In the second episode of How Cities Move, we dive into the rhythms of the Indian Silicon Valley — from crowded BMTC buses to the expanding metro and the iconic Namma Yatri autos. We unpack what works, what doesn’t, and what the future of commuting in Bengaluru looks like with the sudden growth of travel tech to navigate through the mad traffic in the city.

Tune in as we explore the stories, systems, and struggles that keep the city on the move.

Every winter, the Yamuna turns white — not with snow, but with toxic foam.

In November, the froth returned yet again near Kalindi Kunj and the Okhla barrage, just weeks after Chhath Puja, reviving an uncomfortable question: why does India’s most worshipped river still look like this despite decades of clean-up efforts and crores of public money spent?

In this episode of Mission Planet A, host Rupa unpacks The Great Yamuna Lie. From untreated sewage and industrial discharge to detergent-laden wastewater and riverbed pollution, we trace the real reasons behind the recurring froth. Using pollution data, ground reports, and health insights, the episode explains why just 22 kilometres of the Yamuna flowing through Delhi accounts for nearly three-fourths of the river’s pollution.

We also look at the human cost — skin infections, respiratory distress, and long-term health risks faced by communities and devotees who continue to enter the river — and examine why repeated clean-up announcements fail to translate into real change on the ground.

This is not a story of sudden pollution.

It’s a story of systemic failure, misplaced priorities, and accountability delayed.

India’s big push toward cleaner mobility arrived with E20 petrol — a blend that promises lower emissions and a greener future. But soon after the rollout, complaints poured in: reduced mileage, engine compatibility issues, and even a PIL challenging the switch. So what’s really going on?

In this episode, we break down the science, policy, and politics behind E20. We explore why the government is pushing ethanol, what critics are warning about, and whether this fuel is actually sustainable for India — environmentally, economically, and for vehicle owners.

From sugarcane farming to emissions claims, from mileage concerns to long-term climate goals, we decode the full story behind E20 so you can decide: is this the future of fuel or just another overstated transition?

In the first episode of How Cities Move, we dive into the rhythms of this coastal city — from crowded suburban trains and MTC buses to the expanding metro and the iconic yellow autos. We unpack what works, what doesn’t, and what the future of commuting in Chennai might look like.

Tune in as we explore the stories, systems, and struggles that keep the city on the move.

Fast fashion is one of the world’s biggest polluters, but some changemakers are rewriting the script. In this episode, we spotlight Jiwya, a slow fashion brand founded by two textile scientists who left their corporate lives in the US to build a supply chain that’s 100% plant-based and regenerative. After exploring over 200 Indian cities and learning from heritage crafts, they’ve created clothes that come from the soil — and go back to the soil. Now, Jiwya is making waves at the London Fashion Week. Join us as we sit down with co-founder Aishwarya Lahariya to hear how fashion can be reimagined with purpose, sustainability, and human touch.

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From Kedarnath in 2013 to Chamoli in 2021, and now Dharali in 2025, the Himalayas have faced one disaster after another. Yet the warnings keep going unheard. In this episode, we revisit the latest Uttarakhand floods and the Supreme Court’s chilling remarks about Himachal Pradesh’s fragile ecology. We explore how climate change, reckless construction, and unregulated tourism are pushing the Himalayas to the brink — and what this means for millions who depend on them.

Carbon credits were supposed to be a climate solution—letting companies offset their emissions by funding green projects elsewhere. But are they really reducing carbon… or just buying time for polluters?

In this episode of Mission Planet A, we uncover the flaws of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), reveal why VCM 2.0 might still be a PR stunt, and explore how these projects often harm the very communities they claim to help.

🎧 Listen now to find out why the promise of “carbon neutrality” might be one of the biggest climate illusions yet.

Two shipwrecks off the coast of Kerala in recent months have sparked headlines — but the real story lies beneath the waves. In this episode, we dive into the lesser-told side of maritime disasters: their long-term ecological toll. From oil spills and debris to the disruption of delicate marine ecosystems along India’s biodiverse western coast, we explore why these incidents are not just maritime accidents, but environmental red flags. Featuring insights from marine biologists and coastal conservationists, we ask: are we prepared for the invisible aftermath of such disasters? And what does this mean for Kerala’s fragile coastal ecology and the communities that depend on it?