Cooum | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Chennai Buzz: Rain relief contingency measures | Shortlisted locations for new airport | Cooum bank evictions…and more

September 29, 2019 News Desk

What measures is the Corporation taking, as it expects more rains to hit the city? Where is Chennai likely to see its second airport? Who will now be responsible for approving large housing projects? Catch all this and more in our weekly compilation of buzz.

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.

Seven reasons why Chennai should have seen this water crisis coming

June 21, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Severe water shortage has brought Chennai almost to a standstill today, but the writing on the wall has been clear for quite some time now. Here are seven tell-tale signs the state should have taken note of and acted upon.

Chennai Buzz: Aavin’s plastic free initiatives | Road safety gallery | Crackdown on illegal dumping…and more

January 19, 2019 News Desk

From Aavin’s planned buy-back policy for its plastic satchets to stricter action against illegal dumping along waterways, from smart parking projects to Chennai’s very own robot for its roads — here’s a round-up of key headlines from your city this week.

Chennai Buzz: Evacuation around Cooum | Women’s safety initiative | City surveillance stepped up

December 1, 2018 News Desk

From the latest planned initiatives by Chennai Police to increase city safety, to evictions for the Cooum eco-restoration project — catch all the buzz from your city over the week gone by.

Elevated corridor at Cooum’s expense?

November 8, 2018 V Sriram

This was a project cancelled by the newly elected government in 2011 for environmental reasons, as piers for the elevated road were being erected on the Cooum riverbed. But has anything really changed now for the same party in power to revive the project?

Chennai Buzz: Trees cut for Smart City, plans for new STPs, a Nature trail along the Cooum and more!

July 16, 2018 Sandhya Raju

What’s happening, or set to happen, in your city? A quick look at some of the more important headlines from Chennai last week, as you start a new one!

கூவத்தின் கரைகளிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றப்பட்டவர்களின் வாழ்வில் விடிவு பிறக்குமா?

July 3, 2018 Jagadheeswaran D

A concerned citizen accompanies an official on his visit to the Navalur Padappai slum resettlement colonies, and comes back saddened, not only by the pathetic living conditions and lack of facilities there, but also the extreme apathy of the government.

Don’t cry for me, Chennai

April 4, 2018 News Desk

Don’t cry, even though the systematic destruction of Chennai’s lakes, rivers and waterbodies by the steady inflow of sewage is something that would stir every thinking citizen’s heart. A poignant photo-essay by two citizen photographers.

7600 families, one PDS centre: How resettled slum dwellers buy rations in Perumbakkam

April 2, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Carpenters, electricians, domestic workers — for many residents at the Ezhil Nagar resettlement, getting their quota under the PDS means multiple visits, and hence days of leave from work that they can ill afford. Even then, supplies are not guaranteed.

RTE violations rampant in Perumbakkam primary school for slum evictees

March 7, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

No playground, no fire exits, no proper washrooms and sometimes, no teachers either. That’s how kids from families in the Perumbakkam resettlement colony study, in a primary school operating from residential flats.

Chennai rivers in ICU: Waterman sounds wake-up call for citizens

February 20, 2018 Sandhya Raju

In Chennai to talk on river restoration at the DAMned ART festival organised by the Goethe Institut, Dr Rajendra Singh, popularly called the Waterman of India, repeatedly emphasized the role of citizens and community.

College students turn mentors for kids from Chintadripet slum

February 7, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Students from the Madras School of Social Work are working with less-privileged children from the area, to divert them from the ills of their social environment and help them develop as productive individuals.

With the CRRT in charge, can Chennai look forward to a cleaner Cooum?

September 22, 2017 Balaji Pattabiraman

The imperative of restoring the city’s water bodies have been voiced by many, but progress till date has been disappointing. The Chennai River Restoration Trust’s mission has raised hopes anew for revival of the Cooum and other rivers.

Travelling back in time along the Buckingham Canal

August 19, 2017 Bhavani Prabhakar

As part of celebrations and events leading up to Madras Week, a walk along the Buckingham Canal, led by historian D Hemachandra Rao, was organised last week. Bhavani Prabhakar joined in, only to discover many fascinating trivia related to the history of the Canal and the landmarks around it.