Environment

Every day, they show up, in the relentless heat or pouring rain. Bengaluru's outdoor workers — traffic police, auto drivers, pourakarmikas, construction workers, street vendors and gig workers — battle dehydration, exhaustion, and health problems in extreme weather with hardly any relief. They keep the city running but get little in return. This photo-essay puts a spotlight on their daily struggles and calls for urgent heat mitigation measures. No exit lane from the heat: A traffic police officer’s account Three hours under the sun daily — not a choice but a daily reality for Assistant Sub-Inspector Satish KP of Bengaluru…

Located in the historic neighbourhood of Mehrauli, is the Hauz-i-Shamsi, a reservoir dating back to 1230 CE. It was built by the third sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Shamsuddin Iltutmish of what is referred to as the Slave Dynasty. Every year, this ancient water body stands as a silent witness to the 'Phool Walon Ki Sair' festival at the adjoining Jahaz Mahal, which is decorated with fresh flowers to celebrate the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (syncretic Hindu-Muslim culture). For the rest of the year, it brings joy to many people who live around it in homes that stand cheek-by-jowl in the narrow, serpentine lanes of Mehrauli…

When guests step into Gopala Krishnan and Sangeetha’s 'Midori' Green home in Madipakkam, Chennai, their attention is drawn not to the decor or layout but to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The top halves have high ventilators that remain open day and night—a feature once common in traditional architecture but rare in modern homes. This simple design floods the space with natural light while continuously expelling hot air. "It's the first thing everyone mentions," Sangeetha shares. "The rooms feel brighter, airier, and somehow cooler." Visitors are often surprised to learn that the couple uses air conditioning for only a few hours during…

“The weather used to be good, but the climate has changed over time,” says Munir, who works at a salon in Colaba. A March 2025 report brought out by Respirer Living Sciences confirms Munir’s experience and observations. Colaba has become an urban heat island (UHI).Mumbai faced a particularly harsh summer this year. While the monsoon arrived early and brought respite from the intense heat, the UHI effect in certain pockets remains an ongoing challenge. It has led to the creation of microclimate zones in the island city. As a result, some parts of Mumbai see a considerably higher temperature than…

Who would have thought that an innocuous product invented 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia would add to the heat island effect in Mumbai? Glass: it’s here, there, and everywhere, not just in our homes, but in our city too. Where space is at such a premium, high rises are becoming the norm. And increasingly, these skyscrapers have facades of glass.But glass is not the only culprit. Thermal resilience should inform the way we design our buildings. However, it often takes a backseat, as developers prioritise faster construction methods and maximising the number of apartments over long-term sustainability.Few of the existing…

The winds are warmer, the rains are more erratic, and the oceans whisper warnings we can no longer ignore. In this age of climate urgency, our greatest hope lies not just in technology but in leadership that understands the Earth’s cry. Climate action is no longer optional, and the very people crafting policies must be well-informed. But what if they aren't? A first-of-its-kind study in Tamil Nadu by Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) takes us into the minds of our lawmakers, not to question their intentions, but to understand their climate readiness. The study assessed 20 Members of…

Encroachments on Chennai lakes often begin with the construction of religious structures, such as temples. Unless citizens take collective action, such encroachments are likely to persist. This is a key lesson from the citizen-led initiative by the Federation of Sunnambu Kulathur Residents Welfare Association to protect Narayanapuram Lake. For years, Narayanapuram Lake has faced encroachments, with four temples and a church gradually expanding into its area. Each monsoon, floodwaters engulfed the residential areas around the lake, sparing neither homes nor the religious structures. The local residents rallied together; they engaged with elected representatives, used social media to raise awareness, and…

Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are notorious for releasing harmful pollutants, and environmental activists have long criticised them as an unsuitable solution for legacy waste. Yet governments often view them as a quick fix for waste management and energy generation, despite their risks. It is no different with the WTE plant coming up at Deonar, the country's largest dumping ground in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. The clamour against the project is growing louder as residents fear the toxic emissions from the WTE plant and the impact on their health. Here are five things you need to know about the project and…

Nine-year-old Priti Borde, is struggling to stay indoors. The air inside her home is hot and stuffy, offering little relief compared to the lane outside. With her school closed for the summer holidays, she finds herself confined to a narrow alley barely three feet wide, idly passing time with her neighbourhood friends. Her mother has set firm boundaries—no straying into the adjacent lane and no trips to Pushpa Park, the only playground nearby. Although just half a kilometre away, the park lies beyond a busy road, making it difficult to reach. Juhu Beach, nearly a kilometre away, remains inaccessible, leaving…

I remember the first time I set up my kitchen garden and finished sowing. The joy in the germination, of seeing something grow is the best. I would talk to my plants every day, water them lovingly, and carefully follow all the advice people gave me, to keep them healthy—adding compost, avoiding overwatering, and sticking to companion planting guidelines. But then they struck!!! PESTS. About a month in, I noticed tiny black insects covering the stems. I later learned they were aphids. Over the years of kitchen gardening, I’ve battled mealybugs, aphids, stem borers, fruit flies—you name it. Some seasons…