Our Readers Write

Obstacle race on Chennai pedestrian walkway

Chennai roads particularly the walkways (so called) offer a fascinating variety of obstacles that make a stroll down the walkways truly adventurous. The small stretch of walkway between our residence on Westcott Road, Royapettah and the neighbouring Wesley High School/Meston College compound offers a delightful mix of ordinary and rare obstacles. I am attaching photos of a few samples, captured this morning. The holy cow, of course, is a rare sight, one that made a special appearance just today.

Truly, nadai paathai nadappatharke. Really?

Balakesari
3/1, Rams Kesari Kuteeram, 22, Westcott Road
Royapettah, Chennai 600014

Boating in the Canal

With respect to the article in MM, July 16th, please see the photo taken behind my apartment of the Canal below the MRTS line between Mandaveli and Greenways Road.

The picture shows two Corporation employees in a boat which shows the canal is deep enough. But the MRTS line on top and a road on this side of the canal will make the Canal as a regular waterway carrying heavy goods as in the distant past?At the most, a few pleasure boating is possible, provided drainage is not let into the canal anywhere in the city.

Dr. G. Sundaram, IAS (R),
A-601, “Dugar Apartments”
Keshav Perumal Puram
Greenways Road, Chennai 600 028

‘Parcel’ debate

In your Short N’ Snappy column (MM, July 16-31, 2022) you have narrated the receipt of a bulky package (containing books) sent by a well-known diabetic clinic which was mistaken for medicines by your family members.

You state “Raging debates had reportedly ensued over the next few days about whether (Wo)MMM could have diabetes”.

Are we the readers to understand that you received a package but did not (care to) open for a few days? Is this normal behaviour? A person receives a package and does not open it for a few days.
I am tempted to insinuate – are you so busy? Or did you want to have some fun at the expense of your family members? That would be very churlish of me (to insinuate).

Nonetheless you owe your readers an explanation.

Gautam
gautham45@yahoo.com

A fair point, sir. The truth is that the courier was not brought to (Wo)MMM’s attention at all for quite a few days. Much like an ostrich, the family had hoped that turning a blind eye to the package would somehow resolve the troublesome issue at hand. It was the better half who brought the courier to (Wo)MMM’s attention and ushered in the long-overdue denouement.

(Wo)MMM

Reg. neglect of trees

Shobha Menon bemoans the neglect of the trees in our city Madras, that is Chennai and rightly so (MM, July 1st, 2022).  She has given numerous suggestions for the care and well-being of our trees. However there is one aspect that to the best of my knowledge has not been addressed.

I refer to the base of the tree, where it emerges from the ground.  In most cases the cemented pavement encompasses the base of the tree completely.  In other cities I have seen a steel frame and grille about four feet square that is fixed around the tree.  The soil is dug for a few inches and replaced with small pebbles.  I suppose this helps water percolation.  The grille is flush with the pavement.

Shobha Menon can take up the matter with the Greater Chennai Corporation to install such steel grilles for our city trees.  She states “trees that line our roadsides must matter to all citizens across professions, ages and income groups.”  In residential areas, behind every tree is an apartment complex or house.  Why not involve the residents to take responsibility for a tree that is just outside their compound wall.  Will social media help?  If such a move is initiated, it will be the joy of this writer to sponsor the first three grilles.

She concludes “Can more citizens come together to speak up for these gentle beings who are our lifelines, please?”  She has given the clarion call but sadly there has not been much of a response.  Citizen apathy?

Gautham
gautham45@yahoo.com

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