July | 2019 | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Smart mobility: The three primary challenges before Chennai today

July 31, 2019 Varun Sukumar

Ease of mobility and efficient transportation must be key features in any smart city. As the city sets its own goals under the Chennai Smart City programme, the author identifies the crucial areas that need attention for realisation of those.

Chennai Buzz: Rain update | Dial for water | Smart card only for metro parking…and more

July 29, 2019 News Desk

What does Met data say about rainfall since June? How will Metro water’s new tanker-on-demand scheme work? What does the latest Madras High Court instruction regarding school bus safety say? Catch these and more in this weekly round up of Chennai news.

Why it’s time for all citizens to push for more women in Parliament

July 29, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Only 14 per cent of the parliamentarians in Lok Sabha are women. Despite lip service by all political parties, the Women’s Reservation Bill remains the longest pending bill in Parliament. Perhaps it is time for citizens to take up the fight?

Chennai Corporation’s five steps that have reduced waste in landfills by 18000 MT/month

July 26, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Five-month data sourced from the Chennai Corporation shows a slow, yet steady, reduction in garbage going to the landfills from across the city. How did the civic body make it possible?

How smart are our Smart City projects?

July 25, 2019 V Sriram

Chennai needs effective, workable and lasting solutions to water management, property encroachment, traffic violation, public transport, local area planning, river cleanups and other issues that the city grapples with, but are the proposed Smart City projects really in sync with ground realities?

Jolted by water shortage, Chitlapakkam RWA takes up roadside rainwater harvesting

July 24, 2019 L Sundararaman

A resident of Chitlapakkam talks about the efforts undertaken by their RWA to save water through the installation of roadside rainwater harvesting pits.

How safe are you in Chennai Metro everyday?

July 23, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Ever been on the Metro in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening? With missing security checks at the entrance and hardly any personnel in view, it becomes clear that the Chennai Metro needs to step up arrangements on the security front.

Chennai Buzz: HC slams illegal water extraction | City gets solid waste incinerator | Rise in cases under POCSO … and more

July 22, 2019 News Desk

Water, waste, crime — a round-up of the most important headlines from various beats in your city over the past one week

Rivers remember, but why don’t we?

July 19, 2019 Himanshu Upadhyaya

‘Rivers Remember: #ChennaiRains and the Shocking Truth of a Manmade Flood’ by Krupa Ge is a stark pointer towards consequences of ignoring and abusing the rivers and wetlands in our cities, and also the breakdown of the administrative machinery in times of disaster.

“Rethink urban development”: Author of new book on 2015 Chennai floods

July 19, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Krupa Ge, author of Rivers Remember, speaks about the research that went into writing the book and key learnings for Chennai and other cities from the floods of 2015.

When pillars become posters: Tale of the delayed Medavakkam flyover project

July 18, 2019 Mahesh V

The Medavakkam flyover project, planned to ease congestion at a crucial junction, has been in the works for three years now. This is what it means for the ordinary citizen in Chennai.

Why some parts of Chennai felt hotter than others this summer

July 16, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

The Environmentalist Foundation of India has identified several heat pockets like Madhya Kailash, Avadi, parts of Mount Road. Research from earlier years also shows higher day temperatures in hubs like T Nagar and Ennore. Why is the Chennai summer growing hotter in some areas and what can be done to mitigate the impact?

How exactly will water from the Jolarpettai train reach your taps?

July 15, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

The water train from Jolarpettai has brought hope to water-starved Chennai. How much water will it bring? From where? How much money will this entire exercise involve? And will water transported in wagons be safe for consumption? Here’s all you wanted to know about this train.

When families live on three pots of water a day: Lessons from Chennai slums

July 11, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

A ground report and photos from the slums and economically backward areas of the city: How are people here dealing with the water shortage and sharing the meagre supplies?

Raise your voice for functional ward committees in Chennai

July 11, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Do you want greater participation in civic issues and creation of common resources? Would you like greater accountability for the spending of tax-payer money by the local government? A petition that demands greater say for citizens aims to push for these rights in urban local governance!