Economy | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Advertisement hoardings: What BBMP Council wants vs what the state govt insists on

September 3, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Last year, BBMP Council passed draft ‘bye-laws’ that ban ad hoardings in the city. But the state government recently framed its own ‘Rules’ that allow hoardings. How do these laws differ? Once either of these laws are approved, how would it affect the city?

Classic case of state poking its nose into BBMP: Will Bengaluru have advertisement hoardings?

September 2, 2019 Kedar Koushik

The High Court has upheld BBMP’s new bye-laws that ban hoardings in Bengaluru. But the state government is reluctant to accept the order. Does this mean Bengaluru will have hoardings again? And why is the state government poking its nose into BBMP’s affairs at all?

Thirsty city tantrums: How Bengaluru’s thirst for water is felt 400 km away

August 9, 2019 Kedar Koushik

To satiate Bengaluru’s unending thirst, water has been diverted from many rivers, including those from the Western Ghats. But these projects are starving local populations of water, and destroying ecosystems

Handbags from milk cartons, plants in coconut shells, and more at Second to None sale

July 31, 2019 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru generates thousands of tonnes of waste everyday, but we can reduce it substantially by using recycled or repurposed products. Here is an account of some interesting recycled products that were sold at an event organised by the volunteer group Second To None, last Saturday

Metal straws, fruit-cups and more: How six Bengaluru restaurants are cutting down waste

July 22, 2019 Grace Madigan

Restaurants generate huge amounts of plastic and other dry waste everyday. Here are innovative methods six Bengaluru restaurants devised, to minimise their waste footprint

“Digging recharge wells is the only way Bengaluru won’t run out of water”

July 21, 2019 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Bovi community who are the traditional well-diggers of Bengaluru, are part of an initiative to build one million recharge wells in the city. In this edition of Citizens Live, Ramakrishna Bovi explains how you too can be part of this initiative to help resolve the city’s water scarcity

Bengaluru’s real estate market up last year; but can apartment construction ban help the water situation?

July 18, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Residential projects are increasing in Bengaluru again, after a slump. Would an apartment construction ban really help the city’s water situation now? How would it affect the economy?

Beer vs water: Bengaluru’s microbreweries in a time of water shortage

July 17, 2019 Grace Madigan

It takes seven litres of water to brew just a litre of beer! But as the city struggles with a water crisis, Bengaluru’s craft microbreweries are finding ways to cut down their water use

Making carpooling legal in Bengaluru – it’s the centre’s job, not state’s

July 3, 2019 Shashank Atreya

The state government has been roundly criticised for banning carpooling and ridesharing in Bengaluru. But it is the central government, not the state, that has powers to amend the Motor Vehicles Act and permit carpooling

Bengaluru’s street vendors: A vibrant community deprived of rights

June 28, 2019 Bhargavi S Rao

Carts of street food that offer a quick snack, little stalls selling just what you were looking for – street vendors are an integral part of life in Bengaluru. But why isn’t the government implementing the law that upholds their right to work?

GAIL plans 100 CNG refill stations in Bengaluru

June 25, 2019 News Desk

GAIL Gas will soon have 13 new CNG refill stations in the city, in addition to nine operational ones. CNG produces lesser emissions, and offer higher savings for all types of vehicles, say GAIL officials

Can a security guard in Bengaluru aspire for more?

June 17, 2019 Deepa Vaishnavi V M

Security guards are ubiquitous in the city. But how well do they earn, and what options for career growth do they have? Here is the story of Merajul Hoque who migrated from Assam five years ago, to be a guard in Bengaluru

Home buyers demand stronger RERA for Karnataka

May 21, 2019 News Desk

Around 200 home buyers protested at the Town Hall this Saturday, demanding better functioning of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Karnataka. The protesters said that the Karnataka RERA was allowing builders to get away with illegalities and to even flout its own orders

How Bengaluru’s crumbling Dry Waste Collection Centres can be overhauled

May 20, 2019 Nalini Shekar

Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCCs) perform the critical function of collecting, sorting and disposing of dry waste in the city. But the majority of these centres are dilapidated, with few facilities and difficult work conditions. A recent study suggests ways to change this.

The economics of being a cab driver in Bengaluru

May 7, 2019 Deepa Vaishnavi V M

Sridhar, a native of Kunigal taluk, had come to Bengaluru as a teenager nearly 25 years back. After working as driver for a family, for Ola Cabs and for a government department, he is still unable to make ends meet. His story reflects that of many cab drivers in the city