Infrastructure | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Converting waste to manure at the ward level: A first-hand account

May 1, 2017 Jagadheeswaran D

The key to a cleaner ward with effective waste management lies in persistence and education of all concerned, writes this citizen journalist engaged in SWM efforts in Ward 93.

Watch how this group of Chennai kids are cleaning up Besant Nagar!

April 27, 2017 Mallika Kumar

A group of 11 kids from Grandma & Grandpa’s International Early Learning Center come together to solve the neighbourhood’s garbage problem.

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.

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.

The gaps in our real estate rules that citizens must mind

March 15, 2017 Akilan R

The Real Estate Regulatory Authority proposed by the Union legislation on real estate development and regulation is lofty in ideal, but some of the draft state rules appear to dilute its efficacy in protecting buyers’ interests.

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.

Why stepping out could put you at greatest risk in Chennai

January 30, 2017 Jency Samuel

In the first of a two-part series, take an in-depth look at Chennai’s alarming road safety statistics and the primary causes.

Vox populi: Was it really all about Jallikattu?

January 25, 2017 Bhavani Prabhakar

Chennai has rarely seen mass mobilisations of this scale in recent times, but why were Chennaiites spontaneously protesting the ban on Jallikattu, which is largely a rural sport? Citizen Matters speaks to a few protesters from the city.

Why Chennai’s ration card holders are unhappy, despite PDS revamp

July 7, 2016 Nileena MS

Fake ration cards The issue of bogus ration cards is an important concern reported across India, and the central government has announced that ration cards may no longer be used as legitimate proof of identity

Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu

July 4, 2016 Nileena MS

Even as the Tamil Nadu government has introduced digitization of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and smart PDS cards, ration card holders from many parts of the district complain of lack of access to the

Chennai’s garbage : How realistic is the dream of a bin-free city?

June 13, 2016 Nileena MS

In a much-awaited move, the Greater Corporation of Chennai (GCC) is all set to launch its bin-less waste transfer process on a pilot basis in a few of the wards in its newly added areas,

Think Chennai’s water worries are gone after Dec rains? Think again!

May 23, 2016 Nileena MS

Even as the torrential rains in December improved groundwater tables, unchecked extraction of groundwater by water tankers is a cause for worry. Who will bell this cat? Even as the mercury soars, the increase in

‘Water deposit’ revives open wells

March 19, 2007 Shree Padre

Thanks to voluntary water harvesting measures by a few, as well as legislation-led RWH by the others, many of Chennai’s open wells have sprung back to life.