Chennai was, once upon a time, not in the distant past, a curse as far as the water problem was concerned. The initiatives taken by successive Governments were inadequate and not genuine.
But there happened one exception about 5 years ago. Rain Water Harvesting was the best thing that has happened to the city for a long time. The gentle firmness shown in the matter during the previous Government in really laudable. It was made compulsary for every house or building to implement rain water harvesting systems in their premises. Today, when Chennai is growing at a fast pace due to the IT revolution, it becomes all the more reason for real appreciation. The ground water table has considerably improved and water can be seen in the lakes and ponds around the city. It is a beautiful sight to see good amount of water in the Kapaleeshwarar temple pond. The water quality also seem to have improved. The roadside trees and plants are getting water and greenery is all around. More greenery probably brought more water in the form of rains, reduced traffic pollution and air fresh to breathe.
The water works were more than happy though it was not so for the water lorries.
But I wonder if there is any follow-up of the same nowadays. There is hardly any promotion of the concept with the public. The concerned authorities should continue the good work. We, the public, should make them implement this good activity. As individuals we must install RWH systems in our premises without fail. We must also look at options as to how the remaining ponds and lakes become filled with water. We must also not pollute the accumulated water with our waste. Let us safeguard what we have gained.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
ROADS
Chennai roads are badly maintained. The woes of the people using the roads are multiple. Why RTO is taking Road Tax, I do not know. If you take Metros, New Delhi's Roads are well maintained. Even Bangalore roads are more smooth and usable.
In our city, the broad arterial roads are narrowed down to less than half with haphazard parking on either side which are generally left unchecked. Two wheelers, mini-trucks, cabs,and cycles are parked in such a way as to obstruct smooth traffic on either side. The roads are also used as storing space for building materials, timbers, abandoned vehicles, garbage bins, and such other articles. If there are rains then the roads are a perfect picture of hell.
The roads have pot-holes, deep depressions due to manhole lids, and dug out dangers. The sewage department somehow takes pleasure at leaving the manhole half covered with a tree branch for warning the public. Will this tree branch be visible in the night?. The road dividers are not at all noticable in the night as there are no fluorecent reflectors on them. At many places the stones from the road dividers have been uprooted and left in the middle. The pot-holes are patched up very badly leaving the roads uneven which are a hazard for two-wheelers and other vehicles using the roads.
There is no will power to widen many of the important roads. Strict traffic disciplines are not enforced to streamline the movement of vehicle. There is haphazard crossing by people across the roads. There is hardly any place for the pedestrians to walk. The two-wheelers use the platforms on the roads to get ahead of traffic.
Most of the roads do not have pavements for the pedestrians to walk. There are no culverts along the canals and sewage flows.
In Industrial areas the roads are the worst. Is the Corporation or Government not getting the revenue from the Industries?. Why are the Industrial Associations keeping quiet?. Can they not make the Corporation lay the roads?. In fact they can save a lot of damage to the materials if the roads are smooth as the vehicles carrying their finished goods can do so safely.
On the highways there are no patrolling. Trucks are left parked haphazardly with the authorities not noticing them at all. Lane discipline is not enforced doing which can minimise accidents. Wrong turns, especially at the medians by the truck and bus drivers are not at all checked. With the result that these highways just outside of Chennai have become killer zones.
In our city, the broad arterial roads are narrowed down to less than half with haphazard parking on either side which are generally left unchecked. Two wheelers, mini-trucks, cabs,and cycles are parked in such a way as to obstruct smooth traffic on either side. The roads are also used as storing space for building materials, timbers, abandoned vehicles, garbage bins, and such other articles. If there are rains then the roads are a perfect picture of hell.
The roads have pot-holes, deep depressions due to manhole lids, and dug out dangers. The sewage department somehow takes pleasure at leaving the manhole half covered with a tree branch for warning the public. Will this tree branch be visible in the night?. The road dividers are not at all noticable in the night as there are no fluorecent reflectors on them. At many places the stones from the road dividers have been uprooted and left in the middle. The pot-holes are patched up very badly leaving the roads uneven which are a hazard for two-wheelers and other vehicles using the roads.
There is no will power to widen many of the important roads. Strict traffic disciplines are not enforced to streamline the movement of vehicle. There is haphazard crossing by people across the roads. There is hardly any place for the pedestrians to walk. The two-wheelers use the platforms on the roads to get ahead of traffic.
Most of the roads do not have pavements for the pedestrians to walk. There are no culverts along the canals and sewage flows.
In Industrial areas the roads are the worst. Is the Corporation or Government not getting the revenue from the Industries?. Why are the Industrial Associations keeping quiet?. Can they not make the Corporation lay the roads?. In fact they can save a lot of damage to the materials if the roads are smooth as the vehicles carrying their finished goods can do so safely.
On the highways there are no patrolling. Trucks are left parked haphazardly with the authorities not noticing them at all. Lane discipline is not enforced doing which can minimise accidents. Wrong turns, especially at the medians by the truck and bus drivers are not at all checked. With the result that these highways just outside of Chennai have become killer zones.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
AN EXPERIENCE
The doorbell rang.
When I opened I found two small girls aged , may be, 9 or 10, with a small hundi in their hands asking for some coins for some temple function. An usual thing in Chennai. Very often one will find someone at your doorstep in Chennai and such seekers range from small children to women to old people. I am always left with the feeling whether to refuse or oblige, because the money I give may be used for some wrong purpose.
This time I did not want to refuse, because I have been thinking for the last few days that I should not always turn them off and probably oblige some of them. So I put a coin in their hundi.
Next, one of the girls asked me if I can give some money as they both are hungry.
I said that it is wrong to ask for money like that. But one of the girls continued to stay there. So I told her to go home and eat food which her mother may have prepared. She says that her house is far away and it will be late by the time she can reach home. The she added that her mother may not have prepared any food at all.
I asked her if he had something to eat when she started out from home. She said she had something in the morning but she is feeling hungry now. It was around 1.00 PM.
I again said that she should not ask all the people like that for money. Then I asked her what she is doing without being in school on the day. She said that she was asked to skip school for the day and collect money for temple function. I thought what kind of people she is having.
I said that if she had gone to school she would have got food.
She says she gets stomach ache if she eats the food given in her school. Is it the quality of the mid-day meal served in the schools?.
A small girl like that had an answer for all my questions.
I really did not know what to do. I stood there for a minute. Then I asked her to wait and closed the door a bit. This is a precautionary measure we are used to,lest they notice what is in the house and report to their parents who can then plan stealing. Times are bad.
I got two biscuits and gave one each to them. I told them to go straight home and eat food.
What kind of people we are having?. At such a tender age, these children, whether boy or a girl, are being misguided. Will we have responsible citizens in our country when these children grow up?. Something must be done to wipe away the ignorance of such parents.
When I opened I found two small girls aged , may be, 9 or 10, with a small hundi in their hands asking for some coins for some temple function. An usual thing in Chennai. Very often one will find someone at your doorstep in Chennai and such seekers range from small children to women to old people. I am always left with the feeling whether to refuse or oblige, because the money I give may be used for some wrong purpose.
This time I did not want to refuse, because I have been thinking for the last few days that I should not always turn them off and probably oblige some of them. So I put a coin in their hundi.
Next, one of the girls asked me if I can give some money as they both are hungry.
I said that it is wrong to ask for money like that. But one of the girls continued to stay there. So I told her to go home and eat food which her mother may have prepared. She says that her house is far away and it will be late by the time she can reach home. The she added that her mother may not have prepared any food at all.
I asked her if he had something to eat when she started out from home. She said she had something in the morning but she is feeling hungry now. It was around 1.00 PM.
I again said that she should not ask all the people like that for money. Then I asked her what she is doing without being in school on the day. She said that she was asked to skip school for the day and collect money for temple function. I thought what kind of people she is having.
I said that if she had gone to school she would have got food.
She says she gets stomach ache if she eats the food given in her school. Is it the quality of the mid-day meal served in the schools?.
A small girl like that had an answer for all my questions.
I really did not know what to do. I stood there for a minute. Then I asked her to wait and closed the door a bit. This is a precautionary measure we are used to,lest they notice what is in the house and report to their parents who can then plan stealing. Times are bad.
I got two biscuits and gave one each to them. I told them to go straight home and eat food.
What kind of people we are having?. At such a tender age, these children, whether boy or a girl, are being misguided. Will we have responsible citizens in our country when these children grow up?. Something must be done to wipe away the ignorance of such parents.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
MRTS - MASS RAPID TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Chennai planners had planned the MRTS lining the Buchimhan Canal from Chennai Beach to Velachery passing through Chennai Central(Park Station), Mount Road, Marina beach, Santhome, Mandaveli, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur. This has really made life a bit easier for a good number of people. Train services have been started and are running frequently. We are all happy.
But why are the stations being constructed at the rate of one brick per day?. At this rate, the stations will be ready by 2050. Probably silver jubilee of MRTS will be celebrated when the stations are complete. Due to the construction going on, there is absolutely no facility available on the platform, no, not even water or toilet facilities let alone refreshment stalls or paan, beedi shops.
If you are not a regular traveller, then you are bound to miss the first two trains. This is because there is no display as to which platform the train will start,at what time and to which destination. Why they cannot learn from Mumbai?. Even at the Beach Station, the starting point, there is absolutely no indication at all (there are many platforms there). Don't Railways think from the view of the passengers for whom the trains are being run?.
But why are the stations being constructed at the rate of one brick per day?. At this rate, the stations will be ready by 2050. Probably silver jubilee of MRTS will be celebrated when the stations are complete. Due to the construction going on, there is absolutely no facility available on the platform, no, not even water or toilet facilities let alone refreshment stalls or paan, beedi shops.
If you are not a regular traveller, then you are bound to miss the first two trains. This is because there is no display as to which platform the train will start,at what time and to which destination. Why they cannot learn from Mumbai?. Even at the Beach Station, the starting point, there is absolutely no indication at all (there are many platforms there). Don't Railways think from the view of the passengers for whom the trains are being run?.
Friday, August 8, 2008
GARBAGE COLLECTION
Sometimes back the Chennai Corporation awarded fresh contact for clearing the garbage in the city to a new firm after being with an earlier firm for the last 7 years. It may be because of the inexperience of the new firm or their callousness, the garbage collection is not at all proper. The collection is not regular and systematic. Garbage bins are carelessly positioned on the roads and garbage strewn across the streets and open grounds are a common sight nowadays. A disturbing thing is that the Company authorities do not seem to have patience to hear people's complaints and suggestions. With the result it is easy for the households to just throw the garbage bag wherever they can and go about their work.
Does it give a good name to 'Singara Chennai'?. Stench and mosquito breeding are the order of the day. Chennai corporation is keeping quiet and people are not reacting to make them take action. Oh God, save our city!.
Does it give a good name to 'Singara Chennai'?. Stench and mosquito breeding are the order of the day. Chennai corporation is keeping quiet and people are not reacting to make them take action. Oh God, save our city!.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
PUBLIC TRANSPORT - BUSES
After Mumbai, it is only Chennai which has a good public transportation for travellers within the city. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) which operates buses have years of experience in understanding the requirements of Chennaiites. Today buses are available for the people to travel to every nook and corner of the fast growing city and even the suburbs 60-70 KM away from Chennai.
It is commendable that recently the MTC has modernised their fleet of buses to include new buses of different types including Air-Conditioned ones which have been welcomed by the people very well. Certain long distant routes have come as a boon to the employees and visitors of the Industries that are coming up just outside the city.
The buses however has added to the congestion and chaos on the roads. The vestibule buses, especially, are great contributors to this. What was the factor that influenced the introduction of these type of buses on Chennai roads is not known. The bus drivers have become rash and show their frayed nerves. True, their patience may were out on continuous driving on these roads, but with their large sized vehicles they may become killers on the roads which need to be checked. Another thing which I found is that these drivers have scant regard for the traffic signals. They run through the red light not caring about any vehicles coming in the other direction. Worse, it is not immediately corrected by the Trafffic cops who are totally ineffective when it comes to booking these errant drivers.
The maintenance of these new buses are however, very poor. Apart from the mechanical problems, the interiors are kept in bad condition. The doors do not work, the rubber beadings on the doors are worn-out or torn, the seats are broken and the window shutters are broken or damaged. The air-vents are either permanently open or permanently closed. One can imagine what can happen during rains.
There is a door provided on the right side for the driver to enter. But, somehow, I have observed only in this city that the drivers take their seat by stepping on the engine. In Indian culture there is a certain sanctity given to the engines in motors for which pujas are performed. May be the drivers do not believe in it.
The MTC way of taking a right turn is go to the extreme left of the road, block all the traffic coming behind, overtake all the vehicles standing for the right turn and stop the bus in front of all of them. When the timer for the green signal is still 10 seconds away, they surge the bus forward not caring for the vehicles coming in the opposite direction.
It is commendable that recently the MTC has modernised their fleet of buses to include new buses of different types including Air-Conditioned ones which have been welcomed by the people very well. Certain long distant routes have come as a boon to the employees and visitors of the Industries that are coming up just outside the city.
The buses however has added to the congestion and chaos on the roads. The vestibule buses, especially, are great contributors to this. What was the factor that influenced the introduction of these type of buses on Chennai roads is not known. The bus drivers have become rash and show their frayed nerves. True, their patience may were out on continuous driving on these roads, but with their large sized vehicles they may become killers on the roads which need to be checked. Another thing which I found is that these drivers have scant regard for the traffic signals. They run through the red light not caring about any vehicles coming in the other direction. Worse, it is not immediately corrected by the Trafffic cops who are totally ineffective when it comes to booking these errant drivers.
The maintenance of these new buses are however, very poor. Apart from the mechanical problems, the interiors are kept in bad condition. The doors do not work, the rubber beadings on the doors are worn-out or torn, the seats are broken and the window shutters are broken or damaged. The air-vents are either permanently open or permanently closed. One can imagine what can happen during rains.
There is a door provided on the right side for the driver to enter. But, somehow, I have observed only in this city that the drivers take their seat by stepping on the engine. In Indian culture there is a certain sanctity given to the engines in motors for which pujas are performed. May be the drivers do not believe in it.
The MTC way of taking a right turn is go to the extreme left of the road, block all the traffic coming behind, overtake all the vehicles standing for the right turn and stop the bus in front of all of them. When the timer for the green signal is still 10 seconds away, they surge the bus forward not caring for the vehicles coming in the opposite direction.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
CHENNAI - HIGHLIGHTS
Chennai is the cultural capital of India. Lot of cultural activities take place here in genuine earnestness. Chennai has the second largest beach in the world. It has lot of temples which are known for its sculpture and carvings. Kapaleeshwarar Temple at Mylapore, Marutheeswarar Temple at Thiruvanmiyur, Vadapalani Temple, Kalikambal Temple, Thiruverkadu, Mangadu and so many others lend an air of spirituality to the city. Music festivals, discourses are plenty for people to enjoy.
With this Blog I shall try to paint both the bright and the ugly side of the city. The ugly side will be printed not so much to critizise but to help the Authorities to take action and rectify.
With this Blog I shall try to paint both the bright and the ugly side of the city. The ugly side will be printed not so much to critizise but to help the Authorities to take action and rectify.
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