Issue 11, Volume 16- an Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media Publication

Volume 16 Issue 11

An IIJNM Publication

THE WEEK THAT WAS NATIONAL

Trouble at Home A family feud in UP’s Samajwadi Party played out dramatically over the past week, which Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and uncle Shivpal Yadav are still trying to work out amicably.

INTERNATIONAL Judgement day nears The Republican and Democratic camps in the U.S. are wrapping up their final campaigns as the Election Day in the country comes closer.

Different polls by the media show a tightly fought race .

Tremors in Italy Italy’s National Vulcanology Center says about 23 of the 60-odd tremors carried a magnitude of more than 3.0,the aftershocks sent residents running to the streets

SPORTS Comeback for New Zealand New Zealand defeat India by 19 runs in the fourth one day international match at Ranchi yesterday, levelling the series 2-2. The final match will be played on Saturday at Visakhapatnam.

BUSINESS Ratan Tata takes over

Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry was replaced by interim Chairman Ratan Tata following which the company’s board has named a fivemember search committee, which includes Tata, to choose a successor to Mistry. Source: The Hindu

RBI alerts citizens on Fake Currency RBI asks citizens to make it a habit to examine the notes during transactions, expressing concern over the high circulation of fake currency notes of Rs. 500 ,Rs. 1,000 denomination this Diwali.

TECHNOLOGY Microsoft ups ante

Microsoft’s, announced the launch of a new Surface Book laptop, a Surface Studio PC aimed at professionals, a Surface Dial for interacting with these devices, and a Windows 10 Creators update.

THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2016

STPs working at 40 percent capacity, says BWSSB Cherry Agarwal cherry.a@iijnm.org BENGALURU: The absence of well-connected sewage lines and the under-performance of sewage treatment plants is resulting in release of untreated sewage into nearby basins, say Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is duty-bound to provide water and sewage treatment services to areas under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagra Palike’s (BBMP) jurisdiction, says Tushar Girinath, BWSSB chairman.

But raw sewage is flowing into storm water drains, basins and water bodies resulting in undrinkable groundwater and dead lakes.

“We are working at a [sewage treatment] capacity of 40-45 percent. We are going to increase our capacity during 2018-2019 and by 2021 we are going to catch up to 1,300 million litres per day,” after more pipelines are laid, Girinath said. The 1,300 million litres per day excludes waste generated from unaccounted sources, especially borewells, said Girinath. “The untreated waste is also going through orifices, into some basins,” he added. S Vishwanath, director of Biome Environmental Solutions, said the impact of continuous discharge of raw sewage is polluting ground and surface water and will result in dead lakes. “This means

Vrishabhavathi Valley treatment plant, one of BWSSB's largest STP,

currently works at two-thirds of its design capacity. | Leo Regan that there would be no life in the lake – no fishes, no birds, nothing,” he said.

The city needs a chain of sewage treatment plants in the city and town municipal areas, Girinath said. “We are just not trying to provide water but also laying down main sewer pipeline in those areas,” he said.

While the pipelines are being laid, 60 percent of the untreated sewage ends in storm water drains, said Ramakrishna S.M., chief engineer of the waste water management zone for BWSSB. With the city consuming more than 1,450 million litres of water daily, the lakes could be contaminated before the sewer network is completed.

Soak pits: Until the pipelines are laid, people in the seven erstwhile City Mu-

Funds insufficient for health care Supriya.D supriya.d@iijnm.org Bengaluru: According to the Economic Survey 2015-2016, India spends only 1.3 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare, making it difficult for public hospitals to provide quality services to patients, say healthcare advocates.

“The total expenditure for health is only 1.62 percent of the whole budget out of which the National Health Mission has a share of less than one percent,” said Ameer Khan, of Society for Community Health Awareness Research and Action. “The government is deviating from the core strategies of the National Health Mission - there is no increase in allocation for the health sector. It appears to move towards a public-private partnership mode of operation,” Khan said.India’s per capita government expenditure on healthcare in 2012 was $60 USD, while that of the U.S. was $4,153, according to World Health Statistics 2015.

“One of the challenges in public hospitals is the patientdoctor ratio. There are fewer doctors in these hospitals to treat a large number of patients. The 1.3 per cent of GDP spent on health care is insufficient to provide quality services to the patients,”

said Dr. Harshad Rajge, a specialist at MGM Hospital in Mumbai. “The consultancy fee charged by the private hospitals is quite high and hence, no matter what, the patients prefer government hospitals compromising on the quality of services.’’

The poor quality of services provided by government hospitals has been one prominent reason why India has the highest infant mortality rates among the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), India has only one bed for every 1,050 patients and 0.07 percent doctors per 1,000 patients. “As on March 31, 2015, there was a shortage of 3,002 doctors at primary health centres in rural areas,” said Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Welfare, Delhi.

According to statistical data provided by The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency, the 2016 infant mortality rate in India is 40.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. India registered 27.5 male deaths per 1,000 live births last year compared to 34.2 female deaths per 1,000 live births, records by The World Factbook shows.

nicipal Corporations, one Town Municipal Corporation and the 110 villages – which were added to the Palike’s jurisdiction in 2007 – will have to use soak pits, Girinath said.

A soak pit, or leach pit, is a covered, porous-walled hole in the ground that filters sewage from water. The disadvantage of a soak pit is that it requires effluents to be settled before entering the pit, according to Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management’s website.

Therefore, soaks pits require construction of extra infrastructure.

Decentralisationof sewage treatment plants: Despite working at 40 percent capacity, officials are looking at decentralizing sewage treatment plants.

In an earlier notification, the water supply board mandated con-

struction of sewage treatment plants or grey water treatment plants, in all residences, educational institutions and commercial complexes based on their built-up areas to reduce discharge of untreated sewage.

“Centralization will help partly.

De-centralization is the way forward,” said Ramakrishna. “We need not carry the sewage over long distances by laying big pipelines; it can be treated there and reused, while the rest of the treated water can be released into the open drains.”

Decentralization increases the risk of unchecked release of raw sewage into rivers and lakes. “You have to make sure they [STP’s] work well and the regulator who makes sure that it works well has to be on his toes all the time,” Vishwanath added.

“There is checking for everything,” Ramakrishna said. BWSSB and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board will conduct the checks, he said.

Ramakrishna said dual piping would allow reuse of the treated water, reducing pressure for Cauvery water, he adds.

Despite its environmental viability, decentralization would mean added cost for residents.

Setting up one sewage treatment plant can cost about ten lakhs to fifteen lakhs. Hence it would become cost effective only with apartments more than eighty in number, expert says.

Karnataka records low fish yeild; country loses three crore Divya R divya..r@iijnm.org Bengaluru: The country’s fish production is down dramatically due to odd rainfall distribution in marine regions like Mangalore, Karwar and Bangalore ports, according to Kumaraswamy, the assistant directorate of Karnataka State Fisheries Department.

The production of both marine and inland fish has fallen to 5.81 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16 from 6.12 lakh metric tonnes, said Kumaraswamy.

Export value has decreased by 3 crore compared to last year, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority.

Karnataka, which accounts for a significant part of the country’s total fish exports, is a major producer of both marine and inland fish, including shrimp.

India ranks fifth in the world for fish and seafood exports with $4.6 billion USD in revenue, according to the United Nations.

According to Seenappa, chief scientific officer of Inland Fisheries at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Hebbal, “Promoting inland fisheries is of prime importance. There should be a strategic system for seed banking. This is a huge problem because in the breeding season [May-August], there is no rainfall and in the rainy season [after September] there are no

seeds.”

He added saying, “More than 20,000 tanks in the state have transferred ownership to Gram Panchayats for revenue. Among them, only 10-15% is being utilised, the rest are exploited. Essential training and education is necessary to make sure the perennial tanks are not exploited affecting the ecology of fishes.”

DOODLE WOODLE

Source: Flickr Related stories on page 4

BENGALURU

THE OBSERVER THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER, 2016

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Three billion gallons of water required to manufacture Steel for the Hebbal flyover Ayushee Chaudhary Ayushee.c@iijnm.org Eleven billion litres of water will go into manufacturing steel for the 6.7 kilometres of the controversial steel flyover, prompting some residents to ask: Having just escaped a water war, can Bengaluru really afford to use so much water for a flyover whose efficiency is under question?

According to the TreeHugger which is the leading media outlet dedicated to sustainable developments, 62,000 gallons of water goes into making 1 tonne of steel. At the initial stage, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had estimated that 55,000-60,000 tonnes of steel would be needed for the 6.7 km long flyover.

Every product has a water footprint which tells us the amount of water used in manufacturing that product.

Even if the lowest possible amount of steel is used, from the estimates by the BDA, it will take 3,410,000,000 - or 3 billion 4 hundred million - gallons of water which adds up to more than 11 billion litres of water annually.

Karnataka is already facing a water shortage and has nearly had a water war with its neighbouring state over the sharing of Cauvery water.

S Vishwanath, the Director of Biome Environmental Solutions and a renowned water journalist, said, “Urbanisation is a compro-

Water prices too high for Bengaluru citizens Aneesh Srinivasan aneesh.s@iijnm.org

mise.

We always have to pay some compensation for a new development.

But we need to draw a line for judicious development.”

The Bangalore steel flyover to be constructed from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal with the aim to provide a seamless commute to Kempegowda International Airport has been the centre of attention. The work to construct the flyover has not even started and there are protests and questions being raised all over. The steel flyover, which was incepted in 2010 for decongesting traffic, has not been welcomed with open arms by Bangaloreans.

P.N. Nayak, BDA Chief Engineer was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.

The BDA - and chief minister of the state, Siddaramaiah - is currently planning to not only extend the steel flyover but also start construction soon despite protests by citizens and the #Steelflyoverbeda movement who have rebuffed offi-

cials’ explanation that the flyover is needed to ease traffic. Extension of the flyover would mean more steel, time, cutting of trees and water.

However, some citizens have recently started a new campaign #Steelflyoverbeku in support of the flyover highlighting its effects on the traffic.

“It is not only the environmental impact of the flyover on the city, but also the practicality of the project, which is our concern. The government should be more inclusive with people’s solutions and their points of view before using people’s money for something. There can be alternative solutions and the money can be judiciously used for the benefit of the city and the citizens,” said Dr. S.P.Deshmukh, a retired air commodore who is a resident of Sanjay Nagar and an active participant of the citizen’s movement against the steel flyover.

The contract for the flyover, whose cost is an estimated Rs.1,798

Bengaluru: Pipeline leakages are the reason behind the increase in the cost of water in Bengaluru according to V. Balasubramanian, retired Additional Chief Secretary of the Karnataka State Government.

V. Balasubramanian adds that “The routes and methods used to pump Cauvery water to the city is changing and this has increased the electricity cost, which in turn increases the cost of water. There have been instances where consumers are being charged inflated amounts for water can.”

“Water cans which used to cost about Rs.50 on an average, now cost upwards of Rs. 130.

This is blatantly extorting money from helpless citizens,” says Gangaiah, a resident of J.P Nagar.

Residents of different areas have varied views about this.

Nitya Krishnamurthy, a resident crores has been awarded to Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Ltd. and Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd. (NCCL). NCCL refused to say anything before work on the flyover begins. L&T confirmed the project but was unavailable for comment.

of Jacaranda Apartments, Bellandur says, “We do not get water from pipelines. Our society orders tankers which cost upwards of Rs. 8,000 for 5,500 liters of water. This serves 24 apartments or one block of the building.” Going by these standards, the cost comes to around Rs. 400 per house.

The Chief Engineer of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewaerage Board, Venkataraju, was unwilling to comment when contacted.V. Balasubramanian did a study (Water and the Future of Bangalore Metropolitan Region) for the Azim Premji Foundation in which he has extensively studied the water table, the increasing gap between demand and supply of water and much more.

His study has found out that there are about 800 water tanker operators in the city who use about 4,00,000 borewells as their source for distributing the water.

“If at all the steel flyover is inevitable, it must be assured that it is the greenest steel bridge possible. It should use recycled steel, should harvest rain water and should be a green product of state, covered with plants,” added Vishwanath

A day in the lanes of Anchepaleya slum Arunava Banerjee anurava.b@iijnm.org There are 597 slums in Bengaluru that are registered for development/clearance by the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) under the Karnataka Slum Areas (Development) Act of 1973, the erstwhile Karnataka Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance Act). In Anchepalya, opposite the Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, the 25odd huts that have developed into colourful stalls of soft toys, is however one of those slums that do not exist in government books.

“There are 597 slums in Bangalore out of which 380 are declared slums,” Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) commissioner Manjunath Prasad had said in an interview with The Weekly Observer. However, the Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA) said in a report published in The Weekly Observer in January last year that the city has over 1,500 non-notified slums.

“A survey is conducted to identify slums,” a KSDB official said, adding, “Accordingly the particular land is acquired for improvement or separate land is acquired to construct buildings and

from the Cauvery three days a week.” Sugana, another resident said, “In case the water doesn’t come, we buy drinking water from here (a water ATM set up in the slum).”

“We spend about Rs. 2,000 every month to buy water from tankers. Due to lack of electricA passerby bargains the price for a soft toy (L) in Anchepalya; Priya, a resident of ity, we depend Anchepalya slum takes a break from work in her 10X10 residence. | Arunava Banerjee on kerosene relocate slum dwellers.”

Only 20 have them have an lamps and battery lights,” Gopi Behind the blue and red teddy identification proof in the form of said. “There are at least two kids bears and other stuffed toys, is a their Aadhar card. “We got it done in every house. I go to the governblack and white world of about last year from Kengeri,” Priya, 30, ment school in check-post. Most 100 people, living in 10 square says. “All of us had applied, but of the other children don’t go to feet lands, roofed by tarpaulin only a few got the card,” said schools,” he added. Almost all of sheets that are supported on bam- Rani’s youngest son, Gopi R, who the slum dwellers in Anchepalya boo and tin walls. “We have been is one of them. The address at the are illiterate. They know the numhere for about 15 years,” A. Rani, back of his Aadhar reads, Anchep- bers that they count for each soft in her early 50s said. Nearby resi- alya. toy sold and each penny spent. dents, however say that the slum A few kilometres away at The community has gradually started growing about 10 years Nayandahalli, is another slum that turned their business profitable; ago, with its residents setting up is registered and undertaken for however, they still use an empty tents for trade. Rani said they ini- development by KSDB. J Krishna, field behind their huts as toilets, tially traded in flowers, and on re- a resident of the slum said, “Most cook in hearths, and burn the alising that selling soft toys was of our basic needs are provided by garbage and litter. “First a body the government. Water comes needs to approach the board, after lucrative, they shifted their trade.

which we conduct the survey.

There are some basic documents like voter’s identity card, before a slum can be located and registered,” KSDB officials said, adding, “The residents need to be residing in the area for at least 15 years before being registered.”

“None of us have voter’s identity card. We never applied because we do not know the procedure. We know that elections happen, but no official has approached us yet to include our names in the voters’ list,” Rani said.

The Karnataka Slum Areas Development Act states that an area can be declared a slum when the government is satisfied that the area “is a source of danger to health, safety or convenience of the public of that area or its neighbourhood, by reason of the area being low-lying, insanitary, squalid, over-crowded or otherwise.”

The Act under the same chapter (3), states that an area can be declared a slum if the buildings in that area are in any respect unfit for human habitation. The lack of water supply, drainage and sanitary conveniences, repair and stability are some parameters to deem an area unfit for habitation.

BENGALURU

THE OBSERVER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Pricey autos of Bengaluru: Citizens speak Reporter Bibin Raj talks to citizens regarding unmetered auto rides in the city.

“They demand Rs. 250 for a 9 km journey. Ola and Uber are cheaper than these autos” -Samuel Biju, IT professional.

“It’s annoying to be charged Rs. 80 for less than 5 kms.It is far more than the actual amount.”

-Athira Dinesh, IT professional, Tata Consultancy “We are ready to take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening and have asked people to come forward and inform us of such incidents, so that action can be taken against such drivers,” -Sandeep Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police “The city has over 450 traffic wardens who have no power to impose penalties, but they can note the auto rickshaw’s number and pass it to the traffic police. This can help in bringing errant drivers to book.”

-M.T. Naik, Head of the Traffic Warden Organisation.

Law Commission suggests shared parenting Karishma Jaypaul Karishma.j@iijnm.org BENGALURU: Despite a push by the Law Commission of India for shared parenting over sole custody in divorce cases, the court judgements have continued to favour the latter.

Studies indicate that children generally fare better when parents share custody, according to a 2015 Law Commission of India Report No.257, “Reforms in Guardianship and Custody Laws in India.”

“Joint custody doesn’t block you out from your own parents,” says Hazel Ronsalvs, 21, who has been under joint custody of her parents since the age of 10.

Her dad, Naveen Ronsalvs, agrees it’s important and adds that laws governing custody need quick reform.

“The reason for shared parenting is to ensure that the child gets some kind of a wholesome experience,” he said.

Kumar Jahgirdar, president of Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP), has counselled over 7,000 parents dealing with custody of their child. According to him, about 90 percent of the “victims” in custody battles are fathers.

“We are pro family,” says Jahgirdar, whose group is fighting to make shared parenting compulsory. “We feel strongly that the child needs both the father and the mother.”

Cross-railing fatalities rose in the past 9 months, says report Divya R divya.r@iijnm.org Bengaluru: The frequency of fatalities in Bangalore’s City railway station is on the rise, said Govindappa, Head Constable, Railway Police Station. He added that rampant violation of norms causes most of the accidents.

“Cross-railing and trespassing is a punishable offence according to Section 147(1) of the Railways Act. Twenty percent of the accidents are caused due to carelessness, while crossing the railway track,” Manohar, a Head Constable of the station, said, adding, “It is impossible to control a speeding train, travelling at 60-80 km per hour. If slowed down suddenly, the coaches might derail.”

A report from the City Railway Police Station shows registration of 153 fatalities until September this year compared to a total of 177 deaths registered last year. In 2014, the government of Karnataka

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“

Cross-railing and trespassing is a punishable offence. Twenty percent of the accidents are caused due to carelessness, while crossing the railway. track.

”

recorded 60 fatalities at railway crossings. The deaths registered in the Un-natural Death Report, include both suicides and accidents of being mowed down by a train.

“Most of these accidents take place around 70 kilometres (kms) from the station, particularly during late night hours,” Govindappa said.

Thangaraj, 33, who works in the station, said that most often these deaths occur near the Bridge and Binny Mills, located 40 kms away from the station where monitoring is difficult.

Violation of railway norms has increased number of railway-crossing fatalities in the last nine months at the City railway station.

Jahgirdar says he receives five to seven cases in a day where fathers are “exploited for alimony.”

Globally, men’s rights groups have long complained of courts’ bias towards them when it comes to custody cases. Websites and support groups, such as CRISP, have popped up all over the world.

Roshan George has been so impacted by the case involving his 6year-old son that George decided to become a lawyer so he could fight for joint custody.

George said he believes his son is upset with him because he doesn’t understand why his father cannot meet him every day. But, says George, the fact is that the court “gives shorter visitation hours to increase affinity between the child and the parent,” which, he says, results in the reverse happening.

“For a child, the world revolves around him. He doesn’t know that the father has been kept away. He only knows that I do not come and meet him,” says George, in his second year of law school.

Naveen Ronsalvs, the father of Hazel, said mothers often getting custody of the child even when they are not the more capable parent.

“That is where the problem comes, when the parent who is less capable is made the full custodian then delinquency of child goes up exponentially,” said Ronsalvs.

In all of this, the child has no right to choose where he/she wants to live. Custody under the Hindu

“

It has been proposed by the law commission, the parents have to prove that they are capable of taking care of the child.

”

Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 has a provision that the custody of a child below the age of 5 years must be with the mother. For children over the age of 5, the court looks at the welfare of the child and the custody is usually given to either parent who is financially stable and has adequate parenting skills.

P.M. Ramachandran, an attorney who deals with custody cases nearly every day, believes that the viability of joint custody varies from case to case. “It depends upon the case and the nature of the case. Sometimes the parties are very arrogant, which is not conducive for the child,” says Ramachandran. “Even though it has been proposed by the law commission, the parents have to prove that they are capable of taking care of the child. Welfare of the child is paramount,” he adds.

Meera Ravi, a family counsellor based in Bangalore, deals with children who come for counselling both while their parents are going through divorce and after they have been divorced. She says shared parenting is definitely the most viable

option for a child who is flesh and blood of both the father and the mother.

“The children need both the parents for a healthy upbringing of the mental, physical and emotional development of the child,” she says.

“Both the parents must be involved in bringing up the child.”

Ravi recalls instances where the child is brought to her one day before the custody hearing, implying that she must teach the child what to say in the court.

“The parents should be having some kind of a cordial relationship with each other so that it doesn’t affect the child. If they are bringing over their emotional baggage from their relationship, they brainwash the child or corrupt the child’s mind against the parent, it is the most harmful thing a parent can do,” she says. Ravi adds, “At least if the child can speak to the other parent and spend time with them it is not like the other parent is completely missing from the child’s life.”

The current judicial system in India does not support shared parenting.

The Law Commission’s report has proposed amending the law in favour of the child having access to both the parents. “Maintaining the central importance of the welfare of the child in proceedings of custody will help ensure that the child’s future is safe and protected, regardless of changing familial circumstances,” said the report.

Open defecation causes sanitation problems on Chinnappa Garden Road Mitali Goyal mitali.g@iijnm.org BENGALURU: Residents of Chinnappa Garden and its neighbouring areas are seriously threatened by hygiene concerns due to the practice of open defecation in the area.

Several homes do not have toilets and as there are no public toilets in the area, residents choose the open surroundings to defecate.

“I do not have a toilet in my home. My son defecates on the pavement and I go somewhere far away, which is okay for me,” said Jagdish, a local resident.

Chinnappa Garden is however, just one of several places in the country which face a similar problem. UNICEF states that India is home to the world’s largest population of people who defecate in the open with 564 million people excreting close to 65,000 tonnes of faeces into the environment each day.

In spite of various complaints filed by other residents of the area, no steps have been taken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to resolve the problem.

BBMP ward councillor Netravathi Krishnegowda said, “Since last year, I received a few complaints about the problem and am working towards it. I want public toilets to be constructed to counter the problem.”

Residents of the neighbouring Nandi Durga Road are hoping that a permanent solution is made for the issue.

“They do it every day without caring to build toilets in their

Lack of toilets in the area forces residents of Chinnappa Garden Road to defacate in the open leading to hygiene issues.|Mitali Goyal houses,” said Anurag, a resident of Nandi Durga Road. Chinnappa Garden residents have made open defecation a part of their everyday routine, leading to hygiene issues in the neighbourhood.

“We are trying to educate our school children to stop open defecation,” said a teacher of a government school in Chinnappa Garden Road.

According to UNICEF, open defecation is the main reason India reports the highest number of diarrhoeal deaths among children

(about 188,000 in number) underfive in the world. Children weakened by frequent diarrhoea are also more vulnerable to malnutrition, stunting, and opportunistic infections such as pneumonia.

Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, associate faculty at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore said, “Now is the time to bring awareness among all about health consequences due to unhygienic practices. Open defecation is not just due to lack of facility but also due to lack of awareness on health and societal consequences.”

BENGALURU

THE OBSERVER

THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER, 2016

Diwali festivities creates annual environmental mess for Bengaluru Increasing level of pollutants in Bengaluru prompts residents and environmentalists to mitigate harmful impact of Diwali celebrations.

Ayushee Chaudhary ayushee.c@iijnm.org Bengaluru: With Diwali around the corner, people are busy planning their festive weekend. Greetings and meetings over wishes and sweets, exchange of gifts and lights.

The much-awaited festival to rejoice and rekindle with loved ones, is also a day the pollution controlboard and the medical regimen plan to maintain a strict vigil.

To a civilian, Diwali would mean lights, crackers, gifts, new purchases and sweets. However to health experts and environmentalists Diwali symbolizes release of toxic substances, harmful gases, dry waste, unhealthy diet and unbearable noise. For the past few years, with changing climatic patterns and increased global warming, Diwali has not solely remained an occasion of joyous and prosperous celebrations. The adverse environmental impact that accompanies Diwali has made activists and environmental enthusiasts sit-up. Hence Diwali becomes responsible for annual environmental degradation.

Diwali cannot be thought of in isolation. Without shooting rockets into the sky to accompany the stars,

The Karnata State Pollution Control Board has restricted the noise level to 125 decibles.

colourful sparklers and frolic-driven kids dancing in synchronized movements – the festival of lights – loses its essence. But these annual festivities that become reasons for joy and community-wide celebrations are anti-environment as they pollute the air, water and soil with hazardous effluents.

The bursting of crackers releases toxic substances like Barium, Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury, Nitrates and Nitrites

which are also called air pollutants. Crackers also release oxides and dioxides of sulphur and nitrogen.

This aggravates global warming and harms the environment and the heath gradually. The levels of respirable suspended particulate material (RSPM) also goes high due to the small particles that are emitted by bursting crackers.

The air pollution levels take a huge leap by around 50 percent in India on Diwali and enhance the smog which covers various parts.

Air pollution takes a toll not just on

the environment but also on people’s health. Last year, as per a report by the Meteorology Department, Delhi recorded the highest level of RSPM pollution post - Diwali at 531 mg per cubic metre - five times higher than the normal level, leaving many at risk of respiratory problems.

The harmful effects of pollution risk the overall health and the people with lung a n d

respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis are at a risk of increasing complications. In addition to the cardiovascular issues poisonous gases may cause high fever, skin irritation, vomiting, insomnia and other serious health problems.

“The harmful effects of pollution risk the overall health but people with lung and respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis are at a greater risk. Poisonous gases may cause fever, skin irritation, vomiting, insomnia, also affecting the

The festival of lights, Diwali, is just around the corner and everyone is looking forward to celebrate the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. We at The Observer bring to you the essence of this unique festival through the following stories.

heart,” said Manojith, doctor at BGS hospital.

“Noise pollution also affects the hearing capacity especially among kids and senior citizens,” he added.

Noise pollution also affects the hearing capabilities especially among kids and senior citizens. IN addition the sensitive ears of animals like dogs and cats are also affected by the loud noise of crackers and loudspeakers. Level of noise level can go above 125 db which is as loud as military aircraft’s takeoff, whereas government limits noise levels at 55db during daytime and 45db at night for residential areas. Loud noises may lead to temporary deafness, permanent eardrum rupture, trauma and hypertension.

Dry waste like papers, plastics, firework covers. Massive amount of non-degradable dry waste generated in Diwali celebration. It causes soil pollution as there is less space for dumping ground in major cities.

Children many a times also face accidents due to mishandling of fireworks resulting in burns and cuts.

What further remains suspicious is the quality of sweets which can further have an adverse impact on the health of the people. Even the fancy Diwali candles sometimes are made of materials that are not environment friendly. In addition the colours used for candles and making rangoli.

Hence what is important is to adopt the eco-friendly manners of celebrating Diwali and be a responsible citizen for our personal health as well as the health of our environment globally.

Cops, KSPCB Residents of Rajendra Nagar plan Diwali celebrations despite financial woes prepare for Cherry Agarwal safe Diwali cherry.g@iijnm.org Yogita Chainani yogita.c@iijnm.org

Bengaluru: While Diwali lights up Bengaluru in shades of joy and laughter, the festival of lights is hazardous in some ways. To ensure a low pollution level and prevent any burn accidents, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Bengaluru police have imposed some safety measures in the city this Diwali.

Inspector Gopal Krishnan of Indiranagar police station said they have denied permits to sell crackers in the area.

Police patrolling will be tight and police officials will be available throughout for any assistance, he added.

Sujata, a resident of Bangalore said it is very important for parents to be vigilant about the safety of their children.

The KSPCB has issued a notification banning all crackers exceeding a 125 decibel noise limit.

Apart from this certain citizen groups have decided to burst crackers in a designated space to reduce pollution levels.

In the case of medical emergencies residents should call 108.

Bengaluru: Make-shift homes with gleaming zinc-coated sheets in Rajendra Nagar have their own story to tell.

Rajendra Nagar is a slum located very close to Indiranagar, one of south Bangalore’s most affluent areas. Despite their financial woes, the residents living here, hope to celebrate the festival-of-lights with immense fervour this year.

“We have been here for two decades. My ancestors lived here and so do I. Yet we don’t own the land. We are at the mercy of officials because if they ask us to move, we won’t have any options,” says K. Rajesh, 23, one of the residents.

“Even though it [the expenditure] makes life difficult, we have to bear it,” says Saraswathi, 57, who single-handedly supports her fivemember family.

“I spend Rs.5000 every Diwali on pataki (crackers), rangoli, sweets, etc.,” she adds.

Saraswathi is a single woman who runs a tiny tailoring enterprise.

In order to save a little extra for Diwali, Saraswathi has been working 12-hour days.

“It has been extremely difficult

4

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About 13,000 families in Rajendra Nagar live in make shift houses, constructed out of corrugated zinc sheets, devoid of basic infrastructure where an average six-member-family shares 60 sqft between them. |Cherry Agarwal

growing up here, in a community that officials don’t even recognise,” said Rajesh. Rajesh is one of the community’s success stories who work with Matrix, an international sim card company.

“Diwali comes once in a year.

Our house-finances are thin and the kharcha (expenses) will add to the strain. Still I want to buy a new saree for my mother to wear during the puja (prayers),” says Rajesh.

Without data it is difficult to say how many people inhabit the small area. Tiny houses with low-height entrances require you to bend as you enter. In a couple of the houses, the doors have been replaced with

curtains.

“There is nothing to be stolen that we need doors,” says Naggamma.

There are many others who are excited to share how they would celebrate Diwali.

Skinny little Darshan, 4 years of age, just wants laddos(sweets).

Saipriya, 14, says, “It is our tradition Akka(sister), so even though it has hard for us to spend a lot, we spend some of our money to celebrate Diwali.”

Rajendra Nagar with will be lit up with lamps as has been the tradition, she says, pushing a single wandering strand of hair behind her ear.

PHOTO EDITOR Sandra Branger Yogita Chainani SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Phalguni Vittal Rao Divya R STAFF Bibin Raj PB Supriya Dedgaonkar Sumukh Ramesh Kadekar Rishiraj Bhagawati Mahak Dutta Mitali Goyal Karishma Jaypaul Ahana Chatterjee

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