Environment

Fines for parking two- and four-wheelers on footpaths are steep— Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, respectively. Even so, vehicle users insist on robbing pedestrians of their right of way by parking on the pavements across the city. Walking or crossing the road is an ordeal in itself in the city. That hemmed in feeling is […]

Noise pollution is the propagation of noise with harmful effects on human and animal life. The main sources of noise are heavy machines, traffic, construction activities and musical performances. High noise levels can cause cardiovascular problems, irritability, impatience and loss of hearing in humans. In animals, high noise levels can cause death by changing the

Civic Body Seizes 377 Automobiles In A Fortnight The Pune Municipal Corporation has started a drive to seize all vehicles which are either abandoned or left unattended on streets. The civic body has confiscated as many as 377 vehicles in the last fortnight. The anti-encroachment department first puts up notices on all such vehicles urging

Sunday Was The Warmest At 33.4°C This past Sunday, the weather in Pune was more reminiscent of a balmy summer afternoon than a crisp winter day. With the temperature touching 33.4°C, it became the hottest day in the city this winter. Sunday was also the second hottest January day recorded in the past five years.

Pune features among the top 3 Indian cities on ‘liveability quotient’. Projects on transport, water supply and waste management lined up in 2018 are expected to push it up further, but the poor air quality remains a big concern Breathing trouble in vehicle-busy city The quality of the air in the city has gone from

Are you finding it difficult to breathe? Blame the poor air quality in the city, which hit alow on Thursday. The quality of air has turned ‘orange’ on the pollution index — an indication of a serious health alert. Pollutant PM 2.5 (particulate matter) values were the highest on Thursday, as illustrated by data from

Citizens And Civic Staff Can Face Action For Setting Fires The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which has so far, failed to curb the problem of open burning of garbage, is now planning to use higher fines as a deterrent. The fine for burning waste in the open is set to be increased to Rs 500,

About 20 years ago, what was then known as the Ganeshkhind Road, was lined with beautiful banyan trees on either sides leading to a beautiful fountain at the University Circle. It was possible to take a right turn there to enter the university gate, or a U-turn to enter the gate of Vaikunth Mehta National

Four Out Of Five Market Spaces Are Lying Idle   Five years ago, as part of a plan to rehabilitate hawkers, the Pune Municipal Corporation built five otta (platform) markets at a cost of Rs 27 crore using central government funds. Today, one of these open markets has been converted by the PMC into a

The early winter chill, coupled with high levels of moisture in the air, have created conditions ideal for foggy mornings in the city. Over the past week, the minimum temperatures have regularly dipped below the normal, and the India Meteorological Department has forecast early-morning fog-like cover over the next few days. On Sunday, the minimum