कोरोना महामारी के प्रकोप के बाद, कल भारत सरकार का पहला बजट घोषित हुआ। ज़ाहिर है, बजट से ख़ासी उम्मीदें थीं और कुछ बड़े फैसलों का इंतजार भी था। पर्यावरण संरक्षण और जलवायु परिवर्तन से लड़ाई की नज़र से देखें, तो इंतज़ार था एक ऐसे बजट का जिसमें इन विषयों को प्राथमिकता दी जाये और अब तक उपेक्षित जन स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्र को वरीयता मिले।

Even as forest, wildlife and climate change demand greater focus following the pandemic, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not even make a mention of it in her budget speech.

Budget 2021 has proposed the launch of Hydrogen Energy Mission in this fiscal year.

Bicycling enthusiasts in Bengaluru now have a new route they can take their ride on – Race Course Road. On January 30, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa inaugurated a new bicycle track on the Race Course Road.

The monopoly of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) with regard to running local buses in the City might come to an end. The Union Budget has announced a new scheme to enable private sector players to finance, acquire, operate and maintain over 20,000 buses across the country.

On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented India’s first-ever paperless Budget. A lot of reforms were announced on migrant labour, renewable energy, and women and child welfare. Experts from the social sector weigh in.

With the announcement, India has joined the race for producing the next big energy source

In this compilation, we present thought-provoking quotes from the week of January 25-31 that frame India’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic.
 

In the last Budget 2020, a sum of Rs 4,400 crore was allocated towards controlling air pollution, but this largely remained unutilised. In the Budget 2021-22, the allocation has been reduced to Rs 2,217 crore, a drop of 50 per cent.

The Government of India, through its Budget 2021, should include measures to catalyse a long-term change in addressing climate-related issues in cities by tapping into nature-based solutions and circular economy principles.

Ajay Nagpure, Anandi Mishra, 28th Jan 2021, YourStory

This year's Budget should focus on improving the waste collection efficiencies of cities as well as rural areas. This will enhance social well-being, reduce environmental disparities, and mitigate air pollution from all sectors.

The investment needs of the bus sector are urgent and immense and given the limitations of STUs, financial support is required from governments at all levels.

The financial challenges before mass adoption of electric vehicles in the national capital were discussed in a meeting organised by the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC) on Monday.

Ajay Nagpure, Nitya Kaushik, January 25, 2021, The Indian Expres.

A floating trash barrier (FTB), installed at Picket nala, has been able to catch a large amount of plastic and other waste. The Hussainsagar lake has four inlets and Picket nala is one of them. 

Chile, Brazil and the US issue ‘rental vouchers’ to low-income groups, which can be exchanged in lieu of rent in formal, private housing.

Bicycling to the workplace could be the cheapest and a healthy last mile connectivity for Mumbaikars during the pandemic.

The analysis by World Resources Institute (WRI) India shows that while public bike-sharing costs ₹2 for a five km ride, the same distance costs ₹5 in a BEST bus and local train (second class), ₹50 in first class and ₹20 in Metro

As cycling gains popularity across the world, a recent analysis shows that it could also prove to be the cheapest mode for last-mile connectivity in Mumbai