Hepzi Anthony | Citizen Matters, Mumbai

Dharavi: COVID recovery quick, economic recovery to take time

November 16, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

People in Dharavi believe negative media publicity about COVID numbers affected economic recovery of the disease

How Mumbaikars can coexist peacefully with ferocious spotted cats

November 13, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Leopard rescue centers are a stop gap arrangement to deal with man-animal conflicts. Mahrashtra wants to increase them. But, should it?

Does Mumbai not have money to fix its collapsing buildings?

November 1, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Municipality’s annual funding for building repairs is Rs 100 crore. Which, it claims, is insufficient.

Call to use RTIs to resolve local issues

October 22, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Decisions that strangle RTI and democracy will continue unless citizens use it to resolve their local issues

Battles to board the local train

October 12, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Shouldn’t the government consider implementing the option of staggering of office timings rather than block trains to many? Ask experts.

BMC’s desperate attempts to get occupants out of collapsing buildings

September 29, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Residents insist on staying in collapsing buildings. In such cases, BMC will now disconnect electricity and water supply.

Co-existing with leopards in our backyard

September 18, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the reduced human movement encouraged animals to step out more comfortably prompting more leopard spotting, increasing man-animal conflicts

Mumbai’s big housing question: why do people refuse to vacate crumbling buildings?

September 7, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Mumbai residents refuse to vacate crumbling buildings because they see little alternative in the country’s most expensive real estate market.

Mumbai’s coastlines are changing unrecognisably. Do we want that?

August 8, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

There are different views on how Mumbai’s Eastern Waterfront should be developed. But, what do Mumbaikars want?

Want to get on Mumbai’s local trains? You’d need a QR code.

July 29, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

From 30 July, entry to the Mumbai suburban rail network will be regulated by a QR-based Electronic-pass system. Many are unhappy with it.

How visual artists in Mumbai are reinventing themselves for a post-COVID world

July 16, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Artists in Mumbai face the same challenges as their counterparts around the world. Even so, many are quietly absorbing, visualising and recreating the imagery sparked by the pandemic.

High risk, no rewards: What BEST workers get as they keep Mumbai running during COVID-19

July 7, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

After reporting eight deaths of staff members from COVID, BEST management stopped giving out numbers. A union leader puts the death toll at 74 and complains of unjust treatment.

Despite hundreds of crores spent on desilting, why Mumbai could still see flooding this monsoon

June 24, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

A BMC press note assures citizens of corrective action taken in 169 flood-prone spots and ongoing work at 43 spots, but what Mumbai really needs is sustained, hydrology-based water bodies management.

Why Shramik trains and other promises have brought little cheer to Mumbai’s migrant workers

May 5, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Mumbai has an estimated 3 million migrant workers. Even if the railways ferry about 2400 people in two trains per day, it will take a couple of months to transport them back home.

Lack of safety gear, harsh working conditions and no support: Who will hear the voices of Mumbai’s nurses?

April 14, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

Over 90 health care workers, including nurses and doctors, have tested positive in Mumbai with an additional 150-200 nurses under quarantine. The United Nurses Association has moved the SC seeking mandatory protection kit for all health care workers in isolation wards.