GENRE: LN

This article is part of a special series: Air Quality in our Cities The mood in Whitefield and adjoining areas of Bangalore has been upbeat of late. The citizen’s group from the area created history on October 29th by getting a Supreme Court (SC) order which, for the first time, pulled up Graphite India limited (GIL) operating a plant in the area, as a serious offender contributing to air pollution by imposing a fine of INR 50 lakh based on the “polluter pays principle.” “We are very happy; we entered the SC as intervention petitioners challenging Graphite India Limited (GIL)…

Pre-property registration work goes online; citizens unhappy with RERA-K The Karnataka government has launched a website to help citizens cut through long queues to register properties at the sub registrar's office. It provides the option to make appointments online. One can get the right valuation of the property. The website helps in the issuance of marriage licenses as well. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy launched it on November 16. The launch date was earlier shifted from October 16 due to the model code of conduct for bye-elections. The web application of the Department of Stamps and Registration can be used to download…

தமிழ் மொழி மற்றும் இலக்கியத்தில் ஆர்வம் கொண்டுள்ள, ஒத்த பார்வையுள்ள சிந்தனையாளர்கள் கூடும் ஓர் தளமாக இயங்குகிறது 'மன்றம்’. வாழ்வின் பல்வேறு கட்டங்களில், வேறுபட்ட அனுபவங்களை சந்தித்து அவற்றை பற்றி ஆழ்மையாக சிந்தித்த பலர் அவர்களின் எண்ணங்கள் மற்றும் பாடங்களை பகிர்ந்துகொள்ளும் ஓர் வாய்ப்பாக மன்றத்தின் நிகழ்ச்சிகள் விளங்குகின்றன. மன்றத்தின் உரையாடல்கள் ஆக்கபூர்வமாகவும், பயனுள்ளதாகவும் விளங்கும். மன்றத்தின் மூன்றாவது நிகழ்ச்சி வரும் நவம்பர் 17, சனிக்கிழமை மதியம் 2 மணிக்கு இந்தியன் இன்ஸ்டிட்யூட் ஆப் டெக்னாலஜி ஆராய்ச்சி பூங்கா அரங்கத்தில் நடைபெறவுள்ளது. இதில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றும் நபர்கள்: பார்த்தசாரதி ராமானுஜம், யோகா பயிற்ச்சியாளர் மற்றும் மென்பொருள் வடிவமைப்பாளர்: பாரத்தின் அழைப்பு ராஜேந்திரன் தண்டபாணி, தீர்வுகாணபவர், ஜோகோ: கணினி நுண்ணறிவு ஷோபா மேனன், நிறுவனர், நிழல்: நிழலில் பிறந்த ஒளி சி கே குமரவேல், இணை நிறுவனர், நேச்சுரல்ஸ்: சின்ன படிகள், பெரிய கதவுகள் தஸ்லீம் பர்ஸானா, அரங்காவலர், திவ்ய ராஸா ட்ரஸ்ட்: சில…

Saritha and Krishna (names changed), residents of South Chennai, eloped and got married in May this year. As they belong to different castes, their families opposed the relationship, due to which the couple cut ties with the families and are living on their own now. However, every month is a struggle, as the family sustains itself on Krishna’s meagre income. Since a smart card would take care of their basic food expenses such as rice, dhal and sugar, the duo applied for it online. But, they could not complete the procedure, as the form requires deletion of their names from…

There is perhaps not a Chennaiite, who has not, at one time or the other, frequented the lanes of Parry's Corner, a commercial hub for wholesale plastic and paper products, clothes and electrical items. But ask any of them and it's unlikely to come across one who has visited the neighbourhood recently, but has not been left aghast at the pathetic state of affairs in this historic avenue. Narrow roads made narrower by illegally parked vehicles; cars, rickshaws and pedestrians jostling for space in bylanes that are barely 6 ft wide; unregulated packaging units adding to the mismanaged waste in…

The elevated road corridor from Maduravoyal to the Harbour is back in the news. A Committee recently reviewed progress on the project with particular reference to the issues of land acquisition. Earlier in the year, it was decided that the road, planned originally for four lanes, will now be expanded to six. With all this, it appears that the project will take off once more, five years after it was stalled ostensibly for environmental reasons, while it was an open secret that the actual cause was political. The story then given out was that the piers for the elevated road…

In an earlier article on electric autos, we had explored how electric rickshaws could serve as a panacea both for the growing air pollution in Bengaluru, as well as the last mile connectivity issues that plague commuters in the city. We had even outlined the policy that exists with regard to introduction of such vehicles. But the transition from paper to practical use has its own challenges. Continuing that focus, we sat down for a chat with Omkareshwari, Joint Director, E-Governance and Environment, Department of Transport to discuss more about the official policy and get an idea of when e-autos…

Every Chennaiite feels a sense of pride and excitement when crossing Kathipara, Asia’s largest cloverleaf flyover that connects several arterial roads at the all important Guindy junction. Just a few yards from Kathipara in Guindy is the Guindy industrial estate, a hub for small and medium scale industries. But a ride inside the estate premises makes you wonder if this locality, with its toxic waste mountains, dangling EB wires and haphazardly parked vehicles is even in Chennai. Such is the stark contrast between the Kathipara area and the Guindy estate. Now and then Touted as Asia’s first production cluster, Guindy…

An untiring battle of the Ennore fishermen to save Kosasthalaiyar river from the clutches of Kamarajar Port proved successful as they scored an important victory after the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) rejected the Port's proposal to locate port facilities on the eastern banks of the Kosasthalaiyar’s backwaters in Ennore Creek. The fisherfolk, however, said that their battle to have all of Ennore Creek declared off limits for industrial projects will intensify. As part of the Phase 3 expansion, Kamarajar port had planned to develop facilities like office, commercial buildings and parking terminals on the eastern part…

Dy CM mulls over temporary ban on private vehicle registration In an interview with The Economic Times, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said he is keen on finding solutions to manage the city's booming vehicular population, especially by ensuring that registration of new vehicles is put on hold for the next two years. His proposal is to stop 2500 private vehicles from being added to the roster everyday, and conversely increase the dependence on public transport. In the meantime, he promised to complete the white topping project within two years to sustain the load of vehicles. Parameshwara, whose portfolio includes the Bangalore…