GENRE: Explainers

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…

According to a recent news report, there has been a 20% increase in theft cases compared to 2023, linked to domestic help. This has naturally created apprehensions and flagged the need for safety checks around employment of household help and staff in gated communities and independent homes. Background checks and police verification have been established as recommended procedures while hiring staff, following several untoward incidents in the city. These checks are advisable as they help both the employer and the staff build a relationship of trust and confidence towards each other. Many Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and individuals are unaware…

The metropolis of Bengaluru, once celebrated as a garden city, is now grappling with the loss of its green spaces, leaving its dwindling lakes as the last line of defence against urban heat. Citizen groups deeply committed to preserving these lakes, have actively engaged in restoration efforts despite challenges like conflicting stakeholder priorities. This is Part 3 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru's lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru's lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a lake, including core zone assets (ecological assets) and social zone assets (recreational assets). …

A lake is much more than a mere water body, it is a complex ecosystem. All those resources or features that make this ecosystem complete and sustainable can be considered lake assets. Assets are generally classified into core zone assets (ecological zone assets) and social zone assets (recreational zone assets). Each serves a set of distinct purposes, supporting the ecological, infrastructural and social functions of a lake system. This is Part 2 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru’s lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru’s lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a…

Bengaluru’s lake system is a distinctive feature of its urban landscape, shaped by the city's unique topography. It is designed to manage its water resources effectively. Divided into three main valleys — Hebbal Valley to the north, Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley to the south and southeast, and Vrishabhavathi Valley to the west and southwest — the city’s lakes form interconnected cascades that enhance water storage, control floods, and recharge groundwater. This is Part 1 of a three-part Citizen Matters explainer series on Bengaluru’s lake systems. Part 1 explores Bengaluru’s lake system, highlighting its functions and features.  Part 2 focuses on the assets of a…

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…