Environment | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Beat your lockdown blues with balcony birding

August 4, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Confined during the lockdown, bird watchers in Chennai have not been able to camp out. But they have been pursuing their passion from their terraces and balconies. You can too!

A garden on every roof: Help the Patchai Madi project turn Chennai into India’s urban farming capital

July 22, 2020 Sridhar Ramanathan

The Patchai Madi Project looks at turning the barren rooftops of Chennai into gardens, making the city green and resilient. Here is how you can pitch in to make this project a success.

COVID-19 WhatsApp hoax threatens Illupai trees across Chennai

April 23, 2020 T D Babu

Indian flying foxes visiting Illupai trees at night to feed on the fruits is a common scene in Chennai. A fake message linking these creatures with the novel coronavirus has led to many residents contemplating felling these trees. But here’s what you must know.

மீண்டும் ஒரு பசுமைப் புரட்சி – சென்னையில் வளர்ந்து வரும் மாடித்தோட்டங்கள்

March 19, 2020 Vadivu Mahendran

Terrace gardens are a growing phenomenon in the city. In this Tamil article, Vadivu Mahendran gives us some tips on how to set up and maintain a terrace garden and the many benefits it brings.

We must ensure that environment conservation is as exciting as a TV Show: Arun Krishnamurthy, EFI

February 28, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

The Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) is one of the key organisations engaged in water bodies restoration in Chennai. In an interview with Citizen Matters, founder Arun Krishnamurthy talks about the process and how invested volunteers can help transform the city’s water bodies.

பள்ளிக்கரணை சதுப்பு நிலத்தை காக்கவல்ல சர்வதேச குறியீடு

February 26, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

The Pallikaranai marshland has shrunk in size due to encroachments and dumping of waste. Read the Tamil translation of our article that looked at whether a Ramsar tag could help save Pallikaranai.

Why Chennai’s young bird watchers are much more than just that

February 5, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

By introducing more and more people to the larger eco-system that the city shelters, and educating them about the importance of water bodies critical to its sustenance, these birders are giving a boost to environmental conservation at large.

How an international tag can help save the Pallikaranai marshland

January 29, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

From 13,500 acres in 1972, the Pallikaranai marshland has shrunk to a mere 1,500 acres due to rampant encroachment and continuous dumping of municipal waste. While the Corporation plans to biomine the area to restore the wetland, citizen activists are pinning hopes on Ramsar recognition for the site.

அழிவை நோக்கி மெல்ல செல்லும் கொரட்டூர் ஏரியை நம்மால் மீட்க முடியுமா?

January 21, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Water bodies across the city have suffered the impact of encroachment and discharge of sewage and effluents. The fate of Korattur Lake is no different. Read the Tamil translation of our article on the slow demise of this vital water body.

Could Chennai see a repeat water crisis in 2020? Hear what Tamil Nadu Weatherman has to say

January 20, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

We catch up with Tamil Nadu Weatherman, Pradeep John, to hear his analysis of the north east monsoon this year, and if the city will have enough water to tide over the summer.

How clean is litter-free Bessie beach, really?

January 10, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Three days after the Chennai Corporation declared Besant Nagar Beach litter free, we spoke to a few visitors to gauge the ground reality.

ஆக்கிரமிப்பினால் காணாமல் போன வட சென்னையின் ஏழு நீர்நிலைகள்

January 6, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Water bodies in North Chennai have disappeared over the last three decades to rampant commercialisation and encroachment. Read the Tamil version of our reportage on the issue here.

The slow killing of Korattur Lake: Can it be reversed?

January 3, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Water crisis is not in the news now. But in two months, fifty thousand houses surrounding Korattur lake are likely to be struggling for water because the lake is polluted yet again, and the concerned authorities do not seem to be looking at long term solutions seriously.

Missing! How six ponds in North Chennai have disappeared in the face of rampant commercialisation

December 27, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

There was a time when children went fishing, women drew water at these ponds and senior citizens took walks around them every evening. Today, the water bodies have been replaced by largely barren plots with small scattered pools of water.

71 done, 139 in progress: Efforts to restore Chennai water bodies show promise

December 12, 2019 Nina Varghese

Out of 3,000 water bodies in Chennai city, 210 have already been taken up for restoration. The work entails desilting as well as removing water hyacinth and garbage in the water bodies. Here are more details about the same.