Environment | Citizen Matters

Stay fit and keep your cities plastic free: Tips from Pune

January 9, 2021 Prachi Bari

Plogging as a practice gained momentum across the world in 2018; now, several youth volunteers in Pune have taken to it to keep plastic waste from landfills

Delhi: Super commission fiddles while air pollution turns deadly

January 8, 2021 Vijaya Pushkarna

It is still the Supreme Court that continues to drive government action towards bringing down air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

When Delhi lost more than half a billion rupees due to loss of ecosystems

December 21, 2020 Manupriya

A study ascribes monetary value to the price of unplanned urbanisation in Delhi, in terms of the decline in total value of ecosystem services from 7 natural elements.

Varanasi’s horrible air quality typical of issues faced by cities of Indo-Gangetic plain

December 19, 2020 Rishabh Shrivastava

An alarming report on air pollution in these plains from the University of Chicago (EPIC) shows that residents here are losing 7.5 years of their lives as a result. What’s causing this?

Delhi’s waste mountain is pushing up child mortality, but does anyone really care?

December 9, 2020 Sri Krishna

On the night of November 24th, a fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill site in the capital, choking an already severely polluted city.

Delhi struggles to breathe; can the new super commission bring relief?

November 25, 2020 Vijaya Pushkarna

No one really expected the CAQM to immediately clear up the smog. NCR residents will simply have to wait and hope it shows results next year. The question is, will it?

Solar energy drive to make Shimla a ‘green’ city

November 24, 2020 Ashwani Sharma

Ignored and untapped till now, the potential of solar energy to power Shimla and other urban centres is being realised only now .

Meet these three women in Pune who are waging a tireless battle against plastic

November 22, 2020 Ambika Shaligram

Hailing from different backgrounds, these three social entrepreneurs are creating awareness about the threats from plastic and offering sustainable alternatives.

Diwali, crackers and COVID: Delhi gears up for responsible celebrations

November 12, 2020 Vijaya Pushkarna

Delhiites, by and large, have welcomed the idea of a cracker-free Diwali amid rising fears of poor air quality accelerating the COVID-19 spread.

Is your city allowed to burst firecrackers this Diwali?

November 11, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

With Diwali approaching, many states have chosen to ban crackers. The NGT has also issued a ban in cities with poor air quality. Where does your state stand?

Hyderabad floods: Who bears the brunt of a golf course on a lake bed?

November 4, 2020 Mimansa Sidhnath

Real scenes and anecdotes from Nadeem Colony reveal the impact of urban floods on the lives of ordinary people. Ironically, many of them knowingly or unknowingly, have a part to play.

A super commission to check air quality in the National Capital Region

November 3, 2020 Vijaya Pushkarna

The Commission has been given sweeping powers to ensure its orders are implemented and its decisions cannot be challenged in any court.

From 630 to 122: Where did Ahmedabad’s lakes disappear?

October 19, 2020 Darshan Desai

A study of land-use patterns, through Landsat images from 1974 to 2017, has revealed that water bodies in Ahmedabad have been shrinking at a decadal rate of 1.57 square km.

Delhi’s pollution response plan key to flattening its winter COVID curve

October 13, 2020 Sri Krishna

Uncontrolled pollution leads to severe respiratory problems, which could worsen the COVID-19 situation. Can the government’s response plan, with its 10-member high-tech war room, prevent that?

Rediscover Delhi and its rich heritage through tree walks

October 9, 2020 Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Tree walks and nature trails have found a growing audience in Delhi where urban citizens are keen to connect with natural surroundings.