Civic

Kashmiris attacked in the aftermath of Pulwama Kashmiris across the country came under attack by extremists in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pulwama on February 14 that left 40 CRPF personnel dead. Since the attack, Kashmiri students and traders in various parts of the country have been harassed and many forced to flee fearing for their safety. A trader was attacked by a mob in Kolkata and forced to chant ‘Vande Mataram’ before being rescued by the police. Kashmiri students in Dehradun were attacked by their peers who demanded their removal from their respective educational institutions. Shopkeepers in…

Another opportunity to enrol in voters' list If you have not registered your name in the voters' list yet, here is another chance to enrol. The Election Commission of India is organising a special two day camp today and tomorrow (Feb 23rd and 24th) to enable eligible citizens to add their names to the voters list. The camp will be open from 10 am to 5 pm at all polling stations. Source: The Hindu Railways says no to plastics  Indian Railways has identified 36 stations across the country including Chennai Central where plastics will be banned and CCTV surveillance will…

The scenic Pallikaranai Main Road with patches of greenery and occasional glimpses of migratory birds in winter would have been a treat for the passer by, but for the unbearable stench. The smell of rotten biodegradable waste and  noxious fumes from burning of plastic waste assail your senses every time you hit the road. A few metres from the marshland, a Chennai Corporation maintained earth mover dumps the mixed waste on to it. The wetlands of Pallikaranai were brought under the reserved region by the state government 10 years ago and are now under the jurisdiction of the forest department.…

As Chennai stares at an impending water crisis due to the failure of monsoons and the decline in ground water and reservoir levels, the city's residents must brace themselves for a tough summer. Currently, Metro Water is able to meet only half of the city's daily demand of 850 MLD, and that too on alternate days. Residents have already begun to feel the pinch, particularly in the western and southern parts of the city. In this situation, Chennaiites need to adopt innovative methods to conserve and reuse water. Though the city had embraced rainwater harvesting in the mid 2000s, monsoon…

The interlink between the ongoing water crisis in Chennai and the exploitation of lakes cannot be ignored. If citizens and local body officials had respected the water bodies that act as groundwater recharge systems, the city would have been self sustaining in terms of water availability. But let us look at two lakes to get a sense of what the reality on the ground is like -- Pallavaram Periya Eri and Keezhkattalai eri, both within Pallavaram Municipal limits. While many lakes including Natteri, Anneri, Zaderi were filled up to make way for residential settlements, a few such as Pallavaram Periya…

On a humid Sunday afternoon, two lads meddle with the coconut twigs and rat skins at the bund of Rajakilpakkam Lake, near Tambaram. The young boys, aged 3 years and 5 years, spend the afternoon playing with the skin of the rats caught by their father a day ago. Hailing from the Irular tribe whose occupation is to hunt snakes and rats, these kids make use of the leftovers from the catch. "I have never thought about giving my children toys. Even if I wish to, I can never afford it," says a 40-year-old Varadan A, the father. Just a…

Translated by Krishna Kumar சென்னையில் கோடை காலம் இப்போது தான் ஆரம்பம், ஆனால் இப்போதுள்ள நிலைமையை பார்த்தால் கொடூரமாக இருக்கும் என்று தான் கணிக்க முடியும். சென்னையின் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்ய தேவையான 50% தண்ணீர் மட்டும் தான் நம்மிடம் உள்ளது.பல இடங்களில் தண்ணீர் சேவை வாரம் ஒருமுறை மட்டுமே என்று குறைக்க பட்டுள்ளது. நிலத்தடிநீர் நிலைமையோ கடந்த மூன்று வருடத்தில் குறைவாக உள்ளது மற்றும் ஏரி நீர்தேக்கங்கள் அதைவிட மோசமான நிலை. நிலத்தடி நீர் நிலைமை பொதுவாக ஏப்ரல், மே மாதங்களில் உள்ள அளவுக்கு இப்போதே தள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஜனவரி முதல் வாரத்தில் சென்னை சேர்ந்த 24 கிணறுகளில் எடுத்த கணக்கின்படி நிலத்தடி நீர் நிலை வெகுவாக குறைந்துள்ளது - மூன்று ஆண்டுகளில் இதுதான் மோசம். பெரிய மழை வரும் வாய்ப்பு குறைவு என்பதால் இந்நிலை மேலும் மோசமாகத்தான் போகும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கலாம். குறைந்துவரும் நீர்நிலை மழை மய்யம் (The…

The safety helmet for two-wheeler drivers has become a bone of contention between resistant citizens and firm authorities in two cities this year - Puducherry and Pune. It is compulsory for two-wheeler riders to wear safety helmets under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The rule also says that a helmet should have a thickness of 20-25 mm, with quality foam. It should also have an ISI mark and follow the Bureau of Indian Standards. Yet, the resistance against safety headgear has always been high. Gangotri from Save Life Foundation clarifies that the rule for pillion riders varies from state to…

Hotel fire kills 17 in Delhi, serious lapses found A fire that broke out in the five-storey Arpit Palace hotel in Karol Bagh on February 11 took a toll of 17 lives, including that of one child. The origin of the blaze is uncertain but it spread to the upper floors, trapping the guests. This is the highest death toll in a fire since the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy in 1997 that left 59 dead. The blaze broke out in the early hours on Tuesday, February 12th. Twenty five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to battle the fire…

Up to 1 lakh penalty for violating plastic ban The Tamil Nadu Government has introduced a bill in the assembly, amending the municipal laws to impose penalty  for violating the plastic ban. The penalty will be anywhere between Rs 100 to Rs 1 lakh depending, on the establishments and the frequency. Stocking, selling, carrying and distributing banned plastic items will invite a penalty of Rs 25,000 for first time violators, Rs.50000 for the second time and Rs 1 lakh for the third time offenders, post which the business licence will be cancelled. Small  commercial vendors will be imposed a fine…