INTERVIEWS

The Cantonment Railway Colony was declared Bengaluru’s second Biodiversity Heritage Site in September 2025—a rare victory for citizens who had protested against large-scale tree felling for a proposed commercial development. Over 15,000 citizens stood tall against the tree felling, and following months of protests, the government declared the site a Biodiversity Heritage Site. However, just three months later, on December 6, the state government withdrew the notification. The reversal has once again put nearly 370 heritage trees in the colony at risk. A threat for citizen participation The colony houses around 370 mature and heritage trees belonging to around 50…

With air pollution levels hovering between the 'poor' and 'severe' categories, Delhi has been gasping for breath. The air quality has continued to deteriorate, with the capital recording an AQI of 372 on December 2nd, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. So, is the winter mist coupled with the vehicular pollution only to blame? The reality is more complex than that. Dust from construction activity and malba or construction and demolition (C&D) waste contribute significantly to air pollution in Delhi. Moreover, managing this waste is a huge challenge for the city's civic administration, and the majority of C&D waste…

The Pallikaranai Marshland, one of Chennai’s last remaining natural wetlands, has long been a site of ecological tension. Its designation as a Ramsar site brought national and international recognition, along with renewed expectations for strong conservation measures. Yet the marshland continues to face intense pressure from urban development, infrastructure projects and real estate expansion.  Recently, Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption organisation, alleged that state agencies illegally cleared environmental and construction approvals for a large high-value housing project within the Ramsar boundary. As the matter unfolds, it reveals how regulatory gaps and political inaction make the marsh vulnerable. Meanwhile, residents of Tansi…

As the realities of climate change become increasingly evident, conversations around its psychological impact are more important than ever. In the first part of this series, we shared the experiences of individuals navigating eco/climate anxiety in their daily lives. In this second part, we speak with two experts, Cauviya and Samatha, to delve deeper into eco-anxiety and eco-grief and examine how environmental changes are influencing mental health across different social groups. Read more: Bengaluru’s street vendors are the first to be impacted by climate change: Lekha Adavi About the experts Cauviya Cauviya is an industrial/organisational psychologist who is trained in…

Imagine taking a stroll through beautiful mountain roads and encountering mounds of garbage. Many Himalayan cities and towns in India have been grappling with the issue of growing plastic waste and its disposal. Zero Waste Himalaya (ZWH) is a collective working towards waste management in the Himalayan region. Their frequent clean-up drives and brand audits have helped them understand the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is a policy approach that places the onus of plastic waste on producers and packaging industries. These companies are expected to take responsibility for the waste they generate, ensuring its collection, recycling, reuse,…

Residents of North Chennai have been vehemently opposing the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant set to come up in Kodungaiyur. Over the past few months, they have made several representations to GCC officials and Mayor Priya Rajan, and even organised a human chain protest. During their research into the dangers of WTE plants, the group found that these facilities release pollutants including sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), hydrogen chloride (HCl), heavy metals, dioxins, and furans — contaminating the air, water, and soil. Waste incineration, in particular, contributes significantly to elevated PM2.5…

Indian cities are growing, so are their waste problems. As landfills overflow and garbage blackspots spread, governments suggest waste-to-energy (WTE) plants as a solution. However, incinerators face strong opposition due to their health and environmental impact. So, how do we manage waste sustainably? Reducing waste at source, improving segregation, and promoting local composting can make a significant impact, believes Sumana Narayanan, Deputy Director for Programs at Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, an organisation fighting waste pollution. An ecologist and environmental researcher, Sumana is an expert in advocacy, sustainable transport, solid waste management, and policy. In an interview with Citizen Matters,…

In September 2025, the Karnataka government issued a notification modifying the buffer zones around Bengaluru’s stormwater drains and lakes. The new guidelines prescribe just 15 metres for primary drains, 10 metres for secondary, and only 5 metres for tertiary drains—much lower than the earlier mandates of 30/15/10 metres. The notification follows the proposal to amend the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) Act, reducing buffer zones around lakes. Lake buffers, which were at 30 metres, have been proposed to be reduced to a range between 0 and 30 metres, based on the lake's size. This move has been criticised…

On June 28th, Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT), the first citizens' collective in Bengaluru to formally maintain a lake, celebrated its 15th anniversary. Puttenahalli lake, also called Puttakere because of its relatively small size, was waste-ridden and nearly dry in the 2000s. In 2008, Usha Rajagopalan, writer and resident of an apartment near the lake, launched a campaign to revive it. Other interested residents in the area soon joined in, and they formally registered themselves as PNLIT. Their first major success came in 2010 when BBMP started reviving the lake in response to their campaign. The next year, PNLIT…

Once a fiery trade unionist and now a seasoned people's representative, Chennai's Ward 4 Councillor R Jayaraman has been involved in electoral politics for over 35 years. Hailing from the village of Veeranapuram in Thiruvallur district, his journey advocating for people's rights began early. At just 16, he led a protest demanding higher wages for the farmers in his village. This led to a lifetime of grassroots activism and public service. He previously served two terms as the Councillor of Ward 46. In the most recent local body elections, he secured victory as the Councillor of Ward 4 in the…