EDITORS' PICK Citizen Matters

Hope anew for Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill as PMO steps in

August 8, 2019 Sri Krishna

Following national and international outcry over East Delhi’s towering Ghazipur dump, the Prime Minister’s Office has issued a Global Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting solutions from experts to the problems posed by the landfill.

‘Peeda’: What urban villagers in Noida claim to have got in return for the lands they gave up

August 3, 2019 Nilotpal Kumar

A team of researchers met villagers and activists engaged in anindefinite dharna at the marble market site in Noida’s Sector 48. Here are the stories that the protesters shared as they explained their anger and grief.

Why Shimla smart city projects worth Rs 2905 crore look destined to fail

August 1, 2019 Ashwani Sharma

53 projects in all are envisaged under the Shimla Smart city mission, all to be completed by 2022. But a severe crunch of funds, coupled with an NGT ban on new construction to arrest haphazard and risky sprawl, makes it all seem unrealistic and unattainable.

Ludhiana’s bridge of chaos makes life miserable for commuters

July 31, 2019 Raj Machhan

The old British built Jagraon bridge, that shared the traffic, has been closed since 2016, so that the new bridge sees pile up lasting for hours at peak times. Work on a new bridge, however, remains in limbo, as do many other infrastructure projects in the city.

Meet the guardian angel of Mumbai’s defence against climate change

July 30, 2019 Kartik Chandramouli/Mongabay

Seema Adgaonkar, one of the four Range Forest Officers at the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit until recently, has been guarding the city’s vital mangroves that act as a natural barrier against sea level rise and coastal flooding.

A wetland on just 1% of Bandra Kurla Complex could lessen Mumbai’s flooding problems!

July 29, 2019 Apekshita Varshney

A wetland of that size with two retention basins has managed to mitigate urban flooding to a large extent in an Australian suburb. And such wetlands can be created even in a congested city, as Japanese examples have shown. These and other innovative solutions from the east merit serious consideration in flood-prone Mumbai.

How northeastern migrants are building a home away from home in Delhi’s Humayunpur

July 26, 2019 Arunav Chowdhury

Take a peek inside the melting pot that is Humayunpur, where you will find northeastern migrants from across the city gather to shop for groceries, eat native food and look for houses to rent. ‘It’s just like home,’ they say.

12 years and 1100 crores behind it, Pune BRTS fails to solve commuter woes

July 25, 2019 Ekta Joshi

Flawed design, poor implementation, and the near absence of a centralized authority has left the bus rapid transit system in shambles, with infrequent buses, shabby and ailing infrastructure, and road mishaps on these corridors being the norm.

35 years on, govt looks away as Bhopal neighbourhood continues to drink chemical-laden water

July 20, 2019 Shuriah Niazi

Two generations have seen the light of day since the disastrous gas leak at Bhopal’s Union Carbide factory. Yet, children are still born with congenital defects and people battle chronic illness, as thousands of tons of chemical waste lie in the open, contaminating air and water. Is the state even bothered?

How one of Delhi’s tallest structures is contributing to climate change

July 17, 2019 Sri Krishna

Intense summers are not uncommon in Delhi, but when temperatures soared to 48 degrees this June, it was a record even by city standards. Could emissions from the East Delhi Ghazipur landfill have had a role to play?

Why Mumbaikars are getting angrier about tree felling

July 16, 2019 Hepzi Anthony

Around 500 people from different walks gathered at a public hearing on July 8th to raise their voices against the proposed felling of 2702 trees in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony. This is just the most recent example of growing citizen engagement and efforts to save the green cover of the city.

Traffic jam at 13000 feet: What summer tourism means for hill towns in Himachal!

July 10, 2019 Ashwani Sharma

Summer heat in the northern plains sees tourists flocking in huge numbers to Shimla, Kullu-Manali and the scenic Rohtang Pass. But just look at what it does to the ecology and the regular lives of citizens here.

What’s making the water in Shillong oily and undrinkable?

July 9, 2019 Linda Chhakchhuak

Authorities say it is because of the high usage of chemicals needed to treat the turbid waters in the once pure rivers and springs of the region. But what is polluting the water in the first place?

A must-have checklist for apartment buyers as cities run dry

July 5, 2019 Vishwanath Srikantaiah

Multi-storied apartments dot the skyline in all our cities, defining the aspiration of many urban citizens. But don’t forget the terrible water crisis we face today; if you are planning to invest in a flat, make sure the apartment has smart water management in place.

Will NGT crackdown force Lucknow civic body to sort out its waste mess?

July 4, 2019 Atul Chandra

An NGT-appointed committee has recommended fines of Rs 5 crore and Rs 2 crore respectively on the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and its chosen private partner in solid waste management, Eco Green. Here’s why.