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Alagiri pulls up Madurai Corporation officials for tardy relief work

Friday, 13 November 2009 03:50 administrator
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The Hindu 13.11.2009

Alagiri pulls up Madurai Corporation officials for tardy relief work

Special Correspondent

Residents complain of non-availability of essential items in ration shops

— Photo: S. James.

IN ACTION: M.K. Alagiri, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, visiting a rain-affected area in Madurai on Wednesday.

MADURAI: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri inspected a few pockets in the city, which were affected by rains and pulled up the Corporation authorities for not carrying out rehabilitation work on a war-footing.

The road leading to a ration shop in Ward No. 34 was non-motorable and filled with slush.

During a brief interaction, some local residents claimed non-availability of essential items in the ration shop in their area to the Minister.

Similarly, they also complained about the delay in repairing roads.

Some others claimed that Corporation officials were not present to help them to move to safer places when rainwater inundated low-lying areas. Mr. Alagiri pulled up Mayor G. Thenmozhi and Corporation officials for their inaction and set an ultimatum to carry out the task.

“I will visit the place in a day or two… You should have done your work to the satisfaction of the public (by then).”

He also enquired with some of the party functionaries near the Vaigai river causeway, where a third year engineering college student M. Danasekaran of K. Pudur was washed away on Tuesday midnight, when he was going with his classmate on a two-wheeler. Fire and Rescue Service Department personnel are searching for the victim.

Many women residents near Obulapadithurai area complained to the officials that snakes – big and small – were spotted from the pipes laid underneath the Vaigai river since Tuesday night following water flow in the river.

Traffic along the causeways connecting northern and southern parts of the city on the Vaigai river was blocked for two-wheelers since Wednesday morning.

Even pedestrians were not permitted to cross the causeways.

District Revenue Officer Dinesh Oliver Ponraj and former MLA K. Thalapathi were among those who were present during the Minister’s inspection.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 04:06
 

Poster ban extended to corpn-owned blgs

Thursday, 12 November 2009 11:53 administrator
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The Times of India 12.11.2009

Poster ban extended to corpn-owned blgs

TNN 12 November 2009, 06:17am IST

CHENNAI: The ban against posters on subways, flyovers amd select arterial roads in north and south Chennai was on Wednsday extended to 3,464 buildings of the Chennai Corporation. Posters on walls of zonal offices will soon be replaced with murals depicting the state's art and culture.

"The aim is to give the city an aesthetic appeal," mayor M Subramanian told The Times of India while inspecting the whitening of walls on Nungambakkam High Road. About two lakh sq ft of space on walls will be covered.

"Almost all government buildings on Anna Salai, the Raj Bhavan on Sardar Patel Road, the Kilpauk Medical College, Government General Hospital, Institute of Mental Health on Medavakkam Tank Road and Island Grounds near the War Memorial will be covered initially," Subramanian added.

The local body, at an estimated Rs 33 per sq ft for murals, floated tenders for buildings in the Saidapet, Mylapore, Ice House, Basin Bridge and Kodambakkam zones.

"Complaints have been filed with the police against six persons for violating the ban order in subways and roads," sources said. Under Section 4 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, whoever exhibits on any place open to public view any objectionable advertisement will incur three months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 200.

On June 10, the corporation banned the defacement of walls on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai. Later the ban was extended to Tiruvottiyur High Road and Dr Radhakrishnan Salai and then to 250 subways and flyovers of the corporation and 27 maintained by the state highways department and the railways.
 

My Ladye’s Park turns 150, cries for attention

Thursday, 12 November 2009 09:41 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle 12.11.2009

My Ladye’s Park turns 150, cries for attention

November 12th, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Chennai, Nov. 11: Chennai, which devours lung space on the pretext of development, conveniently forgot or rather ignored the 150th year of the evolution of the idea that is ‘People’s Park’. Situated near Ripon Buildings, the park known to the present generation as ‘My Ladye’s Garden’ is one of the last large green spaces existing within the city.

When the park was thrown open to the public in 1863, it stretched to 116 acres with 12 lakes complete with boat rides. The objective of the then governor of Madras Presidency, Sir Charles Trevelyan, who put forth the idea, was simple — improve the civic life of Madras.

Historians of the city have recorded that the corporation, that has been taking care of the park since 1865, adopted different strategies to attract Madrasis to it. The establishment of a zoo, with the presence of a live tiger, was definitely a lure. Senior citizens recollect that the zoo functioned at the park till 1979, after which it was shifted to Vandalur.

The fall from grace for the park began during the British Raj itself when large tracts were allocated to build Ripon Buildings and the development of Central Station, and, after Independence, for the construction of Nehru Stadium.

At a time when government machinery has started giving importance to Chennai’s glorious past, with a process in place to restore Victoria Hall and Ripon Buildings, the significance of this beautiful park and its link to Chennai’s colourful history is a matter that authorities should not ignore.

If restored and taken care of, this ecological vestige of the past would become the greatest boon that Chennai could offer to future generations.

 
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