CITIZEN JOURNALISM

The proposed GBIT project has generated considerable debate regarding its potential ecological impacts on the Bengaluru–Ramanagara landscape. Two overarching concerns include the loss of highly productive agricultural land, and the transformation of the region's existing natural ecosystems. In particular, the large-scale loss of tree cover and waterbodies has attracted significant public attention. However, another key ecological dimension is wildlife habitats and animal mobility. Unlike agricultural fields or trees, wildlife movement is dynamic and spans diverse landscapes. The area between Bengaluru and Ramanagara is marked by recurring human–wildlife conflicts, particularly human–elephant. Understanding these elephant movements is crucial  for addressing broader ecological…

The Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026 (KAOMA) changes how a homeowner's share of the land is calculated — and the new formula gives the individual less than what the old law, that is the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972 (KAOA), promised. The KAOMA Bill was passed by the Karnataka legislature in August, but is yet to receive assent from the Governor, who has sought clarifications on certain provisions. What is UDI and why does it matter? When you buy an apartment, you buy two things: The flat — a depreciating asset (buildings lose value over time). Your Undivided…

Every afternoon around 2 pm when school ends, nine-year-old Rian looks forward to playing basketball. The neighbourhood park near his home does not have a basketball hoop, so he often uses a tree as an imaginary net. A few months ago, his doctor advised his mother, Geeta Kohli, to ensure he plays daily to help manage his childhood obesity. However, during Delhi’s unforgiving summers, the heat often disrupts this routine.  Rian's tuition classes start at 5.30 pm and in the afternoon, the outdoor temperature hovers around 45 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to go out and play. By the time…

Citizen lake groups have historically played an important role in protecting the city’s lakes. The erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has a long history of engaging with citizen groups. Citizen-led lake groups have long played a crucial role in acting as “watchdogs” of Bangalore’s lakes. They are often the “first responders” to problems that emerge in water bodies. They have raised alarm bells around illegal encroachments and often help coordinate between agencies to monitor rejuvenation efforts. They foster community awareness on lakes and are often able to innovate new solutions. The most recent version is the Kere Mitra (Lake‑Friend)…

Lying at an altitude of 920 metres in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats, Bengaluru’s geography and climate do not support a perennial natural water source. Instead, a north-south ridge divides the city into three primary valleys: Hebbal, Koramangala-Challagatta, and Vrishabhavathi. Rainwater draining down these slopes feeds a network of small streams — forming a cascading lake system that the city historically relied on for its water supply. During the Open City biodiversity datajam held in December 2025, our group examined the ecological trends around Bengaluru's lakes. Data on insects, spiders and flora on platforms like iNaturalist were insufficient…

On August 11, the Urban Development Department quietly published the draft Greater Bengaluru Authority (Parking) Rules, 2026 — the legal framework  meant to give teeth to Bengaluru's much-discussed Parking Policy 2.0. Citizens have thirty days to send in objections. Yet, few will read all eighteen pages of the notification. Fewer still will notice that a law framed as a way to curb traffic demand is, on close reading, a plan to expand parking supply and hand over enforcement to private players, while leaving the ordinary resident worse off.  That gap between the promise and what’s on paper matters, because parking…

When Lokayukta officials conducted a surprise inspection of Gottigere, Anjanapura, and JP Nagar 9th Phase in early April 2026, they found what residents of these neighbourhoods already knew: large heaps of uncollected garbage piled along roadsides, a city generating 5,000–6,000 tonnes of solid waste every day and visibly failing to manage it. Lokayukta Justice BS Patil summoned the Chief Operating Officer and senior officials of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), directed them to appear for a hearing, and asked for a detailed report on the lapses and remedial measures. It is a familiar script. Inspection. Summons. Report. Repeat. Howoever,…

The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) in Bidadi, first notified in March 2025, received its final notification in June 2026 under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act (KUDA Act), 1987. The project is branded as India's first and largest AI City, featuring an AI-integrated township. The project will be implemented by the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) under the same act. Three villages, Kempainapalya, Vaderahalli, and Mandalahalli are notified in the Gazette under Section 19(1) of the KUDA Act for the implementation of a development scheme, deemed as public purpose. The development scheme is spread over a total of 7,481…

On the last Sunday of every month, a lane in Mumbai's Shivaji Park becomes a collection point for dry waste. Residents bring paper, plastic, glass, e-waste, clothes, books and household items for recycling, reuse and upcycling. Volunteers receive, weigh and sort every donation before it is sent to the appropriate recycler or organisation. What began with six volunteers and 450 grams of plastic has grown into a community initiative attracting participants from across Mumbai. From Covid volunteers to community dry waste recyclers The origins of the initiative lie in an entirely different crisis. During the Covid-19 pandemic, residents of Madhli…

Recently, on my way home from my office in Bengaluru, I noticed that the street vendor who usually sat across from my office building had disappeared. It wasn't until I began following news reports that I realised her absence was part of something much larger. Following the Supreme Court's judgement on walkability in June 2026, city governments launched eviction drives against the most vulnerable users of streets and footpaths in India. Within weeks, street vendors across Mysore, Bengaluru, and Kolkata were evicted from footpaths without notice. News reports described altercations between evicted street vendors and civic officials as the eviction…