River restoration work by GCC underway
Work on the restoration of the Adyar and Cooum rivers is ongoing, with the planting of saplings along the banks, erection of barricades and levelling work taking place across various locations. The work is being carried out by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
As part of the project, a walkway has also been constructed from the MRTS bridge to the Thiru Vi Ka bridge. The cost of the walkway is Rs 5.4 crores. The planting of 60,000 saplings is also being carried out. The saplings include Neem, Ashoka and Banyan trees. Encroachments are also being removed over the course of the project to better protect the rivers.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: How can Chennai’s third master plan encourage sustainable transport?
Senior citizens ask for more free travel on MTC buses in Chennai
Senior citizens in Chennai demand more free travel coupons for MTC buses across the city. A senior citizen can claim ten free travel coupons at the closest bus depot, as per the scheme introduced in Chennai in 2016.
Senior citizens claim that the number of free passes is not sufficient. Moreover, they would like MTC to issue free passes in more depots and offices to make the scheme more accessible. They also request that the token validity be extended to a year instead of six months.
A study by the Tamil Nadu Transport Department has shown that 70% of senior citizens travel by public transport over private transport, given that cab and auto fares have skyrocketed in 2022.
Source: The Times of India | DT Next
Illegal garbage dumping in Madhavaram irks residents
Due to a lack of daily door-to-door garbage collection by the Greater Chennai Corporation, people have been throwing garbage inside the corporation school campus in Madhavaram. This has led to health hazards, including mosquito breeding.
People demand that zonal officials bring back bins and ensure garbage collection happens regularly in all the areas in Madhavaram.
In 2021, GCC removed the bins on the streets, which has led to illegal garbage dumping, say the residents. Sometimes, even when garbage collection happens, people do not hand the waste over to the sanitary workers. They resort to dumping the waste in the corporation school, which is also not cleaned properly.
Residents are of the view that the civic body must severely penalise the people who illegally dump garbage in the school and on the roads.
Source: DT Next
Read more: Why I segregate waste at source despite a broken waste management system in Chennai
Illegal flagpoles and hoardings make it dangerous for residents to navigate Chennai
Residents have been apprehensive of the banners, hoardings and flagpoles installed across the city, as they witnessed a multitude of such fixtures falling due to Cyclone Mandous. These banners have been installed in places like GST Road near Pallavaram, Anna Nagar and Egmore, on central medians and pavements. Recently, a political party worker died due to a flagpole falling on him.
Critics say that the civic body has not taken action against political parties and private advertisers putting up banners and hoardings, despite it being illegal.
Between December 8th and 13th, GCC took down 62 hoardings and 33 banners.
Source: The Times of India
GCC completes delimitation of Area Sabhas
Area Sabhas are set to be held for the very first time in January 2023 in Chennai. The civic body has completed the delimitation of Area Sabhas for all the 200 wards under its ambit. The Chennai District Gazette of December 20 provides information on Area Sabhas and can help people identify the meeting they can attend. Residents can voice their concerns on civic amenities in the area and other issues faced by them as Areas Sabhas are meant to facilitate participatory local governance.
Chennai Corporation has put up the gazette with area sabha maps on its website for residents to access.
Source: The Hindu
NGT directs Metro Water to install sewage connections
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to install sewage connections in places that are yet to be covered under the Tamil Nadu government scheme of Illam Thorum Inaippu.
This comes in the wake of the Cooum river getting polluted by sewage and untreated waste released into it. Researchers have found that faecal coliform was prevalent in the river water.
CMWSSB has said that 70% of the sewage connection work has been completed. The rest of the project will be completed by mid-2023. This will prevent sewage from flowing into the Cooum.
Source: The Times of India
[Compiled by Padmaja Jayaraman]