Articles by Subasree

In January 2025, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reclassified Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants under a newly introduced 'blue' category of industries. This change, framed as part of “essential environmental services,” signals a significant policy shift, one that many experts fear could normalise a polluting technology under the garb of progressive waste management. At first glance, the revised classification system seems technical and benign. But behind the bureaucratic language lies a fundamental question: how can an industry once categorised as 'red', the most hazardous tier, suddenly become 'blue', a category reserved for supposedly cleaner, essential services? What does the classification system…

Makeshift homes made with mosquito nets, broken chairs, and tables and groups of families making and selling beaded ornaments under Chennai’s longest flyover. This may be a familiar sight for commuters travelling along Velachery, Madipakkam and Sholinganallur. Ever wondered who are these people and why they live on the streets?  The Narikurava tribal community living under the Medavakkam flyover in Chennai faces daily struggles that often go unnoticed. The 2.3-km unidirectional flyover, inaugurated in May 2022, facilitates faster travel from Tambaram to Velachery and is a boon for commuters. But families living under the overpass have many concerns. They face…

"Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow" — this saying resonates as we navigate the streets of Perumbakkam, a reminder that the ongoing Metro Rail construction work promises progress. But when it comes to saving lives, that inconvenience becomes a serious concern that demands immediate attention. In Perumbakkam, the sound of an ambulance siren has become a haunting reminder of a persistent and growing problem. Instead of speeding through traffic, these emergency vehicles often find themselves trapped — immobilised in a gridlock of cars, school buses, and construction barriers. What should be a quick dash to the hospital often turns into…