GENRE: Voices

The monsoon is just around the corner, and it will hopefully be bountiful. The water situation in Chennai presently is comfortable with Metro Water officials saying that the city has enough of this precious commodity to tide over one more year, irrespective of how the monsoon fares. The Chembarambakkam reservoir, one of the largest sources of water for the city, is already 85% full, necessitating a release to lower its levels so that it can accommodate further inflow during the monsoon. Elsewhere in the city, stormwater drains are being constructed to carry away water that is likely to otherwise stagnate.…

Chennai is known for its brutal weather and amazing food. But with the consistent surge in heat, our everyday lives feel like we live in a microwave. We often read and hear a lot about climate change, but only truly recognize its impact when we step outside. We find ourselves exhausted and irritated while having to wait at traffic signals, while crossing the road, and while waiting for public transport. It's during these moments that the reality of our changing environment hits us The moment we are away from the bustling city we often sense a drop in temperature. This…

Akbar Hussain, a 60-year-old who lives with his wife inside the Koyambedu bus stand, waits in line amidst tens of labourers in Koyambedu for his turn to be called for work. "If I come and stand in this line, there is a chance of me finding a job for the day and there is also a certainty that I will find food for me and my wife," he says. A native of Kallakuruchi, Akbar was working in a tea shop until COVID-19. As the tea shop was closed during the pandemic, Akbar and his wife found it difficult to make…

Chennai receives the majority of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season, from October to December. While the monsoon brings relief from the heat, it also poses various challenges for motorists.  Rainy weather makes driving dangerous. Visibility is poor, and roads are slippery, meaning vehicles take longer to stop than on dry road surfaces. This can lead to road crashes and even fatal incidents. These risks result from two primary factors: road conditions itself, and drivers not taking adequate safety precautions. Either way, it is the motorists and their families who bear the consequences of an injury or fatality.  Read…

Our roads are not designed for driving below 50 km/hr, so why should one be penalized for pushing on the accelerator? For starters, I am a relatively slow driver. This subjective disclaimer is no proof before the Rs 1000 fine I was charged for going over the speed limit in Chennai recently.  Following this, I started driving consciously and analyzing speed behaviours in different parts of my daily commute, only to realize that speed is inherently connected to the roads you are driving in. Fundamental issues with road design Roads in India, at best, are planned for a comfortable journey…

The current administration has undertaken several infrastructure development activities across Chennai over the last few years. Roads have been resurfaced and stormwater drains (SWDs) have been constructed during this time. The members of the Perambur Neighborhood Development Forum have been engaging closely with the local authorities and contractors to monitor the quality of the civic work carried out in Chennai and ensure that they are up to prescribed standards. Our observations in this time have been that the civic body and the contractors have failed to properly adhere to processes when it comes to several works including the laying of roads.…

The release of the BBMP Street Dog Census 2023 on October 4th has generated significant attention in the media, primarily focusing on the survey methodology and the decrease in street dog numbers. However, beyond the headlines, the survey has implications for citizens and animal lovers. Census results The census shows a 10% drop in the street dog population from 3.1 lakh in 2019 to 2.9 lakh. While this number is adequate, and the reduction quite a relief, it could be much better with a more aggressive, effective and compassionate ABC (Animal Birth Control) programme. It is quite heartening to know…

An early adoption of universal adult franchise and a parliamentary system that has stood the test of time have ensured that every eligible Indian voter has a stake in national policies through their elected representatives. During the recently concluded G20 summit, India positioned herself as the ‘mother of democracy’ – patting herself on the back as a model of pluralism and participation. This claim however calls for some critical self-examination. Parliament functions not only as a space for deliberating and dissecting provisions of imminent laws. It is also the main institution seeking accountability for government actions and inactions. To this…

Mathew Idiculla, an independent legal and policy consultant based in Bengaluru and a visiting faculty at the School of Policy and Governance Azim Premji University, discussed the significance of public participation in urban planning and the views of urban planning experts in part 1 of this interview. In part two, he discusses the absence of an urban planning process and cites a few case studies to illustrate his point. CM: In 2015, you were a part of the BBMP restructuring committee. How was your experience being in the system? Mathew Idiculla: I accidentally became a part of the system. The…

Mathew Idiculla is an independent legal and policy consultant based in Bengaluru. He is a visiting faculty at the School of Policy and Governance, Azim Premji University. His main area of interest is the intersection of public law, politics, and public policy and his research and practice are focused on issues concerning cities, local governance, and federalism. At Azim Premji University, he teaches courses on Urban Governance in India and Urban Development: Law and Policy. In part one of Mathew's interview with Citizen Matters, he addresses the core concerns of urban planning in the city, in terms of lack of…