February | 2020 | | Citizen Matters

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’?

Low-cost housing crunch in Mumbai: Is the state to blame?

February 28, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the state’s nodal agency for public housing provision, is no longer able to build and sell houses at affordable rates. Many blame the tweaks in government policies that conveniently favour the corporate builders’ lobby.

Scant hope for ‘housing for all’ within Mumbai city

February 27, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Lack of public housing for low and middle income families has left them with few options in the city. They are forced to move to the peripheries, which lack physical and social infrastructure. Meanwhile, of 193 affordable housing projects listed, only four, including three slum redevelopment projects, are planned for Mumbai city itself.

How liveable is your city? Take this survey to help ascertain that

February 26, 2020 News Desk

While the Ease of Living Index has been compiled since 2018, this year will see greater emphasis on citizen participation. Through a Citizen Perception Survey, the ministry seeks the views of citizens on quality of life in their city.

Give more money to urban local bodies, but on condition: XV Finance Commission

February 26, 2020 Srikanth Viswanathan

The report submitted by the XV Finance Commission for 2020-21 recommends a substantial increase of close to 30% in grants available to ULBs, but to avail these, they must notify minimum rates of property tax, show improvement in revenue and submit audited accounts. Take a look at the detailed recommendations.

When will we love our cities as much as we love Donald Trump?

February 24, 2020 Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya

A lot has been done to get our cities and landmarks ready for the visit of the US President, but would any of it have been necessary if there were better systems and governance in place?

City Buzz: Shaheen Bagh updates | Underwater Metro in Kolkata | Hope for Delhi pollution hotspots…and more

February 23, 2020 News Desk

Been busy during the week? Catch a recap of the most important news from our cities in our weekly round-up.

How graffiti art is paving the way for women empowerment and social change

February 21, 2020 Jahanvi J

Missing the safety of studios, graffiti involves scaling tall buildings, working long nights, and often secretly, with the risk of getting caught by cops. Nevertheless, using graffiti as a tool of protest, female artists in our cities are breaking stereotypes.

How Kerala stopped the Coronavirus scare from becoming a full-blown health crisis

February 20, 2020 N V Ravindranathan Nair

Kerala initially declared a “state-specific health emergency” after three positive Coronavirus cases were reported in the state. However, it withdrew the declaration within days and today, the situation is largely normal. No fresh case has been reported from any part of the state.

Explained: The Data Protection Bill and how it proposes to safeguard your personal data

February 19, 2020 Soumya Shekhar

The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is currently before a Joint Parliamentary Committee for consideration. Take a look at the key features of the proposed law and how it aims to protect your personal data, and send in your comments to the committee by February 25th.

Knowledge on small cities: What are we missing?

February 19, 2020 Tarun Sharma

Urban research has been disproportionately focused on big cities. Consequently, the knowledge that informs the thinking and decisions for the future of urban India is also largely derived from larger cities. How can the information deficit on small cities and towns be bridged?

When will Bhopal enjoy a walk in the park again?

February 18, 2020 Shuriah Niazi

Bhopal has over 100 public parks, but most are in sad shape — used as protest venues or dumping sites, or merely languishing in decrepit condition. The state and municipality have now promised to revamp three of these, with funds released under the Amrut scheme.

City Buzz: AAP takes charge of Delhi again | STPs for Maharashtra ULBs | IIT study warns of heat islands in cities…and more

February 16, 2020 News Desk

Reintroducing City Buzz, where you can catch your weekly dose of important news and expert analysis on cities across India

Families fight for fair rehabilitation after Kolkata’s decades-old Tallah basti is demolished

February 15, 2020 Smita Khator/PARI

Families evicted from Tallah basti in north Kolkata to make way for bridge repairs find themselves in temporary transit sheds, far removed from the lives they were leading. Their main demand is proper rehabilitation – a permanent place to live from where they won’t be thrown out.

Mumbai 24X7: Maximum city now open for maximum hours of the day

February 14, 2020 Azkeya Tase

In line with a government decision aimed at promoting tourism, Mumbai — the city that never sleeps — is running a pilot project that allows select malls and eateries to stay open all day and night. A week after the experiment started, we asked citizens and businesses about their experience.

Fatal accidents on Hyderabad’s Biodiversity Park flyover raise questions over its design

February 13, 2020 Kolla Krishna Madhavi

Hyderabad’s first second-level flyover, inaugurated with much fanfare, had to be closed down following two grave accidents, causing three deaths and several injuries. Increasingly, fingers are being pointed at glaring design issues, especially its dangerous curves and inclines.

In Srinagar, houseboats and their builders face extinction

February 12, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

On one hand, strict High Court guidelines prohibit new registration of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar. On the other, there are just three master craftsmen left, who can build these boats, the older ones among which are in decrepit state.

How the Indian government is trying to stop the spread of novel Coronavirus in the country

February 11, 2020 News Desk

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, has issued a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha on the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus Disease in China and the subsequent actions taken by the Government of India. Here’s what he said.

Despite statewide ban, Mumbai still has miles to go before it can be plastic-free

February 11, 2020 Jahanvi J

In March 2018, Maharashtra imposed a blanket ban on the use of plastic in the state, particularly in Mumbai. Almost two years later, the city still finds itself grappling with plastic waste, largely due to patchy implementation by BMC and inadequate attention to processing of discarded plastic.

Chandigarh: Resettled vendors rue lack of business and facilities in new vending zones

February 10, 2020 Raj Machhan

The main grouse appears to be around the location of the new zone; those allowed to operate in original sites, or relocated to sites near market areas, appear satisfied with the new regulation even if they have seen marginal decline in business.