Civic

Garbage has a locality. On any given street in Bengaluru, certain spots are unofficially designated as waste spaces by the public. These areas, marked by piles of trash bags, walls with peeling plaster, and litter strewn about, reflect a broader issue. With a population of 1.4 crores, according to the World Population Review, waste management issues in Bengaluru are of growing importance.  Despite awareness campaigns, the problem of littering has become worse over the years. In this scenario, community organisations take to the streets to address the problem of waste, playing a crucial role in cleaning up the city. Tackling…

While most apartment associations strive to manage their societies with the utmost care, accidents related to swimming pools or electrical safety can still occur. Unfortunately, there have been some tragic incidents due to electrocution, which included the loss of two children, one of whom succumbed to an accident in a swimming pool and the other whilst playing in the park. There was also another death of a man, who died while working in an apartment sump. These incidents underscore the critical importance of implementing stringent safety measures and conducting regular maintenance to prevent such tragedies. “In apartments, lifts are well…

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)'s Ward 185 is reserved for women candidates. If not for the reservation, Sharmila Devi wouldn't have made her political debut. "Both my father-in-law and husband have been in politics for over a decade. Since the ward was reserved for women, I contested and won to become Councillor," she says. Ward 185 of Chennai also constitutes areas in Ullagaram that were annexed to GCC in 2011. The locals face issues such as inadequate drinking water supply, lack of proper underground drainage systems and poor road infrastructure in these areas. Ward 185 in Chennai Name of the…

A community swimming pool is one of the most pleasurable and easiest avenues of relaxation for most urban apartment dwellers today. And yet a number of very unfortunate incidents in the recent past have created grave concerns and stress around its use, maintenance and management. From Gurgaon to Hyderabad and of course, in Namma Bengaluru, several shocking incidents leading to fatalities in swimming pools have given a huge jolt to residents and management committee members. The biggest jolt, perhaps, came in the recent instance, where following the tragic swimming pool death of a nine-year-old child in one of Bengaluru’s apartments,…

Chennai is known for its rich cultural heritage, booming economy, and vibrant social life. However, the city faces a significant issue with the rampant proliferation of unauthorised advertising hoardings, or ‘flex’ banners. These banners are erected without permission from civic authorities. Despite existing regulations and penalties, this problem persists, leading to accidents and fatalities. This situation underscores the urgent need for stringent enforcement and increased public awareness. What are 'flex' banners? These banners are used for various purposes, including political campaigns, advertisements, religious events, and personal celebrations. Their low production cost and ease of use make them an attractive option…

Heavy rains affect lives pan India Heavy rains made the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issue an orange alert in four states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa on September 7. A yellow alert was earlier issued for Punjab, Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, western Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and northeastern India, Since August 25, there were at least 40 deaths and 55,000 displaced across 25 Gujarat districts. On September 3, the highest rainfall of 156 mm from 6 am to 6 pm was recorded in Valia, Bharuch. About 29 lost their lives in floods in Telangana. Heavy rains also hit parts of…

Rains batter Gujarat and Delhi The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Gujarat on August 26th because of heavy rains in the state. The rains are expected to continue till August 29th, with the IMD marking the state as a ‘flash flood risk’ zone. Baroda recorded 26 cm of rainfall, the highest in the state, from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm on the August 24. Ahmedabad recorded a rainfall of 10 cm, while the state average was 63.36 mm. Since August 24th, low-lying areas have experienced waterlogging, prompting the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to conduct rescue…

On May 13,  a 140 X 120 feet billboard erected in 2022 collapsed in Ghatkopar, killing 17 people and injuring 74. It clearly violated the permissible limit of 40 X 40 feet specified by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It was reported that the advertising agency, Ego Media, which had put up the hoarding had been leased a total of nine billboards by the Government Railway Police (GRP)—four at Ghatkopar and five more at Dadar Tilak Bridge. Moreover, the due tendering process was followed only for three of them. Terms and conditions in the tender document related to the Ghatkopar…

Every year, before the onset of monsoons, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shares detailed information about preparedness and flood mitigation measures. This includes details such as the number of pumps installed to drain out excess rainwater from flood prone areas, the identification of hot spots and so on.  Throughout the rainy season that lasts four months, the civic body puts out information about high tides, amount of rainfall, weather alerts and detailed rain-related accidents such as building collapse, tree falling incidents. They also inform citizens about the plans to pump the excess water from low-lying areas and drain it into…

Three months before the Ganesh festivities, residents of Kandivli’s Lokhandwala noticed disruptions in their walkways. Stalls making Ganpati idols had sprung up on the footpaths around the main Lokhandwala circle, making it difficult to walk. The presence of hawkers further compounded the problem. Unlike the community Ganesh pandals, which appear only a month before the festival and are confined to specific locations, these stalls are numerous and have been permitted to remain until the end of the Navratri festival in October, spanning almost four months. Read more: Soaring noise levels during Ganesh festival underlines the need for citizen action With…