GENRE: Explainers

For urban planners, visualising a city’s growth requires determining the extent and nature of urbanisation that the city has and is experiencing. While satellite imagery is often relied on for comprehending the built growth, this data does not provide insights on what is the ‘nature’ of the built form: i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, among others. Unscrambling the data on building plan sanctions can potentially bridge this gap in understanding. In urban areas, the built growth or construction of buildings is managed and monitored by local bodies through its Town Planning Department, the first of such management being sanctioning a building…

Chennai has seen rapid expansion in recent decades. But essentials such as water supply and sewage connections have failed to materialise in many parts of the city despite demand from residents. This has forced residents to find alternatives such as procuring water from tankers and setting up their own Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Many apartments on the outskirts of Chennai, mainly on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), have set up STPs to treat the sewage generated in the apartment complex. Since the building rules mandate sewage treatment plants at multi-storeyed apartments, the builders will usually set up an STP and…

Chennai’s decentralised waste management system has been designed with the aim of reducing the quantum of waste that reached the landfills in Perungudi and Kodungaiyur. Dumping of unsegregated waste is a serious detriment to this goal. The mixed solid waste dumped in the dumpyards generates methane, which is one of the greenhouse gases. Methane is 25% more potent than CO2 in trapping heat in the atmosphere. With the looming effects of climate change, every stakeholder in the process must participate in managing their waste effectively. This includes the city’s many large apartment complexes and gated communities that have been deemed…

The 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections will take place on May 10th. Here is a quick guide to help make the voting process as smooth as possible. Check voter rolls and find your polling booth information You can only vote from your designated polling booth in the constituency your ward falls under, and your name must be in the voting list or electoral roll. You can find your name and information about your polling booth in a number of ways. You can use the Voter Helpline app created by the Election Commission. You can search for your name in the electoral…

The Merriam Webster dictionary’s definition of the word ‘manifesto’ is “A written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer”. Do the manifestos released by the four main political parties contesting the May 10th Karnataka assembly elections fit that definition? The intentions are somewhat spelt out, the motives are unknown. And its views on issues like decentralisation, of urban governance in particular, finds no mention at all. The tradition of issuing “manifestos” began with the first election in 1952. But those were different and simpler times with one major party, which faced no worthwhile opposition. But today’s…

Find out how Anekal Assembly Constituency is faring and what has been happening in this constituency. Learn about the incumbent MLA B Shivanna (INC) and other candidates -K P Raju (JDS) and Srinivas C Hullahalli (BJP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? MobilityCitizen engagementConstituency mapCitizen demandsIncumbent MLA: B ShivannaList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: B Shivanna, INCCandidate: Srinivas C Hullahalli, BJPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency Anekal constituency includes Anekal Town, Sarjapura, Attibele, Hebbagodi, Bommasandra, and some panchayats in the taluk. While the constituency is close to Electronics City (which…

Find out how Pulakeshinagar Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, who recently resigned from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly due to being denied a party ticket, and other candidates - AC Srinivasa (INC), BR Bhaskar Prasad (SDPI) and Suresh Rathod (AAP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapCitizen demands Incumbent MLA: R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, former INC MLAWork in the termIn the newsList of candidatesFormer MLA: R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, BSPCandidate: A C Srinivasa, INCCandidate: BR…

Find out how Vijayanagar Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about the incumbent MLA M Krishnappa (INC) and other candidates, including Ramesh Bellamkonda (AAP), H Raveendra (BJP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapIncumbent MLA: M KrishnappaIn the newsList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: M Krishnappa, INCCandidate: Ramesh Bellamkonda, AAPCandidate: H Ravindra, BJPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency Vijayanagar Constituency is the northernmost area in South Bengaluru. This constituency is surrounded by Mysore Road and Magadi Road, while Chord Road…

Find out how Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about the incumbent MLA S Raghu (BJP) and other candidates, including Anand Kumar (INC) and Mohan Dasari (AAP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapCitizen demandsIncumbent MLA: S RaghuWork in the termIn the newsList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: S. Raghu, BJPCandidate: Anand Kumar S, INCCandidate: Mohan Dasari, AAPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency CV Raman Nagar is a neighbourhood located in the eastern part of Bengaluru. It is at…