City: Chennai

Civil society organisations and concerned citizens have united to protest the construction of a new airport in Parandur, in the outskirts of Chennai. The Rs 30,000-crore project is slated to come up in more than 5,000 acres of land, according to the State government. A majority of this land is agricultural and also includes many waterbodies. According to civic and environmental activists, if the construction of the greenfield airport in Parandur goes ahead as per plan, it will have significant ecological and social repercussions — loss of natural habitats, potential flooding and a loss of livelihood for communities dependent on…

As dawn breaks, there is a steady stream of customers at Muhammed's tea shop in Chennai. As they arrive, he serves them tea in glass tumblers. However, one customer insists on a paper cup for hygiene reasons, despite Muhammed explaining that the glass tumblers are washed and sterilised with hot water. Glass tumblers cost around Rs 20 each and can be reused hundreds of times until they break. In contrast, paper cups cost Rs 100 for 50 cups (Rs 2 per cup) and are neither reusable nor environment-friendly. “Though plastic-coated paper cups are banned, we can’t avoid using them when…

Residents of the tenements built by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) in Vyasarpadi, North Chennai face several challenges. The homes are cramped, barely providing enough space for two people. There are no recreational areas for children to play and for adults to relax. Additionally, the narrow, unsafe roads with speeding vehicles pose a hazard for children living nearby. The drains are often clogged and sewage is seen overflowing onto the congested lanes. So, how do people feel about living here? One resident laments that the living spaces in the resettlement site make them feel that there is…

On July 16, two minor boys driving an SUV on Pycrofts Road in Chennai's Royapettah, caused an accident with a two-wheeler, injuring two pedestrians. This incident occurred two months after a similar case in Pune, which drew nationwide criticism. In that case, the Juvenile Justice Board in Maharashtra granted bail to a teenager responsible for a car accident that killed two people, on the condition that he write a 300-word essay on road accidents and their solutions. "What about the families who suffer the loss of their loved ones killed in these accidents?" asks Mihika Gupta who lost her husband,…

Trash is mostly an afterthought when it gets taken away seamlessly. Like most residents, I follow the weekly trash routine without much thought. This system contrasts with my recent experiences in Chennai, where household waste segregation is more community-oriented, while civic authorities are largely responsible for collection and disposal of the waste in the city.  Compared to Chennai, Seattle has a smaller population, about 762,500. Chennai's population according to latest GCC data is about 7.1 million. In both Seattle and Chennai, the city government contracts with private companies to collect waste, and charges households a collection fee. In Seattle, unlike…

Two years ago, the Tamil Nadu government published a glossary for addressing the LGBTQIA+  community. The development occurred in large part because of the advocacy by queer and trans groups. Since its release, the glossary has shown how language plays a crucial role in the broader struggle for visibility and equality for these communities. Orinam, an LGBTQIA+ support and activist group, has been curating queer and trans Tamil terms for years. They collaborated with Queer Chennai Chronicles and The News Minute to create the official state terminology. The glossary, which contains both Tamil and English words, not just promotes inclusive…

Armed with their mobile phones, notebooks and pens, a group of enthusiastic women walk along the lanes of a housing board colony early in the morning. They go door-to-door asking residents pertinent questions about safety, quality of basic amenities and housing infrastructure among other things. While they are generally received warmly, they occasionally encounter hostility, particularly from men. These women, who are community workers, conduct safety audits facilitated by the Information and Resource Centre for Deprived and Urban Communities (IRCDUC), a voluntary organisation focussed on housing for the poor. As residents of the resettlement site where the audit is taking…

Chennai is known for its love of sport and the city has produced many greats in cricket and tennis. But, we often forget the connection that North Chennai and areas like Vyasarpadi have to football, hockey and boxing.  There are many sporting legends from Vada Chennai, who have gone on to represent the country in the international arena. For many individuals in the area, their athletic skills provided opportunities for education and a better quality of life. Many athletes have secured jobs in various government departments and the Railways due to their involvement in sports. But of late, the sports…

அனல்மின் நிலையங்களின் சாம்பல் கழிவுகள், ஆற்றில் வெளியிடப்படும் சூடான நீர், எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்களின் கழிவுகள் ஆகியவற்றால் பாதிப்படைந்துள்ள எண்ணூர் முதல் பழவேற்காடு வரையிலான மீனவ மக்களின் வாழ்வாதரத்தை மேலும் மோசமாக்கியுள்ளது ஒரு புதிய பிரச்சனை. செய்தி சேகரிப்பதற்காக 7 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக நான் கொசஸ்தலை ஆறு, முகத்துவாரம், பக்கிங்காம் பகுதிகளுக்குச் சென்று வந்துள்ளேன். அங்குள்ள மீனவர்களுக்கு முக்கியமான பிரச்சனையே அனல்மின் நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சாலைகளின் கழிவுகளால் நீர்நிலைகள் பாதிக்கப்படுவதுதான். ஆனால், இந்த முறை முற்றிலும் வேறுபட்ட ஒரு பிரச்சனைக்காக அங்கு சென்றிருந்தேன். Read more: Oil spill in Chennai’s Manali area can cause irreparable damage to Ennore Creek wetland நாங்கள் படகில் சென்று கொண்டிருக்கையில் கொசஸ்தலை ஆற்றின் பெரும்பாலான பகுதிகளில் கட்டிடக் கழிவுகளை கொட்டி வைத்ததுபோல மேடு மேடாகத் தெரிந்தது என்னை ஆச்சர்யத்துக்கும் அதிர்ச்சிக்கும் ஆளாக்கியது. அப்போது என் படகிலிருந்த மீனவர் ஒருவர் அந்த மேட்டில்…

After 45-year-old Shanthi S was evicted from her home in Suryanagar and moved to the resettlement site in Perumbakkam, one of her biggest concerns was making ends meet after losing her job. A single parent with two children, Shanthi worked as a domestic help in and around Kotturpuram before being resettled. Travelling back to work was not an option as she couldn't leave her kids home alone all day. The loss of livelihood has been a significant issue for residents of resettlement sites like Shanthi since 2017. This problem is considered a primary cause of the rising incidents of domestic…