Civic

[Part 1 of this series covered the poor state of homeless shelters in Bengaluru. In Part 2, we look at who is responsible for this, and why.] “We can’t work anymore because of our age. Where will we get food?” asks Nataraj*, an elderly, retired watchman living in a homeless shelter in Yeshwanthpur. As per the Shelter for Urban Homeless Scheme (SUH) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), residents up to 10% of the shelter's capacity should be given free food, prioritising the elderly and sick. But for months, most shelters in Bengaluru have not been doing…

Every year, rains brings chaos in Mumbai. The Mumbai monsoon exposes the city and its residents to many hazards, from tree falls and flooded streets to electrical risks and public health threats. In this quick 2-minute explainer, we break down what you can do to stay safe this rainy season, including: Whom to call for open manholes How to report waterlogging The app every Mumbaikar should have What to do during a power leak Where to find shelters, hospitals, and updates https://youtu.be/ko1Ogv5L5iQ Also read: Monsoon ready? A checklist for Mumbai residents and neighbourhood Mumbai floods once again. Will BMC's climate…

“I had to leave my village in Belagavi and come here with my daughter after I learned of my husband’s extramarital affair. I have no home now,” says Manjula* who works in a hotel and lives with her daughter in a shelter for the homeless run by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).  “Our crops in Raichur were all ruined due to extreme weather and our returns have reduced drastically over the years. We had to shift to the city for any work to survive,” says Raja*, who stays in an all-male shelter. His wife and daughter stay in a…

For those of us who rejoiced for long at the complete absence of large outdoor hoardings (billboards in American parlance) in Chennai, those days of happiness may be very limited. As per a recent news item, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has invited those interested in putting them up to apply via an online system connected to its website. The civic body has not elaborated on how it has overturned a decision taken by the party in power, both at the Corporation and state levels. And it has also not elaborated on how it proposes to prevent these from becoming…

With rapid urbanisation and increasing strain on public water supply systems, especially in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, sustainable water management has become essential. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is one of the simplest and most effective methods to address water scarcity, reduce urban flooding, and restore groundwater levels. This guide provides a clear overview of what RWH is, why it matters, how it works, and what it costs. What is RWH? Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) refers to the practice of collecting and storing rainwater for use or directing it into the ground to replenish groundwater. This can be achieved through two main…

The monsoon is just settling in to Bengaluru, however, the city is already under water, and residents are blaming the crumbling infrastructure and haphazard development in the city for the widespread waterlogging. Tractors and boats were engaged to rescue people stranded in flood-hit areas. Many companies have asked their employees to work from home, as many parts of the IT corridor were inundated. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta has said that official negligence and poor inter-agency coordination were the key factors behind Bengaluru's flooding. Read more: Lack of stormwater drain planning in Bengaluru is a risk factor for future floods Why…

Migrant workers and their families, street vendors, gig workers, domestic help and many more—where do these people figure in city heat mitigation measures? India's heat action plans (HAPs) are falling short where it matters most. About 95% lack vulnerability assessments, leaving communities ill-prepared for rising temperatures, reveals a Centre for Policy Research study. Most plans fail to account for local contexts, oversimplify the hazards, and overlook the most at-risk populations. Bengaluru does not even have a heat action plan. In 2024, architect and climate researcher Ujjvala Krishna, along with other experts from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and…

As temperatures soar in Delhi, residents are left grappling with the intense summer heat. But does the Heat Action Plan (HAP) 2025, released by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, provide real relief? The government claims that the plan is designed to address emergency response and long-term mitigation, and includes measures such as water coolers, cooling shelters, regular temperature updates and health advisories. The question remains—will these steps be sufficient to protect vulnerable communities from the escalating heat? Here are the key highlights about the plan and what it misses in addressing.    Early warning systems and targeted relief measures   The…

The GBG Bill: A 'great' idea or just 'greater' trouble? The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024 proposes significantly restructuring Bengaluru’s governance by splitting the city into seven corporations and creating a single, unified authority to oversee the city's development. The goal is to streamline decision-making and address Bengaluru’s growing challenges, like traffic and infrastructure issues. But will this really lead to decentralisation? Citizen groups and urban planners argue that the plan gives too much power to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and weakens local representation, considering elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike are long pending. When: Tabled in the…

Chennai's parking policy overhauled Are you one of those desperately seeking parking spots in Chennai? Then look out for these five insights from the policy introduced by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA). Why: The ultimate, though distant, aim of the policy is to streamline parking and reduce driving. With 9.2 million vehicles crowding Chennai’s streets, the government hopes to encourage people to use public transport, ride-sharing, cycling, or walking. This shift is aimed at decongesting roads and enhancing safety and mobility, according to the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) experts, who offered technical knowledge support for…