GENRE: LN

Bengaluru was 'cleanest' city post Deepavali Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's Air Quality Index data during this year's Deepavali (November 14 to 16) showed that air pollution levels in Bengaluru were lower by 30.34% when compared with the corresponding days last year. With an AQI between 50 and 70, it had the cleanest air among other cities. The most polluted localities on those days were Chandra Layout, Vijayanagar, Hampinagar and Nayandahalli, with an average AQI of around 90. The least polluted areas were the Kempegowda International Airport, Madiwala, Bellandur, Bommanahalli, Yemlur, Koramangala and HSR Layout. There has been a 20%…

Central and state government Public Sector Units (PSUs) have encroached upon 656 acres of the Kosasthalai River’s backwaters in Ennore since the disastrous floods of 2015, according to a report by Save Ennore Creek Campaign. Released on the eve of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Chennai, the report highlighted the fact that central government PSUs, including Kamarajar Port, NTECL Vallur and Bharat Petroleum had converted 417 acres into industrial real estate since 2015. Shah’s program in the city includes the inauguration of a new berth in Kamarajar Port. TIDCO’s poly park – a plastics industrial estate – encroached into…

Translated by Sandhya Raju கிழக்கு கடற்கரை சாலையில் திட்டமிடப்பட்ட மழை நீர் வடிகால் திட்டம் , அங்குள்ள குடிமக்களின் எதிர்ப்பால் பின்னடைவை சந்தித்துள்ளது. 2004 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஏற்பட்ட சுனாமி மற்றும் 2016 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஏற்பட்ட கடும் வெள்ளத்திலும் இந்த பகுதி வெள்ளத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படவில்லை என்று வாதாடும் இவர்கள், இங்குள்ள மணல் மண் இயற்கையாகவே பாதுகாப்பு அரணாக அமைகிறது என்கின்றனர். 270 கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்பில் கொட்டிவாக்கம் - உத்தண்டி இடையே வடிகால் அமைக்கும் இந்த பணி, ஜெர்மன் வளர்ச்சி வங்கியான KfW வின் நிதியதவி பெற்றது. இங்கு வசிக்கும் மக்களின் எதிர்ப்பால் திட்டம் கிடப்பில் போடப்பட்டு, சென்னை உயர்நீதி மன்றத்தில் திட்டத்தை எதிர்த்து வழக்கும் தொடரப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஒருங்கிணைந்த வடிகால் திட்டம் ஒருங்கிணைந்த மழை நீர் வடிகால் திட்டத்தின் கீழ் 2012 ஆம் ஆண்டு, சென்னையின் விரிவாக்கப்பட்ட பகுதிகளில் வடிகால் கட்டும் முதன்மை திட்டம் அமைக்கப்பட்டது. இதன் படி,…

How many of us consider approaching the consumer court for a faulty piece of electronics, for an insurance claim that’s not honoured or for services like warranty and maintenance contracts that are promised but not provided? What happens when you do? How long do you wait? And how many of us succeed? The idea and intention behind setting up Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions was to ensure swift and cost-effective access to justice to us, the consumers. Though it serves this purpose (in comparison to having to fight consumer cases in other courts, where it would take longer), a report by…

Only green crackers are allowed in Bengaluru this Deepavali. Pic: Pxfuel Green crackers allowed during Deepavali Though Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had earlier announced a firecracker ban, on November 6, the state government specified that green crackers could be burst. The National Green Tribunal has also said that only green crackers can be allowed in Bengaluru, which is a 'non-attainment city' in terms of air quality. According to the records maintained by the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), Bengaluru is polluted beyond the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards. NGT also said it might have to consider issuing directions…

Over the past few months, there appears to have been a marked improvement in the number of cyclists and the total trips taken in the city. This trend was gauged from the riding data of a subset of cyclists who use the popular service Strava. The charts below have been drawn from the data collected by Strava Metro which helps cities improve infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. The data is provided by real time users who enable the app to track their ride. This data provides insight on the different corridors and the number of cyclists during the day. Surge…

'Poison in the Air', a study by Chennai Climate Action Group (CCAG), has revealed that six major industries in the Ennore-Manali region have been contributing to pollution during 59% (215.35 days) of the previous year (2019). The study analyzed over 18 lakh hours of the stack emissions data of TANGEDCO’s North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage I, NTECL Vallur power plant, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL), Tamil Nadu Petroproducts Ltd (TPL), Manali Petrochemicals Ltd (MPL), and Madras Fertilizers Ltd (MFL) obtained from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board's (TNPCB) Care Air Centre through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. According…

A storm water drain project to be executed in areas along the East Coast Road has hit roadblocks with residents from several localities registering their protest. The residents reason that the areas where the drains are set to be laid did not see significant flooding during events such as the tsunami in 2004 or the floods of 2016 due to the sandy nature of the soil, making the drains redundant. The 270-crore project is funded by the German development bank KfW and was mapped to cover the areas between Kottivakkam and Uthandi. But the work on the project has stalled…

Mini transfer stations to process waste To strengthen decentralised waste collection, BBMP will set up 50 mini transfer stations. Waste collected by auto-tippers and push carts, instead of being loaded onto compactor trucks, will be brought to the mini transfer stations. The stations will process waste from two wards each. According to BBMP, this system will reduce garbage transfer points as well as black spots in the city. It will also ensure there is no leakage of garbage residue from compactor trucks. Besides, fewer garbage vehicles will be required, which in turn will reduce air pollution. Only four waste processing…

Ambattur has the biggest small scale industrial estate in South Asia. The locality is slowly turning into an IT hub and in the past three years, the quality of roads has improved thanks to the many road-laying projects taken up by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). But, has the quality of life really improved in Ambattur?  Many deep-rooted issues plague civic life at Ambattur. Residents of the zone are still waiting for amenities such as water and sewage connections, despite being included in the Greater Chennai Corporation limits in 2011. Basic rights such as public health and education are still…