logo
Prakasam Street: how it shrugged off squalor

Prakasam Street: how it shrugged off squalor

The Hindu12-05-2025

You cannot miss that spot in Prakasam Street in T Nagar. It has a massive CMWSSB water tank filling up the sky in the background. Around a year ago, there was another reason this spot could not be missed. Garbage dumping more outside the bins than inside them.
Located diametrically opposite Prakasam First Street, this patch on Prakasam Street would attract those who wanted to offload construction debris clandestinely.
The spot now presents a picture that contrasts sharply with what prevailed. A garden with fencing marks the space along the compound wall of the CMWSSB water filling facility. There is literally no room for garbage dumping. Sporting paintings, the compound wall also offers something to take in.
The five bins have also been shifted out of that patch. In addition, outside the compound wall (which lines a good part of Prakasam Street), vehicles, many of them heavy vehicles would be parked. The fenced garden has put an end to that. The images were taken on May 9, 2025. Earlier, through pictures of the spot taken on December 29, 2023, The Hindu Downtown had highlighted the squalor that marked the patch.
Back then, the patch was seen through the framework of the Broken Window Theory: how .a seeming lack of iniative to check garbage dumping outside the five bins placed there then was encouraging the behavior.
In 'Then and Now' we feature roads that have fallen from grace as well as those that have improved considerably

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems
Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems

The Hindu

time15 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems

: Owing to frequent disruption of power supply in zones such as Sholinganallur, where roads are being dug up for laying underground drainage network, residents have demanded faster processing of requests for road cuts to prevent a delay in restoration of services. V. Parthiban, general secretary of the Confederation of Residents' Welfare Associations, Sholinganallur, demands that civic agencies find a solution to prevent such delay in road cuts. Around 50% of the civic issues that require road cuts in various zones of the Chennai Corporation are related to electricity, water, and sewage, according to data complied by the GCC. Though a large number of service departments, more than 20 in number, carry out road cuts for resolving civic issues and implementing infrastructure projects, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board alone accounts for around 25% of them, and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), more than 25%. Residents have urged the civic agencies to develop a system to expedite road cuts. 'When there is disruption of power or water supply, we request officials to give permission for road cuts instantly, without any delay,' they say. A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents' Welfare Associations, said work on digging a cement concrete road, which was laid only a few months ago, is under way. 'The residents want the dug-up roads to be restored immediately. But this has not always been the case. There has been a delay in the restoration of the new road after the sewer network was built. We request that a new system be formed for improved coordination between all the line agencies,' he said. AIADMK councillor J. John said, in the past, the AIADMK government had initiated work to build sewer network in close proximity to all houses so that sewer connection could be established without digging up roads. 'The scheme to provide connection to all houses should be strengthened, similar to that of the previous regime,' he said. DMK councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said residents had demanded permission for road cut along Anna Nagar Second Avenue to resolve a sewage-related civic issue in the area. Following an overwhelming demand from residents in various parts of the city, the Chennai Corporation has proposed to expedite the work, and introduce a seamless system for granting permission for road cuts. An official said the new system would be implemented in one or two days, and the guidelines issued shortly. 'We have decided to expedite approvals for pending road cuts across the city. The online system will be altered. Under the new system, the residents will be able to raise claim charges after applying for Metrowater connection. Additionally, the No Objection Certificate from the traffic police can be obtained online,' another official said. At a meeting attended by more than 20 service departments on Tuesday, GCC officials decided to take measures to resolve issues with the departments. On the CMWSSB work under way in zones such as Manali, Madhavaram, Sholinganallur, and Perungudi, an official said they would expedite the road cut and restoration work.

The nesting Black winged stilts of Perumbakkam: a sequel
The nesting Black winged stilts of Perumbakkam: a sequel

The Hindu

time25-05-2025

  • The Hindu

The nesting Black winged stilts of Perumbakkam: a sequel

Last week's showers might not have been forceful enough to break lake bunds, but the fragile nests of Black winged stilts in wetlands are an altogether different matter. At the onset of summer, Perumbakkam wetland begins to serve as a home as well as a 'maternity ward' for Black winged stilts. These birds build nests on stones, padding them with plant material to make the incubation process easier for themselves (both the male and female Black winged stilt share nesting, incubation and parenting duties). Some Black winged stilts build their nest from the ground up (avoiding the use of stones as base) by heaping up plant material and creating a mound of a nest. A recent issue of The Hindu Downtown discussed the resilience of the Black winged stilts, as evidenced by their efforts to build a nest again and again even where a succession of showers had damaged their nests beyond redemption or submerged them. At Perumbakkam, sometimes, the stones sink on account of rains. This problem does not crop up under regular circumstances, only on account of unexpected and unseasonal summer showers (as the breeding season for this species in these parts is from April to August). This year, ever since the Black winged stilts started the nesting routine, there were two spells of rain, causing them setbacks. The latest happened last week, but the 'householders' — particularly two pairs, with two different styles of nests, as one can see from the images — emerged unscathed from the crisis.

Mayor reviews underground sewage pipeline work
Mayor reviews underground sewage pipeline work

The Hindu

time21-05-2025

  • The Hindu

Mayor reviews underground sewage pipeline work

Mayor R. Priya inspected the ongoing underground sewage pipeline work at New Vazhaima Nagar in Ward 74 of Nagar Zone (VI) under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (North Chennai Development Scheme). According to a press release, inspection was conducted to review the progress of the works carried out by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) under the scheme. The Mayor instructed officials to ensure that the installed sewage pipelines are desilted.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store