GENRE: Explainers

Mumbai may not yet be Delhi but it doesn't mean that the air we breathe in the city is healthy. Though Delhi stands out among the most polluted cities during winters with its smog and alarming levels of AQI, the toxicity of Mumbai air is considered to be higher, according to this report from The Times of India. This is because of the increasing concentration of PM2.5 from automobiles, industries, construction activities and garbage burning, all of which affect air quality. Read more: Mumbai’s air pollution: Smog chal raha hai Mumbai's proximity to the sea is no longer a guarantee…

The e-khata project of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) digitises all manually maintained property records, making them accessible to citizens. In Part 1 of the two-part series on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Munish Moudgil, BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue) addressed queries on the digitisation process and other general questions on e-khata. In the second part, we look at property ownership and transaction, technical and portal issues, apartment-specific queries, name/data corrections, and language/format issues. We also examine issues pertaining to non-resident owners and inheritance, ward/location, fees and the process. Property ownership and transactions Q: Can e-khata serve as sole proof of…

The Revenue Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) provides a property ownership record, commonly referred to as the BBMP khata. This document serves as the official proof of ownership and is essential for various purposes, including property sales, registration, mortgages, loans, leases, and more. It is effectively the primary document used to establish and verify ownership rights. In an online interview with Citizen Matters, Munish Moudgil, BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue) spoke in detail about the e-khata project and how it can help property owners. Here is Part 1 of a two-part series on Frequently Asked Questions about e-Khata. What…

What if we had clean rivers, thriving lakes, and no foul-smelling drains ruining our morning walks? Sounds too good to be true? The new Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024 raise hopes for the same, though. With the new rules, the government has set the stage for a cleaner and more sustainable future—and urban citizens are at the heart of this transformation. "With the Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024, the government is setting the stage for a cleaner and more sustainable future" Why do these rules matter? India’s cities produce staggering amounts of liquid waste every day — from…

As winter sets in, the issue of air pollution once again takes centre stage, especially in cities like Delhi, where air quality worsens, affecting residents' health. Though attention has traditionally focused on northern cities, recent studies have raised growing concerns about the air quality in southern cities like Chennai. A recent study by the Lancet Planetary Health reveals troubling findings, showing that Chennai, despite having lower levels of air pollution compared to the cities in northern India, faces a significantly high mortality risk. The city, with an annual PM-2.5 (fine particulate matter) level of 33.7 micrograms per cubic meter, is…

Anjana S, a Bengaluru-based software engineer, estimates that e-commerce companies deliver at her doorstep at least 15 times a month. “I place orders with companies like Flipkart 2-5 times a month. And grocery orders with quick delivery companies, like Zepto, 3-4 times a week,” she says. Which leaves her with considerable packaging material, often plastic, that she has to dispose of. Like many Bengalureans, Anjana works out of home and rarely frequents retail shops these days. The discounts offered by e-commerce companies are more attractive as well. “Some platforms also waive the delivery fee if I buy a monthly pass,”…

India’s urban areas are running out of water in more ways than one. According to India’s first National Water Bodies Census 2023, only 3% of the country’s 2.4 million water bodies lie in urban areas. As urbanisation accelerates — with urban population projected to double from 410 million in 2014 to 814 million by 2050 — infrastructure increasingly threatens to consume the country’s blue spaces, including lakes, ponds, marshlands, and swamps. A 10-city study conducted by World Resources Institute (WRI) India found that between 2000 and 2015, while the built-up area in the surveyed cities increased, their blue cover decreased by an average of 15%. The loss…

Riding on the success of Ladki Bahin Scheme and a flurry of manifesto promises from better pension for older people, increased honorarium for Asha and Anganwadi workers, the Mahayuti - BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde)  and NCP ( Ajit Pawar) have swept the assembly elections with a tally of 230 out 288 seats in Maharashtra and 22 out of 36 seats in Mumbai. They are yet to announce the chief minister amidst heavy speculation as successful MLAs celebrate. As various reports and analyses indicate that the main factors were launch of welfare schemes or promises of the same, communal agenda…

The 2024 Maharashtra election is not just a crucial determiner for the State but also for Mumbai. This is because it comes at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been disbanded, leaving citizens without corporators to represent their concerns for the past two years. With no local representation, it isn't surprising that many candidates have released their individual manifestos, outlining the work they plan to undertake in their constituencies within the city. But do these manifestos address the challenges Mumbai is facing right now? The city has been struggling with a myriad of issues — huge gaps…

Table of contentsName of constituency: Borivali (AC 152)Incumbent MLA : Sunil Dattatraya Rane (BJP)2019 resultsConstituency summaryContesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Dahisar (AC 153)Incumbent MLA: Chaudhary Manisha Ashok (BJP)2019 resultsConstituency SummaryContesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Magathane (154)Constituency analysisIncumbent MLA: Prakash Rajaram Surve (SHS)2019 results:Contesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Mulund (155) Constituency analysis Incumbent MLA: Mihir Kotecha (BJP)2019 results: Contesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Vikhroli (156)Constituency analysis Incumbent MLA: Sunil Raut (SHS)2019 results:Contesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Bhandup West (157)Constituency Analysis Incumbent MLA: Ramesh Gajanan Korgaonkar (SHS)2019 results:Contesting candidates in 2024Name of constituency: Jogeshwari East (158) Constituency analysisIncumbent MLA:  Ravindra Dattaram Waikar (SHS)2019…