City: Chennai

பல்லவபுர நகராட்சியின் கீழுள்ள 42 வார்டுகளில் கடந்த மூன்று வாரங்களாக பல சுகாதார சீர்கேடுகள் நடைப்பெற்று வருகிறது. நகராட்சியின் பல பகுதிகளில் கடந்த சில மாதங்களாகவே குப்பைகளை சரியாக அப்புறப்படுத்தாமலும், குப்பைகளை முறையாக மேலாண்மை செய்யாமலும் அதிகாரிகள் தவிர்த்து வருகின்றனர். பல தெருக்களில் வீட்டுக்கு வந்து குப்பைகளை சேகரிப்பது முன்னறிவிப்பின்றி நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. பல இடங்களில் எப்போதுமிருக்கும் குப்பைத்தொட்டிகள் அகற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால் பலரும் குப்பைத்தொட்டி இருந்த இடங்களில் எப்போதும் போல குப்பையை கொட்டி வருகின்றனர் அதை சரிவரக் கையாளாததால் சாலைகளில் பறந்தும் சுற்றுப் பகுதிகளில் துர்நாற்றம் வீசியும் சுகாதார சீர்கேட்டுக்கு வித்திடுகிறது.பல தெருக்களில் தொடர்ந்து குப்பைகள் தீயிட்டு கொளுத்தப்பட்டு வ௫கிறது. இதை பற்றி சுகாதார அதிகாரியான (Sanitary Officer) தி௫ செல்வராஜ் அவர்களிடம் பல முறை புகார் அளித்த போதும், செய்கிறேன், பார்கிறேன் என்ற பதில் மட்டுமே அவரிடமிருந்து வ௫கிறது ஆனால் நடைமுறையில் எந்த மாற்றத்தையும் காண முடியவில்லை. இச்சூழலுக்கு காரணம் பல்லவபுர…

Chennai's woes with footpaths have been a recurring irritant in recent months. From protests against political parties that claim footpaths to erect their banners, to citizen complaints of newly laid footpaths being unserviceable due to design flaws and encroachments -- there is a chorus of voices sounding a clear demand for better facilities for pedestrians. Pavements across the city suffer from poor design, inconvenient placement of street furniture, street vendor stalls that block access, broken tiles, dumping of debris and overflowing garbage. This leaves little room for those who commute on foot to navigate the city's streets safely. Take a look at…

Our home in T Nagar was built in 1950. The cost of the land was Rs 1600 and the building cost about Rs 50,000. But the story of the home goes back much further. In 1910, when my grandfather was about 10 years old, his father died, leaving behind an asthmatic wife, two young daughters and him. And a debt of Rs 500, that was a crushing liability for a poor family in those days. There was a real risk of their home being taken over. At some point in these difficult times, he even contemplated ending his life in…

Rising cases of dengue in the city With the onset of monsoon, it is not only the bad roads that have been cause for worry but health woes too. Chennai has been recording a steady rise in the number of dengue cases. According to Health Minister Vijayabhaskar the government has already set up fever clinics at government hospitals that function round the clock. Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and the Institute of Child Health have 8 dengue cases each under treatment. The directorate of public health has recorded a spike in fever cases in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur…

The summary revision of electoral rolls is underway in Tamil Nadu with the publication of the draft electoral roll in September. Those who will have completed 18 years as on January 1, 2019 can enroll themselves in the voter list and those who wish to make any changes or deletions may also do so during the revision period. The final voter list is to be published on January 4, 2019. If you are looking to add, change or delete yourself from the rolls, these are the steps to be followed. Just be quick, for the deadline is October 31st. Addition…

“Homely atmosphere with good food and guaranteed safety,” reads the description of one of the many posts advertising women's hostels on a popular Facebook group for people who have moved to Chennai and are looking for suitable accommodation.  The post is accompanied by pictures of three single beds placed next to each other in a cramped room with seemingly little ventilation or light. Yet, the many enthusiastic responses show there is still demand for such places. This is the reality of many such hostels and paying guest accommodation across the city. With very little oversight on their operations, those who…

In a city like Chennai where public transportation is not really optimal in terms of supporting last mile connectivity, share autos are the cheapest and easiest option and have naturally emerged as the common man’s preferred mode of transport. But the advantages of this intermediate public transport or para transit cannot override the range of problems faced by commuters and even share auto drivers themselves. In Part 1 of the series on share autos, we discussed why share autos are necessary, especially in view of the demand surplus that crowded MTC buses are not able to meet. But commuters list…

With Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), Metrorail, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses and suburban rail network, Chennai is one of the metros in the country that have a more efficient local public transport system. However, rapid growth of commuters has led to the emergence of an illegal, parallel system in the form of share autos. The fact that 15,500 share autos ply on the city roads each day indicates how this form of private transportation is plugging the gaps in the public transport space. This Citizen Matters series on share autos provides details on the emergence of share autos, problems…

Imagine a walk on the Kotturpuram bridge on any morning or evening - a glance below provides a picturesque sight: people shouting in happiness, their row boats on the tranquil waters of Adyar River, free from traffic. The happiness on their faces is evident; it makes you feel the joy of rowing. You cannot help thinking how beautiful the journey of these rowers would be -- navigating in the seemingly serene waters, encountering fish and feeling the cool breeze. But the reality is quite different.  And ugly. The breeze carries the stench of sewage, often unbearably foul. And what rowers…

More water for Chennai residents Chennaites have reason to rejoice. The water table in 8 out of 15 zones have seen a slight rise  by 0.68m. While areas of Madhavaram, Ambattur, Annangar, Teynampet, Valsaravakkam, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur has seen increase,  North Chennai areas like Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar have seen decrease in ground water levels. Meanwhile, the city’s water department has identified 13 lakes and 5 quarries to augment water supply. A special team has been formed at the Metro Water board which will work with PWD and institutions like IIT-M and Anna University…