I have been crying myself hoarse since February 2007 - Civil Society Group called for a meeting with the Corporation Commissioner Mr.Rajesh Lakhani and we were assured that no construction will take place on the Elliots Beach and they would not concrete the beach.
Do you know the 'Promises are made to be broken' and the Elliots Beach is getting a concrete monstrosity and the Chennai Corporation has encroached on the Beach?
Do you know that as per the CRZ rules (Coastal Regulation Zone) no construction should take place within 500 metres of the High Tide line?
So if the Tamilnadu Government shows so much of respect to rules laid by the Judiciary, how will the common man accept it?
In the month of October, the Commisioner of Chennai Corporation assured us that the construction will stop. NOW WE FIND THAT THE WORK IS GOING ON IN A PHASED MANNER ABOUT 10 FEET AT A TIME SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE EXTENTION OF THE WORK.
THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED IN TAMIL - முழு புசிநிக்கையை சோற்றில் மறைப்பது.
ஒரு நாள் எல்லோரும் சேர்ந்து அத்துமிறி கட்டும் பணியை இடித்து அங்குள்ள சிமெண்ட் குப்பைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பீச்சுக்கு வெளியே ரோட்டில் கொண்டு கொட்ட போறோம்.
அந்த நாள் ரொம்ப தூரம் இல்லை.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
RTI ACT
I wonder how many of you are aware that there is an act called RTI ACT - RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT.
Yes today you have every right to file a query to any Government organisation in India, to find out the state of any complaint you have given.
All you need to do is to affix a Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) COURT FEE STAMP in your letter to the concerned authority.
Make sure you take a xerox copy and get the same signed by the receiving officer with the date and seal of the receiving authority mentioned clearly.
All Government Offices are bound to the RTI ACT and they respond to the same.
Yes today you have every right to file a query to any Government organisation in India, to find out the state of any complaint you have given.
All you need to do is to affix a Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) COURT FEE STAMP in your letter to the concerned authority.
Make sure you take a xerox copy and get the same signed by the receiving officer with the date and seal of the receiving authority mentioned clearly.
All Government Offices are bound to the RTI ACT and they respond to the same.
Chennai Corporation & widening roads.
The Corporation of Chennai is on a spree to widen roads in the city of Chennai.
Wonder why the inter-locking tiles were removed on the pavements of the beach and granite tiles are being. The inter-locking tiles will ensure rain water is absorbed but the granite tiles are defintely going to flood the place in case of heavy rains.
PLUS SENIOR CITIZENS WATCH OUT - THE TILES ARE DEFINITELY SLIPPERY.
THIS IS ONE MORE STATE IN THE COUNTRY WHICH DOES NOT CARE FOR ITS SENIOR CITIZENS - THEY ONLY TALK BUT DO NOT SHOW IN ACTION.
Earlier, if you were walking comfortably in your colony or neighbourhood, then today you have every chance of tripping and falling and may be even breaking your arm or femur, thanks to the roads being dug up for either extension or paving the area for laying pavements.
The Corporation has dug up roads and have not proceeded with this work as many people who wholeheartedly work for the sake of environment have protested - the contractors of the Corporation have cemented the trees roots in Sastri Nagar and when the local AC of Zone 10 was approached - he said that the Contractor was out of town and we will have to wait for a few days.
I protested vociforously saying ' if someone asked for water when he is dying, you would bring water only on the 10th day of his demise'. Such is the callous nature with which you treat the trees in the city which are age old ones.
He called the local AE and told him to remove the concrete surrounding the trees immediately. I only hope the Vigilantees of trees will keep an eye and inform the authorities about any tree bring covered with concrete.
If you are unable to reach any official call me through this space by giving a comment.
Let us all get together and fight injustice towards our environment.
Wonder why the inter-locking tiles were removed on the pavements of the beach and granite tiles are being. The inter-locking tiles will ensure rain water is absorbed but the granite tiles are defintely going to flood the place in case of heavy rains.
PLUS SENIOR CITIZENS WATCH OUT - THE TILES ARE DEFINITELY SLIPPERY.
THIS IS ONE MORE STATE IN THE COUNTRY WHICH DOES NOT CARE FOR ITS SENIOR CITIZENS - THEY ONLY TALK BUT DO NOT SHOW IN ACTION.
Earlier, if you were walking comfortably in your colony or neighbourhood, then today you have every chance of tripping and falling and may be even breaking your arm or femur, thanks to the roads being dug up for either extension or paving the area for laying pavements.
The Corporation has dug up roads and have not proceeded with this work as many people who wholeheartedly work for the sake of environment have protested - the contractors of the Corporation have cemented the trees roots in Sastri Nagar and when the local AC of Zone 10 was approached - he said that the Contractor was out of town and we will have to wait for a few days.
I protested vociforously saying ' if someone asked for water when he is dying, you would bring water only on the 10th day of his demise'. Such is the callous nature with which you treat the trees in the city which are age old ones.
He called the local AE and told him to remove the concrete surrounding the trees immediately. I only hope the Vigilantees of trees will keep an eye and inform the authorities about any tree bring covered with concrete.
If you are unable to reach any official call me through this space by giving a comment.
Let us all get together and fight injustice towards our environment.
Crime for speaking in Hindi?
Well folks - Maharashtra people have protested in their state with Jaya Bachan's statement as to why she was going to speak in Hindi. I do not think she ever mentioned that she would not speak in Marathi.
First her statement that she is from Uttar Pradesh and therefore she was going to speak in Hindi was not accepted. But had she said that she was only speaking in Hindi as she was from the Hindi film industry and it is Rashtra Basha, no one in the country has a right to protest.
We are a country which is Democratic and protests like these are totally unwarranted. We Indians needs to be united and set an example to the whole world that in spite of various religions we are a united lot.
God Bless all.
First her statement that she is from Uttar Pradesh and therefore she was going to speak in Hindi was not accepted. But had she said that she was only speaking in Hindi as she was from the Hindi film industry and it is Rashtra Basha, no one in the country has a right to protest.
We are a country which is Democratic and protests like these are totally unwarranted. We Indians needs to be united and set an example to the whole world that in spite of various religions we are a united lot.
God Bless all.
Monday, September 01, 2008
United States of America - enjoy the country when you get a chance to visit.
Well, three and half months or 104 days etc in the US is a pretty long time for me to be away from home.
When I told a few friends that I am going to the US, they advised me that I will be miserable as one is dependent on many occasions on others for transport and there are no autos to hail as in Chennai or for that matter in India. But I was fairly really independent except on occasions when I felt the need of the 'Credit Card', which of course was also resolved with timely help from a very good friend.
On the 3rd day of my landing, my nephew Hari ensured that I was 'Mobile' - yes he got me mobile telephone which was my lifeline - I could be in touch with hundreds of my relatives and friends.
Hari did a rehearsal of sorts by taking me to the railway station in Trenton - many people do not really wish to go to this station - some say it is unsafe. But having lived in Zambia, it was a piece of cake for me and fun too. So on the 5th of May 2008, I was dropped off by Hari the entrance of Trenton railway station. I just had a book and and two pieces of luggage. I waited for a whole hour and then went to board my train to Route 128 or Westwood, where my sister and brother in law came to pick me up.
The Amtrack as the train service in the US is called is mighty expensive, and does not cater to the common man, as the Indian Railways do. The journey which was meant to be 5 hours lasted almost 7 hours from Trenton to Westwood, a distance of about 222 miles. Another 18 miles and I would have reached Boston, but my sister said that this place was closer and so I got off at Westwood.
The delay was due to 'Police Activity' near Newark station for over an hour. Never in my life have I heard of such a thing in India. But we have surely heard of buffaloes and elephants on the tracks and delaying trains in India.
More about 'Amtrack' - they have excellent seats and leg room and all their trains are fully air conditioned. In fact they have all their trains air conditioned and the temperature they maintain is just right inside the cabins, neither too cold or too warm.
But the Pantry car provided on these trains are 'HORRIBLE' - they do not cater to the common man. Water is expensive and the food is only non-vegetarian and they treat non Americans like 'you are not welcome' - their hospitality in the Pantry Car was much to be desired. All I asked for was a vegetarian sandwich and the answer' no vegetarian food on board, next'. I was shocked at the lack of common courtesy normally shown by most Americans, in the Pantry Car. I just about managed to get a bottle of water and fruit and nut bar which had to be my lunch for the day.
The travel was more expensive that the normal Shatabdi Express which I travel from Chennai to Bangalore, where we are provided with a bottle of Mineral water, a newspaper of your choice if you take the early morning train, a coffee of tea and some sumptuous breakfast - all this is included in the cost of the ticket which is roughly 575/- Indian Rupees or roughly $15 (USD). Here you py a whopping $99/- for the ticket and nothing else except your travel which is slower than a passenger train in India. The distance is 387 kms with four or five stops in between Trenton and Boston. There is only one train service to this place in a day. Most of the Amtrack trains are always running far behind their scheduled time of arrival - they do not seem to care. Do they?
United States of America needs people from India to tell them how to increase their train services and also also how to attract the crowd to use these services. What with increase in fuel prices, the Americans would surely welcome this suggestion. Hats off to Indian Railways, they are doing a great job.
Amtrack also does not have sleeper coaches in all the long distance trains - you need to travel like you do in Rajdhani Express in practically all their trains. In case you need a berth or a bedroom facility be prepared to pay three to four times the cost of the ticket. We Indians should be happy with the AC 1st Class, AC 2nd Class and Ac 3rd Class coaches and the ordinary sleeper coaches without AC. They have excellent weather throughout the year in most parts of their country and they can afford to have sleeper coaches without AC at reasonable rates and there would be a boom in their business within a short time.
Infrastucture in stations is also a zero but what is to be admired in their Information System available on the phone which gives information fairly accurately.
They have attenders for the coaches who check your tickets and make a small card marking the place you need to get down. They also ensure that you are informed well in advance about the station where you need to get down, enabling you to be packed and ready. In case the train stops where there is no platform, they the attenders are carrying a strong plastic stool for you to get off the last step of the train. Mind you they are very courteous and help you with your luggage when you need to get off. They do not harass you for payment and if you offer them money they are courteous enough to say 'Thank you' and also wishing you ' Have a good day'. They do not show courtesy on the basis of the money you paid , but there is the warmth they give which makes your day.
Amtrack is also friendly to handicapped people and senior citizens. The attendants guide them into the Cabin cars and ensure they comfortable and the handicapped have seats specially allotted to them.
Amtrack also has one Cabin Car which is called a 'Quiet car' where you cannot be talking and you can remain peaceful without the noise of people talking.
No Smoking is allowed in the Amtrack but if there is going to be a signal delay in any area they announce that people who wish to smoke are requested to go towards the Engine and have a great puff and get back when the driver tells them to do so. The discipline adhered here was simply amazing to me, as I have seen characters in India who will smoke when you are told not to do so and they think that they have achieved something great in life.
The Amtrack stations and many places in the US of A has plenty of escalators, which are not found much in India.
To proceed further on my holiday - my sister took me to her place in Medway, Massachusetts and I was admiring the expanse of the country side. Since my sister brought me some Indian food , a drink plus fruits, I was able to get rid of my hunger pangs. Thanks to the mobile phone, I was able to communicate with my sister and tell her about the train delay and told her to come much later than scheduled to Westwood.
We went shopping for her house - she was repairing her bungalow to put it up for sale before she moved to California for good. So visits to Home Depot was absolutely interesting - yes you get all your household needs in one single shop - everything is standardized and therefore you are not having irregular sizes of material. Most important thing, if a product does not suit your house, you are welcome to return the same provided you have your bill. No questions asked.
The next day my sis took me to K Mart and we just could not believe that we could get excellent jeans for just $2 to $10 and both of us picked a few. These jeans saw me through, throughout my trip in the US. One thing I learned in my very first trip to the US. Do not carry more than a few sets of dresses. Saris is not essential unless you a regular sari wearer and do not have intentions of wearing salwar suits or jeans. If you can wear jeans then your days are easy and you can wear them for a minimum for 4 days without washing - they hardly get dirty over there. * MORE ABOUT THIS LATER.
When I told a few friends that I am going to the US, they advised me that I will be miserable as one is dependent on many occasions on others for transport and there are no autos to hail as in Chennai or for that matter in India. But I was fairly really independent except on occasions when I felt the need of the 'Credit Card', which of course was also resolved with timely help from a very good friend.
On the 3rd day of my landing, my nephew Hari ensured that I was 'Mobile' - yes he got me mobile telephone which was my lifeline - I could be in touch with hundreds of my relatives and friends.
Hari did a rehearsal of sorts by taking me to the railway station in Trenton - many people do not really wish to go to this station - some say it is unsafe. But having lived in Zambia, it was a piece of cake for me and fun too. So on the 5th of May 2008, I was dropped off by Hari the entrance of Trenton railway station. I just had a book and and two pieces of luggage. I waited for a whole hour and then went to board my train to Route 128 or Westwood, where my sister and brother in law came to pick me up.
The Amtrack as the train service in the US is called is mighty expensive, and does not cater to the common man, as the Indian Railways do. The journey which was meant to be 5 hours lasted almost 7 hours from Trenton to Westwood, a distance of about 222 miles. Another 18 miles and I would have reached Boston, but my sister said that this place was closer and so I got off at Westwood.
The delay was due to 'Police Activity' near Newark station for over an hour. Never in my life have I heard of such a thing in India. But we have surely heard of buffaloes and elephants on the tracks and delaying trains in India.
More about 'Amtrack' - they have excellent seats and leg room and all their trains are fully air conditioned. In fact they have all their trains air conditioned and the temperature they maintain is just right inside the cabins, neither too cold or too warm.
But the Pantry car provided on these trains are 'HORRIBLE' - they do not cater to the common man. Water is expensive and the food is only non-vegetarian and they treat non Americans like 'you are not welcome' - their hospitality in the Pantry Car was much to be desired. All I asked for was a vegetarian sandwich and the answer' no vegetarian food on board, next'. I was shocked at the lack of common courtesy normally shown by most Americans, in the Pantry Car. I just about managed to get a bottle of water and fruit and nut bar which had to be my lunch for the day.
The travel was more expensive that the normal Shatabdi Express which I travel from Chennai to Bangalore, where we are provided with a bottle of Mineral water, a newspaper of your choice if you take the early morning train, a coffee of tea and some sumptuous breakfast - all this is included in the cost of the ticket which is roughly 575/- Indian Rupees or roughly $15 (USD). Here you py a whopping $99/- for the ticket and nothing else except your travel which is slower than a passenger train in India. The distance is 387 kms with four or five stops in between Trenton and Boston. There is only one train service to this place in a day. Most of the Amtrack trains are always running far behind their scheduled time of arrival - they do not seem to care. Do they?
United States of America needs people from India to tell them how to increase their train services and also also how to attract the crowd to use these services. What with increase in fuel prices, the Americans would surely welcome this suggestion. Hats off to Indian Railways, they are doing a great job.
Amtrack also does not have sleeper coaches in all the long distance trains - you need to travel like you do in Rajdhani Express in practically all their trains. In case you need a berth or a bedroom facility be prepared to pay three to four times the cost of the ticket. We Indians should be happy with the AC 1st Class, AC 2nd Class and Ac 3rd Class coaches and the ordinary sleeper coaches without AC. They have excellent weather throughout the year in most parts of their country and they can afford to have sleeper coaches without AC at reasonable rates and there would be a boom in their business within a short time.
Infrastucture in stations is also a zero but what is to be admired in their Information System available on the phone which gives information fairly accurately.
They have attenders for the coaches who check your tickets and make a small card marking the place you need to get down. They also ensure that you are informed well in advance about the station where you need to get down, enabling you to be packed and ready. In case the train stops where there is no platform, they the attenders are carrying a strong plastic stool for you to get off the last step of the train. Mind you they are very courteous and help you with your luggage when you need to get off. They do not harass you for payment and if you offer them money they are courteous enough to say 'Thank you' and also wishing you ' Have a good day'. They do not show courtesy on the basis of the money you paid , but there is the warmth they give which makes your day.
Amtrack is also friendly to handicapped people and senior citizens. The attendants guide them into the Cabin cars and ensure they comfortable and the handicapped have seats specially allotted to them.
Amtrack also has one Cabin Car which is called a 'Quiet car' where you cannot be talking and you can remain peaceful without the noise of people talking.
No Smoking is allowed in the Amtrack but if there is going to be a signal delay in any area they announce that people who wish to smoke are requested to go towards the Engine and have a great puff and get back when the driver tells them to do so. The discipline adhered here was simply amazing to me, as I have seen characters in India who will smoke when you are told not to do so and they think that they have achieved something great in life.
The Amtrack stations and many places in the US of A has plenty of escalators, which are not found much in India.
To proceed further on my holiday - my sister took me to her place in Medway, Massachusetts and I was admiring the expanse of the country side. Since my sister brought me some Indian food , a drink plus fruits, I was able to get rid of my hunger pangs. Thanks to the mobile phone, I was able to communicate with my sister and tell her about the train delay and told her to come much later than scheduled to Westwood.
We went shopping for her house - she was repairing her bungalow to put it up for sale before she moved to California for good. So visits to Home Depot was absolutely interesting - yes you get all your household needs in one single shop - everything is standardized and therefore you are not having irregular sizes of material. Most important thing, if a product does not suit your house, you are welcome to return the same provided you have your bill. No questions asked.
The next day my sis took me to K Mart and we just could not believe that we could get excellent jeans for just $2 to $10 and both of us picked a few. These jeans saw me through, throughout my trip in the US. One thing I learned in my very first trip to the US. Do not carry more than a few sets of dresses. Saris is not essential unless you a regular sari wearer and do not have intentions of wearing salwar suits or jeans. If you can wear jeans then your days are easy and you can wear them for a minimum for 4 days without washing - they hardly get dirty over there. * MORE ABOUT THIS LATER.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
So Called Beach Beautification
No one seems to realise that trees are also helping people to hide themselves and do whatever they want - resulting in the beach being misused for other activities.
Look at the Hazardous waste in the centre of the picture .
Have a look at the plastic waste on the beach front - this is located right opposite to the Police Head Quarters near Mahatma Gandhi Statue. Adding more pictures to this blog, I sincerely hope the residents of Chennai will understand that Beautification of the Beaches is totally uncalled for.
The Civil Society Group is fighting tooth and nail to ensure that the Chennai Corporation does not start its work on the Beautification project of the Elliots Beach.
Tha latest - The Corporation of Chennai wants to construct a 2.5 metre concreted paved pathway from Ashtalakshmi Temple in Besant Nagar to Vembuli Amman Temple in Thiruvanmiyur. They do not seem to have done a survey as the road narrows down to the sea at the end of 1st
Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur. Are they going to lay the path on the sea?
Marina - Something green?
1. Rubbish with greenery? 2.A resting place in the name of Beautification?
3. Do we call this Green patch or brown patch?
3. Do we call this Green patch or brown patch?
Do we need our Beaches to be beautified.
The status of Marina Beach which was beautified long ago is now yearning for care - The Chennai Corporation is flooded with money by way of various taxes and decided to mess up the Beautiful Sandy beaches of the Chennai City by making green patches and walkways and also concrete paths to facilitate people to walk.
We have the beach sand to walk on - why do we need construction activity on the Beach? Why?
Can the Chennai Corporation lay the roads which are horrible in many places in the City?
I was at the Marina Beach at 10.30am on the 8th of February 2008. In the name of greenery, the Marina is crying Help, as this so called green patches are now dry and is it littered with plastics and people sleep and goats are grazing. Do we need all this on the beach????
I am adding a few photos for all to decide - Does the Chennai Corporation necessarily need to beautify our Beaches?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Beach Beautification - Do we need it or not?
The Corporation of Chennai has taken up the project of Beautification of the Beach at Thiruvanmiyurfrom Ashtalakshmi Temple to City limit. In this aspect a proposal has arrived and exhibited in Tiruvamiyur Beach. To have public support for the project, it is decided to hold discussion with the public on 1.2.2008 at 11 am at Zonal Office - 10 No.115,Muthulakshmi Salai, Adyar, Chennai 20.
You are requested to attend the attend the above meeting with the representative from the Association.
You are requested to attend the attend the above meeting with the representative from the Association.
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