide safe and secure walking spaces to pedestrians. What does the law say on the ‘right to walk’?

Dehra’s Rs 295-crore nerve centre to integrate and coordinate civic service delivery: Smart city chief

January 24, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

Smart roads, smart parking, green markets, water ATMs and the most celebrated Doon Integrated Control & Command Centre (DICCC) — hear about the various smart city projects underway in Dehradun from the CEO of the city’s smart city mission.

Bulk of Dehradun’s e-waste ends up with unauthorised recyclers; here’s why

December 13, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

A majority of citizens and traders dealing in electronic items have never heard of e-waste management rules or extended producer responsibility. Where does the city’s large quantum of electronic waste go then?

How 5000 school kids in Dehradun helped put 550 kilos of plastic waste where it belongs

October 25, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

Dehradun Smart City Limited’s innovative and community-centric initiative titled “Plastic Wapsi Abhiyaan” involved almost 20 government schools, engaging more than 5000 students and 100 teachers. Here’s how they did it.

Trendy vacations, urban comforts, lavish weddings: What is killing our Himalayan region

August 19, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

Ask Shimla, Mussoorie, Leh or any other Himalayan town and they will relate the woes arising from unplanned urbanisation, irresponsible tourism and an unsustainable model of growth followed by the state. A ‘green bonus’ or a separate ministry may not be enough to reverse the damage being done.

Ill-planned, ill-executed PPP projects behind Uttarakhand’s crumbling health services

July 13, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

Health centres in villages have become mere referral points for private hospitals in the city, which themselves suffer from inadequate infrastructure and failing emergency services. Proposed PPP projects show a big gap between potential and actual results.