GENRE: In Focus

“We had to take Cauvery connections as the common borewell tap went completely dry last summer. Even then, we cannot get a bucket of water without using motors,” said Hajira Bhanu, resident of Triveninagara slum in KR Pura. This slum — 'declared' or officially recognised by the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) — is comparatively developed. Yet the only water source for nearly 60 houses here is the Cauvery, which comes very faintly for less than three hours, twice a week. The residents have installed motors in their homes to draw water, which is considered illegal by the Bangalore Water…

Ambedkar Nagar, located in Kodathi panchayat, is a rapidly expanding neighbourhood in Bengaluru's outskirts. Young professionals socialising, walking to their workplace, waiting for their cabs—this area reflects Bengaluru's bustling IT ecosystem. Water tankers are a common sight, supplying water to local buildings. From small eateries to salons, the area has all the essential facilities for everyday life. The Wipro office premises are located on one side of Ambalipura-Sarjapura Road, while opposite its Kodathi gate, NPS School Road is lined with brightly painted, four-storey Paying Guest (PG) accommodations. But this growth has come at a steep cost, especially for the environment.…

வண்ணாரப்பேட்டையைச் சேர்ந்த 24 வயதான தரிஷினி, தான் தினமும் குடிக்கும் தண்ணீர் தனது உடல்நலத்தை இவ்வளவு மோசமாக பாதிக்கும் என்று ஒருபோதும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. திருநெல்வேலியைச் சேர்ந்த தரிஷினி கடந்த இரண்டு வருடங்களாக சென்னையில் தனியாக வசித்து வருகிறார். ஒரு நாள் மாலை, வேலையிலிருந்து வீடு திரும்பிய பிறகு, அவருக்கு கடுமையான வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டது. மதிய உணவாக சாப்பிட்ட காரமான உணவு காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதி, அவர் மருந்தகங்களில் கிடைக்கும் சில மருந்துகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு படுக்கைக்குச் சென்றார். இருப்பினும், மறுநாள் அவரது அறிகுறிகள் மோசமடைந்தன. மேலும் அவருக்கு அதிக காய்ச்சல் ஏற்பட்டது. அவர் மருத்துவரின் அறிவுரைகளின்றி தானாக மருந்து எடுத்துக்கொண்டு இருந்தார், ஆனால் நிலைமை மோசமாகிவிட்டது. "அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, என்னைப் பார்க்க வந்த என் தோழி, நான் உடல்நிலை சரியில்லாமல் இருப்பதைக் கவனித்து அருகிலுள்ள மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்றார். அங்குள்ள மருத்துவர்கள் நான் கடுமையாக நீரிழப்புடன் (severe dehydration) இருப்பதாகவும், என்…

Dharishini, a 24-year-old resident of Washermenpet, never anticipated that the water she consumed daily would take such a severe toll on her health. Originally from Tirunelveli, Dharishini has been living and working alone in Chennai for the past two years. One evening, after returning home from work, she developed intense stomach pain. Assuming it was due to the spicy food she had for lunch, she took some over-the-counter medicine and went to bed. However, her symptoms worsened the next day, and she developed a high fever. She continued self-medicating, but things took a turn for the worse. “Fortunately, my friend,…

In mid-February, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) submitted the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Airport-Kilambakkam metro project to the Tamil Nadu government. “The DPR proposes the construction of the elevated corridor in the first level and the metro corridor in the next level. It was prepared as per the suggestions of the State’s Highways Department,” M A Siddique, Managing Director, CMRL, told Citizen Matters Chennai.  Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, while presenting the state budget on March 14th, said the DPR would be forwarded to the union government. Estimated to cost Rs 9,335 crore, the metro line is among…

Catching a glimpse of the Indian Eagle Owl is not a rarity for birders and nature enthusiasts who frequent the Nanmangalam Lake and the surrounding forests. Yet, this privilege is under threat as the lake's once-thriving ecosystem faces severe environmental degradation. Fed by rainwater from the hillocks of the Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, the lake — spread over 200 acres — is now ravaged by encroachments, illegal water extraction, sewage and garbage disposal. Chennai has two significant reserve forests: the Pallikaranai Wetland and the Nanmangalam Scrub Forest. Located along the Tambaram-Velachery Main Road, Nanmangalam Forest is one of the last remaining…

In an earlier article, we highlighted how Bengaluru lags behind in utilisation of funds received under the National Clean Air Programme, and how that, coupled with the lack of an elected municipal body, threatens the prospect of climate action. In November 2023, BBMP launched the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP), with the objective of addressing climate issues in the city.  Following the launch of the BCAP, a climate action cell was established in February 2024 to coordinate the work of different departments towards climate action. Some of these plans are to be realised utilising NCAP funds, either exclusively…

Despite enabling over eight crore hospital admissions, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) remains riddled with challenges that make accessing its benefits a daunting ordeal for many. For countless eligible citizens, the promise of free healthcare often gets entangled in a web of bureaucratic hurdles, unclear eligibility criteria, and implementation gaps. The first part of this series explained how people can apply for benefits under AB-PMJAY. In Part 2, we dive into the systemic gaps and the struggles beneficiaries face in accessing the scheme's medical benefits. Proving your eligibility for Ayushman Bharat As per provisions of the…

Chennai witnessed an unprecedented environmental disaster this year, as more than 1,000 dead Olive Ridley turtles washed ashore in January. The mass mortality event has put the Forest and Fisheries Departments, along with voluntary organisations, on high alert, prompting collaborative efforts to strengthen Olive Ridley turtle conservation. The Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 2020, which mandates mechanised trawlers to fish at least five kilometres from the shore, was enforced more strictly from late January. Fishermen were educated on the dangers of ghost nets and urged to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to prevent accidental turtle entanglement. Read more: Oil…

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how BEST’s wet-leased buses — owned and operated by private contractors — are rapidly replacing its own fleet. In Part 2, we explore how this model is impacting the quality of bus services.Last December, nine people were killed and another 37 injured in an accident involving a wet-leased electric bus in Kurla. According to the police, the driver had not been adequately trained before being moved to an automatic electric bus from manual, geared buses. Under the wet-leasing model, introduced to cut BEST’s costs, a contractor owns and operates the bus, and…