Civic | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Search for history threatens Pallavaram homes

April 6, 2017 Bhavani Prabhakar

The Archaeological Survey of India has marked certain areas in Pallavaram as ‘protected’ and ‘ regulated’ after identifying them as megalithic sites that could aid research on ancient habitation.

Waste and the city: What I learnt at the Venkatamangalam composting yard

March 24, 2017 Santhosh Lakshmi

Bhumi volunteer Santhosh Lakshmi witnesses first hand the waste to energy project initiated for the Pallavapuram and Tambaram Municipalities and comes back with some points for all Chennaiites to ponder upon.

A new green revolution in Royapuram

March 20, 2017 Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya

Inspired by the Kotturpuram Tree Park and the guidance of the Nizhal team, members of the Dawoodi Bohra community start NABAAT, a movement to plant and nurture trees.

People’s day out as Chennai gears up for T Nagar pedestrian plaza

March 16, 2017 ITDP India

Shoppers greeted the second trial run of the proposed Pondy Bazaar Pedestrian Plaza with great enthusiasm, even as shop owners had to be convinced that their businesses would not suffer.

Need an address change on your licence? Be prepared!

March 9, 2017 Lavanya Donthamshetty

A Chennai citizen’s first person account of her experience at the RTO as she queues up to change her residential address on her driving licence.

Why citizens are key to making Chennai roads accident-free

February 20, 2017 Jency Samuel

In the second of her two-part series, the author looks at the primary reasons behind road accidents in Chennai and finds that citizens could play a big role in improving safety.

What Manali can teach the rest of Chennai about waste

February 16, 2017 Aarti Madhusudan

Aarti Madhusudan recounts what she saw and learnt about waste management initiatives, as she spent a day in this North Chennai Zone.

With three rivers and five wetlands, why is Chennai staring at ecological collapse?

February 6, 2017 Mahesh Kumar S T

With its waterways polluted, wetlands encroached and groundwater overexploited, Chennai must wake up immediately to the need for preserving its well-endowed natural heritage.

Garbage woes a constant reminder of Cyclone Vardah for Chennai

January 11, 2017 Bhavani Prabhakar

Close to a month since tropical cyclone Vardah threw Chennai off its rails, the city administration still appears to be grappling with the management of the mammoth quantities of waste that it generated.

Five lessons from Sholinganallur apartment’s waste management

November 18, 2016 Harsha and Prabha Koda

Getting a community habituated to segregating their household waste at source is a long and sometimes arduous journey. But it’s well worth the time and effort, as this OMR initiative shows.

Residents of Padur on OMR raise their voices against dumping

October 7, 2016 Jayanthi Jacob

A citizen journalist reports on their long-standing struggle to stop environmental damage and health hazards due to indiscriminate dumping and burning of mixed waste in Padur on Old Mahabalipuram Road.

Are you paying more as parking fees than you should?

September 29, 2016 Debjeet Dey

A recent controversy in the city brings to light the fact that citizens are often charged fees in excess of what has been laid down by the government by attendants at the parking lots. Debjeet Dey looks at the system that makes this possible.

Chennai comes together to pledge action for a flood-proof monsoon

September 1, 2016 Deepa Seshadri

1000 people gather for Kelu Chennai Kelu!

Teach your Dog some Etiquette

July 14, 2016 Aarti Madhusudan and Meenakshi Ramesh

Of Dog Owners, Dog Lovers and Dog Poop – an ANGRY citizen I like dogs. I like people. I am a really nice person. Sweet tempered and non confrontational – This is a fact even

Indian of the Year 2015 – People of Chennai

June 21, 2016 Meenakshi Ramesh

The real heroes of the 2015 Chennai floods: A volunteer reflects It’s been a little over six months since Chennai found itself in the grip of ravaging floods that wreaked havoc in the urban landscape