Held at the Kasturba Nagar Residents Association Hall, it was attended by more than 20 RWA representatives. Here are some of the issues raised by the residents:

• Discrepancies in the clearance of garden waste. Urbaser Sumeet clarified that much of such waste is dumped after the day’s clearance. However, they agreed to get it cleared at the earliest.
• Backup drivers do not cover all the routes. The Urbaser Sumeet team said that frequent training is given to the BOV drivers before going on the routes.
• Roadside bins are left in the middle of the road after clearance. Also, many times, the bins are not completely emptied. Frequent washing of bins is required. The Urbaser Sumeet team agreed to analyse the waste generation street-wise and ensure that garbage overflow doesn’t happen. Bins will be washed every fortnight.
• Lack of commitment from residents in waste segregation needs to be addressed.
• Illegal dumping of construction debris by residents. Urbaser Sumeet said that residents have to hand over such debris to the Corporation only (M/s Premier being the contractor).
• Maintain the Thiruvanmiyur beach. The Urbaser Sumeet team said that the beach is not under their purview and there is no specific manpower assigned for beach cleanup.

Participants expressed gratitude for the dedication of the staff, particularly during the rainy season, and applauded their efforts to maintain clean streets. The meeting concluded with commitments from Urbaser Sumeet to implement actionable solutions and maintain clear communication with residents for continuous improvement in waste management operations.

Urbaser Sumeet also shared the contact details:

• Complaints: 1800 5712 069
• Zonal Manager (Bhim Rao): 73050 35417
• Assistant Zonal Manager (Rathnam): 89255 22013
• Manager – IEC (Vignesh Ponnappan): 89255 22002
• Team Leader – IEC (Zone 13) (Muthamil): 89255 22506

Registration of birth is mandatory and is a prerequisite for citizenship. If the birth of a child has been registered without a name, it is possible for the parents or guardian to register the name within 12 months of birth, without any payment. The law even allows the registration of the name within fifteen years of birth for a small fee of Rs.200. 

As per the amendment to the Registration of Birth and Death Act, the birth registrations since 1 Jan 2000 that do not have a name, were allowed to include the name before 31 Dec 2014. This grace period has been extended to this year-end.

The Corporation requests parents in Zones 1 to 15, who have not registered yet, to approach the Birth and Death Registry Office at the Zonal Office, with relevant documents like Aadhar Card, School certificates, Ration cards or Voter ID. GCC Commissioner, J.Kumaragurubaran, IAS, has stated that this opportunity will not be extended further.

The residents highlight that the green space has served the community for over 20 years, featuring a garden, benches, a small temple, and coconut trees, all developed and maintained by residents. It also hosts a TNEB transformer, critical for local power supply. The residents point out that this space poses no obstruction and enhances the neighbourhood.

The building in question already has an access gate on Seaworld Drive, its registered address for essential services (TNEB, property tax etc.). Residents worry that converting Raja Rangaswamy Avenue to an access point could impact the area’s residential zoning, particularly if the property becomes commercial, potentially leading to parking congestion. Additionally, Raja Rangaswamy Avenue and its building are approved under CRZ, while the status of the southern side, is not clear in the publicly available drawings.

They point out that if the gate comes up:

• The temple has to be removed
• The trees have to be cut
• The seats will have to be removed, and there will be no more seating for senior citizens
• There will be no more greenery and no garden – as the plants will be uprooted.
• Road will have to be laid till the end of the wall 
• Transformer will need to be moved towards the compound.

Considering all this, the residents appeal to GCC to retain the status quo of the temple and recreation area at the southern end of Raja Rangaswamy Avenue, as desired by a large number of residents of Valmiki Nagar.

For more information email: valmikinagarchennai@gmail.com.

During the process, they reverse and drive over the stormwater drains. Additionally, several ATM vans drive over the SWD to park their vehicles on the pavement! 

The lid, unable to withstand the weight, breaks. With no action from the GCC to replace it, the residents have placed a tree branch on the broken lid, as a sign to warn pedestrians of the danger. It has been six months since the lid was broken! The broken lid poses a danger to pedestrians, especially school-going kids. The frequent rains surge the problem. Residents request the GCC to replace the lid at the earliest and suggest working with the MTC and CMRL to ensure that all vehicles avoid using culvert and SWD to reverse, confining vehicular movement strictly to the main road.

Kumaragurubaran is currently Secretary to Government – School Education Department. This NIT Trichy graduate joined the Tamilnadu cadre in 2004.

Deepa Christe

We, the residents of the Swathi Maruti Apartments, situated at No. 17/7, 12th Cross Street, Sastri Nagar, wish to bring to your kind attention ONCE AGAIN, the harmful activities being undertaken by a commercial kitchen – which has been recently set up at No. 15 (new) /6/1 (old), 12th Cross Street, Sastri Nagar.

The said cloud kitchen /commercial kitchen adjoins our residential apartment. Its activities, in good measure, are: 

• Dumping food, raw material, vegetables etc. in untreated form into the main drainage, causing overflow of sewage on a daily basis onto the residential road and posing a serious health hazard to residents;
• Commencing commercial activities at 4 am in the morning and finishing at 9.30 pm, the noise pollution disturbs the peace and tranquillity in the area;
• Causing air and sound pollution due to commercial cooking on a large- scale basis;
• Blocking the residential road by parking large vehicles for transportation of food and raw materials. 
• In addition to above, the food waste attracts cockroaches, rats and other pests which can lead to serious health issues.

We learn that the food factory produces about 3000 meals every day and there are 20 to 30 people living in the same premises. The cloud kitchen uses industrial blowers and 40 huge cooking gas cylinders of 24/40 Kgs each. The massive sound from the industrial blowers, the cleaning of vessels around 4 am causes grave inconvenience to seniors, who are over 95.

We have sent many complaints to CMWSSB and Corporation of Chennai but the problems still continue. There is also no indication as to whether such a commercial kitchen is operating under a valid FSSAI licence, or is compliant with other applicable laws.

The residents of 12th Cross Street have been patiently waiting to stop the overflow of drainage on our street. 

In Zone 13, the Mayor received 303 petitions, with issues ranging from school facilities, stormwater drains, road repairs, park improvements, sewage and water, electricity, other civic issues and birth & death certificates.

Eleven of the complaints pertaining to birth certificates and change of name in property papers were resolved on the spot. GCC informed that all the other issues would be resolved by the respective departments at the earliest. Most of the issues were pertaining to stormwater drains and sewage and metro water. The Mayor also informed that roads would be re-laid at places where the SWD work had been completed.

At the event, the Mayor also distributed:

• Cheque of Rs.1 lakh each to 10 recipients from the Chief Minister’s Accident Relief Fund;
• Nutrition kit to 20 pregnant women;
• Motorised sewing machine to 5 underprivileged women;
• Cheque of Rs.2000 to 21 students from 6 schools, who had topped the board exams;
• Monetary assistance to eight elderly widows;
• Monetary relief for the differently abled.

Also present at the event were: Thamizhachi Thangapandian – MP (Chennai South); Dha.Velu – Mylapore MLA; Mahesh Kumar – Deputy Mayor; J.Radhakrishnan, IAS – GCC Commissioner; Shankar Lal Kumawat, IAS – Additional Commissioner (Health); Dr.G.S.Sameeran, IAS – Joint Commissioner (Works); Saranya Ari, IAS – Deputy Commissioner (Health) (Revenue and Finance (in-charge)); M.P.Amith – Regional Deputy Commissioner; R.Durairaj – Zone 13 Chairman; S.Rajendiran – Chief Engineer; Dr.M.Jagadeesan – City Health Officer, Zonal Officer (Zone 13) Saravanamoorthy and Councillors of the wards.

Chaos reigns at venue

Inexperienced staff, unorganised queue system and confusion while registering complaints were just some of the issues faced by the crowd at the venue.

“It took 35 minutes for filing my complaint,” said Bhaskar, a petitioner at the venue and he elaborated, “The staff needed more experience in handling whatever software they used to register the complaint. I was then informed that each of my complaints had to be filed as separate petitions in separate letters. That’s ridiculous! Finally they were able to file my complaints together. For complaints that didn’t have any list of categories, it went in some random category.”

Though petitioners were given a token number at the entrance of the venue, it was not followed in the queue to meet the mayor. By mid-afternoon, the petitioners ran out of patience and chaos ensued. A lady petitioner also fainted at the venue and was administered medical aid there.

A scuffle also occurred with media persons, when nonagenarian Kamakshi Subramaniyam, a petitioner from Besant Nagar, was being interviewed by the media, thus interrupting the interview.

“The only assuring aspect was that the Commissioner and the Mayor verbally listened to our complaints and immediately asked the concerned officers to look into it. The Commissioner strictly informed the CMWSSB officer on one of my complaints, ‘Please ensure that the sewage issue is resolved within a day. It shouldn’t be that issues remain unresolved even after approaching us’,” said Bhaskar.

Zone 13 looks forward to regular Area Sabhas for resolution of local issues and such initiatives with the Mayor for larger issues.

By R.Swathi

On June 19, a decades-old African Sausage tree (Mara Suraikai in Tamil), at B.Ramachandra Adithanar Road, fell down during the heavy rains that lashed the city. The tree, which was already infected with fungus, had further weakened during the storm water drain construction. The winds and thunderstorms that week proved catastrophic for it.

During the construction of the stormwater drains (SWD), the roots were disturbed and the surroundings were damaged. “A resident residing close to the tree monitored the tree and informed us about its health. When the tree fell, he was the first to alert us of it,” explains Babu.

Generally the Corporation cuts a fallen tree into logs, but residents of Gandhi Nagar wanted to transplant the tree so that it gets a second chance to live. The Nizhal team suggested that the fig tree was healthy and had a high chance of survival if transplanted. But the African Sausage would not, since it was already infected. 

Meanwhile, Meera Ravikumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, tagged the necessary officials on Twitter for attention and followed up as well. The area had been cordoned for safety. The road being a busy one due to the presence of many educational institutions, the Chennai Traffic Police wanted to clear the tree as soon as possible, but the residents were in no hurry, as saving the precious life was more important. The passionate residents thus followed up with the GCC and the Horticulture department to hurry up the transplantation. Their conviction was fueled by the encouragement received ADH Niresh Kumar from the Horticulture department.

Finally on June 28, the tree was transplanted to the Kotturpuram park area, opposite the Miyawaki forest. “A huge old Ficus tree which was in the Adithanar Road, Gandhi Nagar, was uprooted during the recent rains. The GCC team has carefully moved the tree to the Kotturpuram dense forest near the playground and have replanted the tree,” said a statement from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

“This was the first time in the history of GCC that a fallen tree was given a second chance in life through transplantation. This effort by the residents must be appreciated for not only their persistence, but also their efforts in preserving the tree till the transplantation,” points out Babu, while adding that all is not yet over, “The post-care of the tree is crucial. Since it germinated from an infected branch and has been transplanted along with it, antifungal and antibacterial medicines have to be sprayed regularly. Also, because the climate is still hot, the plant needs to be watered frequently, till it flourishes. In these efforts, the involvement of the local residents is also essential.”

The happiness was also evident in the voices of residents of Gandhi Nagar as Vinay Kamath tweeted, “A wonderful effort! An old fig tree had collapsed at the intersection of BR Adithanar Road and 1st Crescent Park Road, Gandhi Nagar. Due to SWD work, its roots were cut. Now, the Corporation and Horticulture department transplanted it to Kotturpuram. Great work.” 

Meera Ravikumar also appreciated the team work and said, “Trees seem to be the silent victims of so called infrastructural and developmental works in and around urban areas. It’s important to be inclusive and protect the greenery while we plan any construction work. Be kind to the trees as they are here, doing a thankless job of protecting us from the rising temperatures and reducing carbon footprints. They are here, busy saving the planet.”

The transplantation of the tree is a first, but shouldn’t become the last. GCC has just paved a way to show that other trees that fall due to various reasons can be transplanted too at various places. Along with sapling plantation, transplantation should also be part of the city’s greening efforts.  Also, as Babu and the passionate residents resonate, “Every living creature deserves another chance to live!”

Checkout this video shared by AE Balaji, Greater Chennai Corporation (Ward 173) to get a sneak peak in the transplantation.

Know more about tree transplantation…

Tree transplantation is a process of moving a tree from one location to another while keeping it alive and allowing it to continue growing in its new environment. The success of tree transplantation depends on various factors and criteria like:

• Pre-Transplant Preparation: Assess the new site for its soil type, drainage, sunlight exposure, and available space. Obtain the necessary permits or permissions required.
• Tree Health Assessment: Inspect the health of the tree for diseases, pest infestations, or structural issues. Pruning is suggested to avoid transpiration in the trees and to reduce the stress on the roots, before transplantation. 
• Timing: Ideally, transplantation should be done during the tree’s dormant period or the rainy season when the soil is moist. Avoid transplanting during periods of extreme heat or dryness.
• Digging the Root Ball: Determine the appropriate size of the root ball based on the tree’s size and species. Appropriate tools and techniques must be used to minimise root damage. Preserve as much of the root system as possible, ensuring the root ball remains intact. Transport the tree to the new location promptly to minimise stress and exposure.
• Planting in the New Location: Dig a hole at the new site that is wide and deep enough to accommodate the root ball. Place the tree in the hole, ensuring it is at the same level as it was in its previous location. Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the roots to eliminate air pockets.
• Post-Transplant Care: Water the transplanted tree thoroughly, immediately after planting. Add mulch around the base of the tree to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature. Monitor the tree regularly for signs of stress, pests, or diseases. Provide ongoing care, including appropriate watering, fertilisation, and pruning, as needed. Adjust care practices based on the specific requirements of the tree species and local conditions.

It’s important to consult local arborists, botanists, or horticulturists to get tailored guidance and recommendations for transplantation. 

Nizhal is a Kotturpuram based NGO that is committed to preserving trees and greening the city. To get expert advice from Nizal or to volunteer with them, reach them at 98409 04621, 98841 14721, 94450 28067, 98414 49829; email: nizhal.shade@gmail.com; website: www.nizhaltn.org.

At the outset, we are glad and gratified that GCC is very actively engaged in the establishment and maintenance of various Corporation parks in the city. We hereby wish to bring to your kind attention the various issues prevailing in Indira Nagar park for more than one and a half years putting the park users to lots of inconvenience and safety hazards.

Following are the various issues to be addressed. 

• The toilets are not functional, thus putting the public to inconvenience, especially senior citizens. 

• The exercise equipment is in need of maintenance. The base of the swing equipment is also rubbing against the floor, posing a safety hazard. Overhead roofs need to be provided for the exercise section as bird droppings on the handles and seats make them unusable.

• Garden waste has been lying in heaps at several locations for several years and needs to be cleared. Once a snake, seeking refuge under the leaves was noticed by a resident. They are breeding mosquitoes and give a poor impression of the park. The dead leaves should be removed to a compost site. 

• Many concrete seats in the park are tilted / sloping and thus not fit for sitting. They need to be placed on a level ground. Also many open seats need to be sheltered from bird droppings. Another issue is that most of the seats are away from the paved area and one needs to get down from the pavement to access the seats, thus making it difficult for the senior citizens to access them.

• At two locations, trees are leaning on the compound wall / grill and are likely to damage it. The park flora also need to be trimmed / pruned to ensure – health of the trees and reduce any damage to the walls and other public property. There are two dead trees and many dead tree stumps that need to be removed. One of the dead trees is leaning on another tree near the compound. If the trees fall towards the compound, they would cause severe damage to the EB transformer near the compound, leading to a major accident.

• In some places of the footpath, the tiles have been replaced with bright red tiles with round markings. These tiles are found to be very slippery especially when wet, posing serious hazards of a fall, and injury for the park users. These tiles should be replaced by rough surface tiles similar to the ones initially used.

• GCC is driving the tree planting initiative very strongly. If small name boards can be provided for various trees in the park, it will create awareness among the visitors to safeguard them and understand their value.

• Children exercise equipment such as the slide that got damaged when a tree fell on it, needs to be replaced.

• During the rainy season, water stagnates inside the park like a pond for many days leading to breeding of mosquitoes and making the open spaces unusable. Drains have to be provided for releasing this water into the SWD outside the park.

• The lane connecting the park entrance with Indira Nagar Main Road gets waterlogged during rains forcing residents to step on tiles and bricks to cross the pool or to take a long roundabout route either to reach the park or the main road. The floor of the lane needs levelling to allow the water to drain away.

Over the years, the amount of waste generated per person has increased from 500 gms to 680 gms. The city as a whole is generating around 5700 tonnes of waste which is piling like a mountain.

GCC Commissioner Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, IAS.

On May 24, the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, visited the Perungudi dumpyard and reviewed the work undergoing at the site. He urged the public to segregate waste at home so that our city can become a ‘Zero-waste’ city soon. “Over the years, the amount of waste generated per person has increased from 500 gms to 680 gms. The city as a whole is generating around 5700 tonnes of waste which is piling like a mountain,” he said and explained about the various efforts being taken by the Corporation in waste management. 

He said that in the year 2000, approximately 2500 MT of waste was generated and now the city is generating 3200 MT of wet waste and 2500 MT of dry waste. He added that the Corporation has undertaken bio-mining of legacy waste and after the waste is cleared the area would be made into parks.

“While efforts are on to clear legacy waste, it is essential that we do not generate new waste and let it mount. Thus each household must segregate waste into wet and dry. Once segregated, the wet waste can be used to generate CNG gas at the Chetpet and Madhavaram units. Five more units are also planned to manage wet waste,” he said. He also urged the citizens to dispose of waste (including construction debris) responsibly and not dump them in the various canals of the city. 

He urged the bulk generators also to dispose of their waste according to the regulations applicable to them. He has asked the Corporation officials to impose a penalty on bulk generators who are disposing of the waste in the common bins.

RRR centres at Corporation Zonal Offices

As a run-up to the World Environment Day, the Greater Chennai Corporation along with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0) is organising a ‘My Life, My Clean City’ campaign, with the aim of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse (RRR). As part of the campaign, residents can deposit used and unused clothes, books, toys, footwear and plastics at their nearest Corporation Zonal offices, where RRR centres have been set up. The campaign will be held till June 5 from 7 am to 1 pm across all the Zones of GCC. Residents who are unable to commute and deposit the items at the RRR centres can hand it over to the Urbaser BOV operator of the morning shift.