City: Chennai

In August/September this year, Chennai resident Rajiv attempted to update his name in the property tax records of his flat in Chromepet. The Tambaram City Municipal Corporation (TCMC) rejected his online application and asked him to file the papers offline. He was also told to pay Rs10,000 towards the charges for a name change. Finding this amount excessive, he brought the issue to the attention of the press. A local reporter investigated the matter and contacted the TCMC Commissioner, who allegedly disputed the high fees at first. However, after consulting officials, he later confirmed that such a fee is mandatory, per…

Chennai has approximately 8,331 homeless individuals concentrated in hotspot areas and along major roads across 15 zones. Notably, 69% of this population consists of families who have lived on the streets for generations. Despite this high number, a recent study by the Information and Research Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) reveals that the city doesn't have a single shelter for families. In January 2023, Citizen Matters visited five GCC homeless shelters in Chennai to identify operational gaps. These shelters cater to boys, girls, the elderly, and individuals with mental illnesses. Yet, the funding for their operation and maintenance…

"I haven't got my pension for four years. I don’t know why," says Jayanti, a woman with disabilities resettled at the Perumbakkam housing board site. Jayanti, originally from Thousand Lights, was evicted in 2017. Shortly after relocation, she stopped receiving her pension. With limited livelihood opportunities due to her disability and the loss of her husband, she is entirely dependent on the ₹1,500 from the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). The NSAP is a Central government-sponsored, non-contributory, income transfer scheme implemented by the Tamil Nadu Department of Revenue. It provides basic monetary support to the elderly, widowed, and persons with…

“Namma ooru, semma joru…” – the catchy song playing from garbage collection vehicles every morning is a familiar sound for most Chennai residents. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) anthem is a reminder to take out the garbage, as the conservancy workers do their rounds in battery-operated vehicles (BOVs) collecting waste door-to-door.  Some residents diligently segregate the waste into dry, organic and reject categories before handing it over to conservancy workers. Others just get rid of the mixed waste without a thought about where it will go and what would be its environmental impact. And the cycle repeats every morning. Ever…

“I want a home. It should have a toilet with a door, at least one room spacious enough to stretch my legs and sleep, and a kitchen of our own,” said Dhanashree, a student of Class IX, when I visited Kannappar Thidal two years ago. This was not just her dream, but that of hundreds of families living there, who were evicted from the streets near Ripon Building over two decades ago. Today, all 114 families in Kannappar Thidal have new homes they can call their own — with toilets and kitchens, no less. Over 22 years of struggle tells…

As the Northeast monsoon intensifies in Tamil Nadu, the fishing community in Ennore has asked the State government to clear blockages and encroachments along the Kosasthalaiyar River and Ennore backwaters. In an open letter addressed to K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Minister for Revenue, District Revenue Establishment, Deputy Collectors for Disaster Management and P Amudha, Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the fishers point out that these blockages are affecting the health of the Ennore wetlands and could cause flooding in Chennai, if not cleared. While the services of the fishers and fishing boats are called upon every monsoon for flood rescue,…

Chennai is home to countless apartment complexes, many of which are in dire need of redevelopment. While the city has seen a surge in new constructions, older buildings often require attention. So, what should you do if your apartment is showing its age and you are considering redevelopment? Two years after the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership (TNAO) Act of 2022 came into effect, the Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Department introduced the TNAO Rules, 2024 recently, which include specific guidelines for redeveloping ageing apartment buildings. A little background on TNAO Rules, 2024 KP Subramanian, a retired Professor of Urban…

Visalakshi Kabilan, Councillor of Ward 180 in Chennai, has been a dedicated field worker long before her political debut. With her in-laws being long-time DMK members, she made good the opportunity when Ward 180 was declared a reserved ward for women, paving the way for her entry into local politics. She is keen on facilitating higher education opportunities for children in her ward, especially those from marginalised communities. Ward 180 in Chennai Name of the Councillor: Visalakshi Kabilan Age: 55 Party: DMK Education: B.Com Number: 9445467180 / 9176179311 Map of Ward 180 in Chennai. Pic Courtesy: GCC Read more: Councillor…

இந்திய விமானப்படையின் 92-வது ஆண்டுவிழா 6.10.2024 அன்று கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. இதனையொட்டி சென்னை மெரினா கடற்கரையில் காலை 11 மணி முதல் 1 மணிவரை இந்திய விமானப்படையின் பல்வேறு விமானங்கள் கலந்துகொண்டு சாகச நிகழ்வுகளை நடத்தின. இந்த  Airshow வை பார்வையிட மொத்தம் 13 லட்சம் பேர் கூடியதாகச் சொல்லப்படுகிறது. கடற்கரைக்குச் சென்றவர்களில் வெப்பம் மற்றும் கூட்ட நெரிசலின் காரணமாக இதுவரை 5 பேர் உயிரிழந்திருப்பதாகவும் 90க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வருவதாகவும், 250க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் மயக்கமடைந்ததாகவும் செய்திகள் கூறுகின்றன. Read more: Why Chennai needs to put its ‘heat action plan’ to practice right away நேற்று (October 6) சென்னையில் 36°C வரை வெப்பநிலை இருக்கும் என சனிக்கிழமையே இந்திய வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் எச்சரித்திருந்தது.  நேற்று (October 6) சென்னை நுங்கம்பாக்கத்தில் பதிவான அதிகபட்ச வெப்பநிலை 34.3 °C ஆகும். வெய்யிலின் தாக்கம் அதிகம் இருந்ததிற்கு முக்கிய காரணம் Wet…

An old-time resident of Perambur, 71-year-old K S Krishnan would never have imagined that he would be duped and robbed in his neighbourhood in broad daylight. A few weeks ago, Krishnan, a retired Central government employee, went to a temple in Thiruvanmiyur and was getting back home. When he got down from the bus and went to a nearby shop, a person claiming to be a police personnel waylaid him saying that he should be careful of his valuables and talked him into putting his gold chain and rings, which were around 3.5 sovereigns, in his pocket. The stranger said he…