GENRE: Explainers

The blanket of haze that shrouds most big cities in India has grown denser as air quality continues to dip. Last winter was no different with pollution levels soaring way above permissible limits and posing major risks to public health.      A recent analysis of winter pollution during 2024-25 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights alarming pollution trends in India's megacities, with Delhi leading with the worst air quality. Even megacities outside the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) have seen escalating air quality challenges, despite relatively favourable climatic conditions.  One significant trend across cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai,…

Does the water supplied to your home smell strange or taste metallic? With growing concerns over drinking water contamination in Chennai, it is a wake-up call for residents to question what is coming out of their taps. A survey conducted by IIT-Madras revealed that water in 75% of city homes is contaminated with E. coli, a bacteria responsible for causing diarrhoea and vomiting. Moreover, another IIT-Madras study discovered the presence of harmful chemicals known as forever chemicals or pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in major water bodies such as the Buckingham Canal, Adyar River, and Chembarambakkam Lake. Samples from a…

In the first part of this series, we explored the legal and practical challenges faced by apartment owners and associations and the need for clarity about the legislations that govern apartment ownership in Karnataka. Part 2 focused on frequently asked questions about the registration of apartment associations and took a closer look at the regulatory landscape in the State. Effective management of apartment associations is critical to ensure the smooth functioning of residential communities. However, disputes over maintenance charges, redevelopment processes, financial mismanagement and compliance with legal norms often create conflicts between stakeholders. Part 3 of our series on apartment…

“I used the Ayushman Bharat card twice, as I had to undergo a procedure to remove water from my lungs. My entire expense was covered by the scheme. It would have been a burden to arrange ₹2 lakh on my own, but thankfully, all expenses were taken care of through this scheme," says Chikkamaregowda, a resident of Yelahanka. He opines that the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has been beneficial for people who fall below the poverty line. The Ayushman Bharat (AB) scheme is a key initiative of the Central government, launched with a vision to achieve 'Universal Health Coverage' as recommended…

In the first part of this series, we explored the legal and practical challenges faced by apartment owners and associations and the need for clarity about the legislations that govern apartment ownership in Karnataka. Part 2 focuses on frequently asked questions about the registration of apartment associations and takes a closer look at the regulatory landscape in the State. There is a general confusion in Karnataka about the legislation under which apartment owners' associations must be registered. Although the Karnataka Ownership Act, 1972 (KAOA, 1972) provides for registration of owners' associations, it does not mandate such registrations or prescribe any…

The rapid growth of apartment complexes in Bengaluru reflects the soaring urban housing demand. Stringent housing regulatory frameworks are essential for the balanced growth of the real estate sector. Currently, the apartment regulatory landscape in Karnataka is the cause of jurisdictional confusion and legal disputes. So, it is important to highlight the legal and practical challenges faced by apartment owners and associations. This assumes importance in the light of speculations of a proposed new legislative framework to govern apartments in the State.  Housing laws in Karnataka The Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as KCSA, 1959): The Act…

The Tunnel Roads Project (TRP) was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet on August 22, 2024.  On December 20th the same year, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) unveiled the 628-page report titled “Comprehensive Bengaluru City Traffic Management  Infrastructure Plan – proposals for vehicular tunnel / grade separator / road  widening in selected corridors- final feasibility report, December 2024”, prepared by Altinok Consulting Engineers Inc.  The report has clubbed together proposals for tunnel roads, double deckers and grade separators (Flyovers/Elevated Corridors), with one of its key objectives being “...developing a plan to support mobility of public transport users, pedestrians and  cyclists”. One of…

On January 6 2025, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) launched the ‘Singara Chennai’ smart card, enabling cashless transactions not only on MTC buses but also on metro trains in Chennai. It can be used in Bengaluru and Delhi too, which accept the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). In the first phase of the rollout, MTC has partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) and plans to distribute 50,000 cards free of charge. Within the first 15 days, MTC sold around 11,000 cards. One of the challenges faced by MTC bus conductors and passengers is ensuring the correct change for…

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, recently released the draft  Environment Protection (Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging made from paper, glass and metal as well as sanitary products) Rules, 2024 for comments. The regulation uses a similar framework as the Plastic Waste Management Rules on EPR (5th amendment) 2022. These rules mandate that producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs), including online platforms/marketplaces and supermarkets/retail chain register on the centralised online portal, and fulfil their extended producer responsibility (EPR) towards recycling, recycled content and end of life disposal, meeting the targets set for each.  Prioritise action…

Air pollution is a silent epidemic killing people and chipping away at the quality of life the world over. “Not only long-term exposure, but short-term exposure to large quantities of particulate matter can cause an increase in mortality rate. Globally, the death rate due to air pollution is as high as 65 lakhs because of multiple causes, including pollution-related respiratory, cardiac and neuropsychiatric illnesses. Overall they are the outcomes of poor AQI,” explains Dr Snehal Jadhav, the Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at R. N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai. This is more than evident in a study published in…