City: Chennai

Ennore protest against ammonia gas leak continues for more than a month More than a month has passed since the ammonia gas leak incident happened in Chennai's Ennore. The gas leak from the Coromandel International Limited (CIL) fertiliser plant led to the hospitalisation of over 50 people, while a couple of them had also undergone angioplasty surgery. Demanding the permanent closure of Coromandel, families from over 30 villages in and around Ennore have been protesting indefinitely since December 27. Following the gas leak incident, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which took up a suo motu case, has directed the Tamil…

In December 2023, many parts of Chennai received record-breaking rains for two days. Though the event of cyclone occurrence was the same throughout the city, the capacity to recover from the aftermath was not the same for all. Experts say the reasons for this recovery variability could be attributed to infrastructure resilience such as sewage treatment capacity, water supply, water holding capacity of reservoirs and waterbodies encroachment. These physical parameters are intensified by the socio-economic status such as the livelihood, income levels, social status of people and assets across different parts of Chennai. Here, it is important to look at…

Six months ago, the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation carried out work on East Main Road and West Main Road in  Sri Prashanthi Colony, Madambakkam. In the past ten years, these roads were re-laid three times and each time, their heights increased considerably. The new roads came as a relief for residents only until the onset of the Northeast monsoon in 2023.  As the interior roads including the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cross streets of Sri Prashanthi Colony have not been re-laid, excess water runs down to these roads which now lie at a lower level compared to  the main roads.…

When Cyclone Michaung-induced floods hit the resettlement colonies of Perumbakkam, the houses on the ground floor were quickly inundated. On a priority basis, persons with disabilities were allocated houses on the ground floor. However, with the floods, their vulnerability pushed them further to the fringes. They were forced to climb stairs seeking refuge in other people's homes that already had leaky roofs and damp walls. This was not the first time people in resettlement colonies in Perumbakkam or Semmencherry were facing floods. Almost every year, November and December are months of struggle for the families, who are evicted and resettled…

Final electoral rolls: Chennai has 39 lakh voters The Greater Chennai Corporation has published the electoral rolls after the final summary revision for 2024 and the number of voters in Chennai district stand at 39.01 lakh in 16 assembly constituencies. Women voters have outnumbered men since there are 3,14,85,724 women electors as opposed to 3,03,96,330 men. According to the Electoral Officer, in total, Tamil Nadu has 6.18 crore voters, with the constituency of Sholinganallur in Chengalpet district recording the highest number of voters. In Chennai, Velachery has the largest electorate in the city with more than 3 lakh registered voters.…

In envisioning the 'Good City of Chennai,' North Chennai, including Manali and Ennore, were turned into industrial sacrifice zones. Successive governments have ignored the complaints and protests of local residents against industrial pollution and degradation of the Ennore wetlands. After the 2015 floods spotlighted the critical role of wetlands in mitigating floods, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced a project for 'Eco-restoration of Ennore Creek.' However, the project — with its weak ambition and limited scope — was opposed by Ennore fishers, who decided to produce their own 'People's Plan' for the restoration of their region. In 2019, the fishing…

We have been witnessing the impact of climate change over the last few years. Flooding, inundation and subsequent power cuts have become routine during every monsoon. The poor road infrastructure makes matters worse for residents already grappling with the problems brought on by floods. Over a decade ago, the State government made milling a mandatory requirement for every road that is being resurfaced in Chennai.  However, none of the contractors or local officials adhere to the specifications laid down by the Indian Road Congress. Proper gradient and camber are not being maintained while resurfacing the roads and the height of…

It has been three years since M Sangeetha, a 25-year-old resident of Nanganallur delivered a girl at the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Chennai. Sangeetha is entitled to benefits under the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme (Dr MRMBS)-Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides cash benefits of ₹14,000 and health kits worth ₹4,000 to pregnant women in instalments.  Despite multiple enquiries with the Nanganallur Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Sangeetha has not been able to access the benefits, even after submitting her address proof and supplementary documents. Her husband, a delivery agent, earns just…

Air quality dips to poor on Bhogi day of Pongal festival As Pongal festivities began and residents of Chennai celebrated Bhogi by burning waste, some parts of the city recorded very bad air quality and low visibility on January 14 (Sunday). The worst hit areas included Manali, Royapuram, Ennore and Perungudi, where smog conditions reduced visibility and motorists had a hard time navigating the roads. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's monitoring data, the AQI on Saturday evening for particulate matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) was between 230 and 250 µg/m³. In some areas like Perungudi, the AQI reached levels…

In November last year, it was reported that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) removed 600 tonnes of garbage and 250 tonnes of debris from water bodies over four months. The operation was a part of the desilting works undertaken by the administrative body to enhance the stormwater flow capabilities of the main canals. While it is not the sole reason for flooding during heavy spells of rain, indiscriminate waste disposal leads to clogged drain inlets and polluted water bodies that increase stagnation. Healthy water bodies can help tackle both water scarcity and flooding crises. The GCC oversees 33 canals totalling…