2018 Citizen Matters

City Buzz: Road users’ survey | Kolkata metro fire | Delhi cold wave…and more

December 31, 2018 News Desk

Two fires in Kolkata and Mumbai raise concerns, road safety at risk too, as users fare poorly in multi-city survey, What else are cities talking about this week?

All eyes on biogas plants as cities continue to grapple with overflowing landfills

December 29, 2018 Manupriya

India is set to have 5000 waste to energy plants in the next five years that will convert agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste into usable biogas. But are the conditions conducive and will it solve the waste crisis in our cities?

‘Call Your MP’ campaign to press for Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament

December 26, 2018 Shree D N

The Women’s Reservation Bill has not been tabled in Parliament till date, though several states have passed resolutions in favour of 33% women in politics. Meanwhile, here is a citizen movement that began down south and which promises action-packed days as far as the Bill is concerned.

Mental Health: Why you and I have a critical role to play

December 25, 2018 Deepa Vaishnavi V M

You may not have had a mental health issue ever. Nor are you a caregiver. Yet, your decisions could play a key role in determining the response to mental health challenges that are so rampant in the country today. Manoj Chandran, CEO of White Swan Foundation, explains why and how to make those informed decisions.

City Buzz: Airport privatisation by 2019 | Delhi winter sets record | Fire in Mumbai hospital…and more

December 22, 2018 News Desk

In Delhi and other cities in the north, the homeless suffer the most as temperatures plummet while in the eastern metropolis of Kolkata, clean air remains elusive. News from these and other cities in this week’s edition of City Buzz.

Living in rooms by looms: Fate of migrant workers in Surat

December 21, 2018 Reetika Revathy Subramanian / PARI

Around 8 lakh workers from Odisha, after strenuous shifts in Surat’s powerlooms, stay in rotation in crowded rooms, amid power cuts, scarce water, filth and noise. Illnesses are common, as are stress and alcoholism.

Solar rooftop connections: Why are city homes lagging?

December 19, 2018 Garima Prasher

A recent study conducted in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Jaipur and Nagpur reveals various challenges that the residential rooftop solar sector is facing in India, posing a risk to its target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. Some key findings here.

Mushrooms are fun guys!

December 17, 2018 Deepa Mohan

Delicate and ephemeral, these fruiting bodies are beautiful. They are also emerging as a big favourite in urban kitchens, though not all may be fit to partake of. Our nature columnist sends photos of the different types of mushrooms and fungi one can see around us, in the monsoon season.

City Buzz: Plan for Mumbai mangroves | Curbs on lavish Delhi weddings | Kolkata Metro cuts carbon footprint..and more!

December 15, 2018 News Desk

Delhi to take steps to curtail food wastage at weddings, Hyderabad grapples with record rainfall, Punekars win fight to save bird sanctuary … all this and more news from cities across the country. Stay informed.

Plastic waste in roads: Is that the solution cities must consider?

December 13, 2018 Arjun Rajan

Roads made out of plastic waste have been touted as a solution to the mounting plastic crisis in the country. What has been the experience of Indian states and cities with this approach so far? And what are the primary challenges?

Suburban rail systems in India: Can Bengaluru take a leaf from their books?

December 11, 2018 Sonal Kulkarni

Did you know that Mumbai local trains carry close to 8 million passengers a day? And Kolkata’s is the largest suburban railway network in India by track length and number of stations. The only way Bengaluru can get a suburban rail network comparable to these cities is through more funds, focus and administration.

City Buzz: Rapid transit system in NCR | Growth forecast for cities | Water cuts in Pune… and more

December 8, 2018 News Desk

Which will be India’s fastest growing city in the next few years? Why is Kolkata gasping for breath? What’s the latest on the planned rapid transit system in the National Capital Region? Read about all this and more in our weekly capsule of city news.

New-age therapists in the city, have you met one?

December 8, 2018 Garima Prasher

Did you know that observing fish movement for ten minutes could bring down your blood pressure? Or that any mild pain or discomfort in the body can actually be cured by looking into the eyes of your canine friend? Awareness is growing across cities as more and more people are recognising the potential of AAT or animal assisted therapy.

Special Project: Air Quality in our Cities

December 7, 2018 News Desk

March 2019: An in-depth look into the root causes behind air pollution in two of our metropolitan cities – Bengaluru and Chennai, and solutions for improving air quality.

Green lessons for Mumbai Marathon from Bengaluru

December 6, 2018 Shilpi Sahu

The Bengaluru Marathon organized by NEB Sports was greener than the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon organized by Procam International on the same date in October this year. Can Procam take some cues and go greener in its next big event — the Tata Mumbai Marathon?