Civic

Mumbai faces flood risks due to illegal dumping of debris along Mithi river Several hundred trucks of debris have been deposited and remain uncleared along the east bank of Mumbai's Mithi River. This has increased the chances of flooding coming monsoon in case of heavy rains. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials believe that if the debris is not cleared soon, it will slide into the river and obstruct its flow. BMC's stormwater department has sought information from ward offices to stop the debris dumping. The K/E ward has informed the department that the dumping is outside its limits. Meanwhile, the…

Siddu, DKS to take joint charge The Congress finally announced its Chief Ministerial and Deputy Chief Ministerial candidates in Karnataka on May 18th, leading Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar to tweet: “We are united to safeguard the interest of the people of Karnataka”. To 75-year-old Siddaramaiah, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, it is a dream come true for getting the second term after a gap of five years. He will be sworn-in as the 24th Chief Minister. Congress is also likely to induct 10 to 12 ministers along with him at the Kanteerva Stadium in May 20th. Both leaders…

The Urban Revamp Design Challenge – conceived by Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Sensing Local, under the Sustainable Mobility Network, in partnership with the Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI), Curiosity Alliance Foundation, and Kasturi Nagar Residents Welfare Association – is back in 2023. They are inviting proposals for reimagining two newly-identified public spaces in Bengaluru: CV Raman Nagar (Ward 117) and Padarayanapura (Ward 168). This initiative aims to blend technical expertise with citizen participation to transform certain parts of the city. About the second and first editions A common scenario experienced by rapidly urbanising Indian cities today…

After a steady reduction from 2017 to 2020, the city witnessed an increase in waste collection from 5500 Metric Tonnes per day (MTD) in 2020-21 to 6300 MTD in 2021-22, says a report released by Praja Foundation. The highest contributor is wet (food) waste which comprises 73% of the total garbage collected at the landfills. The report on the status of civic issues in Mumbai, highlighted challenges in solid waste management, sewerage and water bodies. Moreover, due to the deteriorating sanitisation facilities, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) failed the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 5-Star Rating of 'Garbage Free Cities' in…

NGO accuses Greater Chennai Corporation of corruption Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, has alleged that a decision by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to build a community hall instead of renovating a Corporation Middle School in Ward 114 Chepauk involved corruption. The school in Ward 114 was supposed to undergo repairs and renovation, according to parents and teachers. Therefore the students were shifted to a nearby GCC school which did not have enough space to accommodate more students. The stakeholders believed that the arrangement would be temporary and the students will be shifted to their school when the work on…

Coastal road to open in phases from November The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) may open Mumbai's coastal road in phases starting from November this year. However, the project may take another six months to complete after works for the approved revised design, aimed at increasing the gap between two pillars near Worli Koliwada, are pending. Officials state that these delays have resulted in an additional cost of Rs 650 crore. In 2016, fisherfolk from Worli Koliwada raised objections to the short distance between the pillars of the coastal road, citing difficulties in the navigation of fishing boats. After years of…

Low voter turnout in city, highest in state According to the Election Commission data released on May 11th, the 11 constituencies, which saw the least polling in the Karnataka Assembly elections, were all in Bengaluru Urban district. Bommanhalli had the lowest turnout (47.22%), followed by Dasarahalli (48.07%) and C V Raman Nagar (49.07%). Hosakote constituency in Bengaluru Rural district had the highest voter turnout, with 90.33% polling. However, polling stood at 73.19%, the highest in the state since it was formed. Of the total eligible voters of 5.30 crores, 3.88 crores casted their vote on May 10th. A number of…

"It is terrifying to walk on Station Road in West Mambalam. There are shops and vehicles which dominate the space, and senior citizens like us are very vulnerable, especially due to encroachment," says Ganga Gopalan, a septuagenarian who visits the area often. Many residents of Chennai feel that the city is not pedestrian-friendly. Footpaths across the city have been taken over by various encroachments and obstructions that force pedestrians to walk on the streets and put themselves in danger. The city’s poor track record in protecting pedestrians is evidenced by a study that found that more pedestrians died in accidents…

Contributors of greenhouse gas in Chennai identified Emissions from vehicles and railways have been found to contribute 16% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Chennai. The findings were tabled as part of a report on the Chennai Climate Action Plan (CCAP) drafted by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The report prepared by Deloitte has found that 66.4% of all motorised transport trips in the city are driven by fossil-fuel-based vehicles. The share of non-motorised transport in Chennai stands at 28%. To reduce emissions, the report suggests incentivising a switch to e-vehicles. The creation of infrastructure for charging and amendments to…

New Lower Parel bridge problem for Mumbai's dabbawalas The newly constructed bridge outside Lower Parel station has disrupted the daily routine of Mumbai's dabbawalas. Subhash Talekar, the President of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association (MDA), stated that the old bridge was more convenient as it had a footpath. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished it and failed to provide a similar facility for the new bridge. The old bridge was spacious and had stairs, as well as wide footpaths, making it feasible for dabbawalas to exchange dabbas for areas such as Worli, Kalachowki, Byculla, and Mazgaon. To address their concerns,…