Civic

Sponge parks are quickly becoming a prominent element of Chennai’s flood mitigation efforts. Spearheaded by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the project now boasts 78 sponge parks in the city, under the Sponge City initiative. While these structures are designed to manage surface runoff and prevent urban flooding, a closer examination reveals significant deviations from the holistic, nature-based designs that typically define a sponge park. Unlike the sponge park in Porur (Dr MS Swaminathan Wetland Eco Park), that integrates nature-based design and ecosystem restoration, most GCC-implemented sponge parks function more like glorified rainwater harvesting systems. The critical question remains: Are…

On August 11 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed all authorities in the National Capital Territory — extending to Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad — to immediately relocate all stray dogs from all localities in the region. The apex court ordered all street dogs to be shifted to dog shelters, from where they must not be released under any circumstances. Any individual or organisation found to obstruct the work of authorities capturing and moving the dogs shall face legal consequences. The order came from a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, hearing a suo moto case…

Amidst the urban sprawl of HSR Layout, Swachagraha Kalika Kendra (SGKK) stands out, looking nothing like a traditional park. At the entrance, a striking archway made of old plastic bottles and scrap materials makes a statement on creative reuse. Stepping further in, visitors to the park are greeted by a thriving community garden, where vegetables are grown organically.  SGKK is not just a park; it is a place for learning and community action, and inspires people in the locality to adopt sustainable waste management practices. The park stands as a microcosm of what the city could become—greener, more conscious, and community-driven.…

Several Marathi poets have captured the beauty of the month of Shravan: the gentle, short spells of silken raindrops, playing hide-and-seek with the sun, and etching rainbows in the sky. After one and a half to two months of dark skies and consistent rainfall in Mumbai, Shravan, when it starts around August, is seen as a time for Mumbaikars to enjoy the rains, as the monsoon wanes in intensity towards the end of the season. At least, that used to be the case.Over the past couple of years, however, rains have started to visit Mumbai at the beginning of June. Then it…

Cities evolve with their demographics. The industrial revolution, which led to the initial spurt in urbanisation, forced cities to improve their facilities—waste management, water supply, and most notably housing—so that the rising population could be supported. More recently, the focus on climate change has forced cities around the world to reckon with problems like air pollution, the urban heat island effect, and extreme weather events like floods. One of the most pressing demographic shifts of the 21st century that cities must take into account as they grow, is the rise in the proportion of the aged and ageing in total…

Two summers ago, even with the fans on, sweat would trickle down Rupali Devi’s face and body relentlessly.  Now, she can sit home and eat a meal in peace, without having to wipe sweat off every few minutes. Rupali, 23, lives in a 128 sq ft house at Nargis Dutt Nagar slum in Mumbai’s Bandra West with her parents and five siblings. With an asbestos sheet for a roof in a congested neighbourhood, summers felt hotter than they actually were. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), between the decades of 2001-10 and 2014-23, Mumbai’s…

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…

[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…