Besant Nagar Citizen Matters, Chennai

When can persons with disability look forward to regular beach outings?

October 6, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

A temporary pathway is laid each year on the International Day of Disability. But plans to make Chennai’s beaches inclusive has been in limbo for years. Will it finally change?

Here’s what you can exchange at Chennai Corporation’s reduce and reuse swap sale

January 11, 2020 News Desk

The ‘Reduce and Reuse Swap Sale’, to take place in Besant Nagar, will give residents an opportunity to give away or exchange gently-used items, while cutting down on waste and helping those in need. Find more details about the event here.

Let’s go to Spring Potato beach; sorry, we mean Besant Nagar beach

December 8, 2019 Mahesh V

Besant Nagar beach is unrecognisable to old timers, thanks to over a hundred Spring Potato shops. What do they sell? Do they get any customers? Don’t they need permission to operate in a public space? What’s it doing to the beach? Many questions, few answers..

Why Chennai’s green brigade stood up against a run to save the Olive ridley

March 1, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Chennai’s beaches are a popular draw, often used for conducting events to sensitise the general public about various issues. This one sought to promote conservation of an endangered species. But was the run posing a larger threat to the environment and ecosystem at large?

In five years, T Nagar will see dramatic transformation: Ashwathy Dilip, ITDP

January 21, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

How will the ongoing pedestrianisation project in T Nagar under the Chennai Smart City mission impact the area and the lives of residents and visitors? Will it address the current concerns shared by citizens and traders? Can it hold lessons for other neighbourhoods?

Concrete tracks, play area, gym — does Bessie really need any of this?

September 15, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

The modernisation of Chennai’s Besant Nagar beach with central funds obtained under the Swadesh Darshan scheme has left citizens and environmentalists deeply disturbed. Here’s why!

Chennai Buzz: Updates on plastic ban, new sewage well in Besant Nagar and more

July 9, 2018 Sandhya Raju

Had a very busy week? Weren’t able to catch all the news from your city? Never too late. Here’s our quick wrap of some interesting headlines from the week gone by.

Coastal zone management plan does not follow rulebook; communities feel betrayed

May 22, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Tamil Nadu’s draft Coastal Draft Management Plan does not specify a hazard line, causing confusion and concern among local communities about their future. They say the plan violates the Centre’s CRZ Notification 2011, and must be amended.

What the Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha promotes, beyond art

February 15, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

The Vizha is widely hailed as an event that is taking arts to everyone, but it is also commendable in its efforts to go zero-waste, thus spreading an important message on sustainability.

From dumping ground to public park: Besant Nagar residents show how!

November 20, 2017 Nagaraj M V

Senior citizen members of the Besant Nagar Government Officials Cooperative Housing Society reclaimed the Society’s empty, misused plots to create a public park, setting an example in community action.

This women’s initiative wants to transform Chennai, one ward at a time

October 14, 2017 Meenakshi Ramesh

Civil society group Voice of People has designed a survey for residents of Zone 13 of the GCC, findings of which will be used to create a manifesto and submitted to the councillor of each ward in the zone. Read about the group and their initiatives.

Rs 2000 or Rs 15000? No transparency in conservancy fees for use of public spaces

September 4, 2017 Akshatha M

Organisers had to shell out Rs 15000, as against the Rs 2000 initially quoted, for each of two concerts held on Besant Nagar during the Marghazi Festival this year, but have since been trying in vain to substantiate the official basis for these charges.

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