Civic

Four-year degrees at non-autonomous colleges Starting from the academic year 2024-25, 812 non-autonomous colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai will offer four-year degree courses such as BA, BSc, and BCom. The academic council of the University of Mumbai decided to introduce it in alignment with the guidelines of the New Education Policy (NEP). It is aimed at providing innovative and career-focused educational pathways. The undergraduate degree course will offer multiple entry and exit points, with options for certification, diploma, and basic Bachelor's degrees. Previously, the University of Mumbai had already implemented this four-year degree system in the majority of…

City had highest number of deaths from speeding in 2022 In 2022, the city recorded the highest number of deaths due to speeding of vehicles compared to other cities with a population of more than a million. According to the 'Road accidents in India - 2022', by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the IT city reported 711 deaths due to speeding, followed by Jaipur with 683 deaths and Delhi with 648 deaths. However, the highest number of accidents due to speeding was reported by Indore (4,338) followed by Bengaluru (3,528). There was a rise in road accidents in…

தற்போதைய நிர்வாகம் கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாக சென்னை முழுவதும் பல உள்கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாட்டு நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளது. இந்த நேரத்தில் சாலைகள் புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்டு மழைநீர் வடிகால் (SWDs) கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன. பெரம்பூர் சுற்றுப்புற மேம்பாட்டு மன்றத்தின் உறுப்பினர்கள், உள்ளாட்சி அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களுடன் நெருக்கமாக ஈடுபட்டு, சென்னையில் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் குடிமராமத்து பணிகளின் தரத்தை கண்காணித்து, அவை நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட தரத்தில் உள்ளதா என்பதை உறுதி செய்து வருகின்றனர். வீதிகள் அமைப்பது உட்பட பல வேலைகளை மேற்கொள்ளும் போது, ​​குடிமைப் பிரிவினரும், ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களும் உரிய நடைமுறைகளைக் கடைப்பிடிக்கத் தவறிவிட்டனர் என்பதே இந்த நேரத்தில் எங்களின் அவதானிப்பு. எங்களால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் கண்காணிப்பின் பல நிகழ்வுகளில் தரமற்ற பொருட்கள் மற்றும் தரமற்ற வேலைப்பாடு ஆகியவற்றில் சிக்கல்கள் உள்ளன. Read more: North Chennai roads turn into an obstacle course for commuters சென்னையில் உள்கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாட்டு பணிகள் தணிக்கையின் போது மோசமான சாலை தரம் காணப்பட்டது தமிழக தலைமைச் செயலாளர், தமிழக முதல்வர்…

Every season brings its own positives and challenges for Aapli Mumbai. Monsoon is over and we are now grappling with the onset of winter and air pollution. Whatever the season and its challenges, it is important to look at the systemic issues and keep the focus on solutions. Only the collective will and efforts of the people and the administration can make the city more liveable. With that thought, Citizen Matters had organised an Essay Competition - Mumbai Monsoon Masterminds, calling for opinions from residents of Mumbai to share their experiences about monsoons and offer unique solutions. In the following…

Our river beds are mined and mountains are being destroyed continuously to build new roads and restore the existing ones all over the country. Indiscriminate & excessive mining can lead to deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution. This can result in the destruction of habitats for wildlife, which can have serious ecological consequences in the long term. However, sustainability is an aspect that is not often considered when carrying out civic work in Chennai and across the country. While infrastructure development is crucial to achieving economic growth, what we are getting to see is temporary cosmetic makeovers. There is no…

BBMP recently released the data from the street dog survey conducted over July and August 2023. The survey estimates that there are 2.79 Lakh (2,79,335 to be precise) dogs on the streets in BBMP’s area. This is down from the estimated 3.10 Lakh (3,09,975 to be precise) dogs in 2019, a decline of 9.88% over the four year period. Variation within the city The survey report shows that the 2.79 lakh dogs are not evenly distributed across the city. Number of street dogs in BBMP zones in 2023.Src: BBMP street dogs survey 2023. Graphic: OpenCity.in While Mahadevapura zone hosts 21%…

Chennai sees a huge influx of people who move to the city to study and work. Those who move here often stay in one of the many hostels that can be found across the city.  The hostels advertise themselves as a home away from home, with all the necessary amenities and safety and security. While some hostels deliver on their promises of a comfortable stay, others leave residents with a litany of grievances. Numerous residents shared their unfavourable experiences in hostels seemingly prioritising profit over resident satisfaction. While there have been attempts to regulate their functioning, the past efforts have made…

Kasimedu fishing harbour to be modernised Funds worth Rs 98 crore have been sanctioned by the union government for the modernisation of the Kasimedu fishing harbour. The total cost of the modernisation project is Rs 127 crore. The remaining funds will be contributed by the Fishing Harbour Management Committee (FHMG). The project is expected to be carried out in six phases, with the deadline in 2025. Work on the first phase will begin shortly. Plans for the upgrade include the construction of a fish handling complex, boar repair facility, cold storage facility, improved drinking water facilities and proper waste management. …

BMC takes steps to tackle rising air pollution As air pollution in the city worsens by the day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced new measures. The BMC has recently imposed a ban on the open burning of garbage. In a press conference, Guardian minister, Deepak Kesarkar, said that the BMC had issued notices to 6,000 construction sites, instructing them to install fogging machines and sprinklers to control air pollution. He also informed that the BMC is in the process of implementing waste segregation procedures at its two landfills in Deonar and Kanjurmarg, focusing on the extraction of pollutants…

Heavy metals in vegetables cross safe limits There is a high concentration of heavy metals in vegetables as farmers use wastewater to grow them, according to researchers from the Environment Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), through a one-year study led by N Hema. Researchers tested 400 samples of 10 vegetables (brinjal, tomato, capsicum, beans, carrot, green chilly, onion, potato, spinach and coriander) and found contamination above the limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The vegetables were from 20 stores, including five high-end supermarkets, five local markets, “organic stores” and Hopcoms. While the maximum permissible limit for…