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A Time to Introspect on our mistakes

Reference: A Time to Introspect on our Mistakes (MM, Dec 16th, 2023). While the public needs to be alert and raise a voice against issues, seldom do the officials pay heed to the same. Complaints regarding the relaying of roads, dysfunctional stormwater drains, encroachment, etc are not taken seriously by the authorities. Despite very clear directives from the Courts, the CMDA continues to entertain applications to reclassify the land use of water bodies and catchment areas to other zones. While such reclassification notifications do not get noticed by the public due to poor dissemination of information, even when objections are made, such letters of protest are treated with scant respect. Even when the reclassification of land use is considered, the authorities do not ponder over the need to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure available to take care of the changed scenario. Undaunted by the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, public-spirited men still raise issues through the press and other means.

While the article stressed that the public needs to exercise caution while buying property raised on water bodies, how can anyone spot such issues when builders keep the same under wraps? With independent houses giving way for clusters of residential apartments, how can the authorities depend upon the sewer lines that were constructed during the British era and are unsuitable to take the present load? Infrastructure should be developed in such a manner that it should take care of the present and foreseeable future.

That said, the public should be ever vigilant as otherwise they have to pay a heavy price.  

V.S. Jayaraman
31/57 Motilal Street
T Nagar,  Chennai 600 017

More on S.P. Ambrose

S.P. Ambrose was the District Collector at the time of anti-Hindi agitation. It turned violent, leading to firings in Tiruppur, Bhavani, and other places. It was Ambrose who held a number of peace meetings and brought the situation to normalcy. He was the Chief Guest at one of the functions held in the government school where I was working. It was upon his advice that I left government service when the senior educational officer turned inimical towards me – I had chided him for smoking on the school premises.

S.S.Rajagopalan
30, Kamarajar Street
Chennai 600093

Elliots beach or Elliots market

Senior citizens like me who have visited Moore market during its heydays now get the same feeling whilst visiting the Elliots beach. Nearly half of the sandbank on the beach – prime area – is now occupied by thatched shops selling assorted goods and eatables, with chairs kept nearby for visitors to comfortably sit and eat. While the Chennai corporation has spent substantial money in building two pathways with a few statues in between as a part of the beautification exercise, several handcarts crowd the spaces near them, selling all kinds of materials. Some handcarts are established on the pathways too. One “feature” that Elliots beach has which Moore market did not is the number of stray dogs loitering around or sleeping on the pathway. Of course, they seem to be fed well with eatables thrown away by the visitors. With so many stray dogs, excreta abounds – an inevitable consequence. What’s worse is the number of fish stalls that are spread out at one end of the beach – they are marked by a nauseating smell that forces walkers to close their noses with a piece of cloth.

Certainly, the Elliots beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, second perhaps only to the Marina beach. The Elliots beach can make Chennai proud if it can be maintained well by the authorities, which is not the case. Anyone who has seen how beaches are maintained elsewhere will certainly feel distressed at the conditions of this naturally beautiful beach, leaving one with a poor opinion about the commitment and capability of the Chennai corporation which is responsible for maintaining the beach.

This is not the first time that citizens have expressed unhappiness about the conditions at Elliots beach. But there seems to be little hope that conditions will improve, as the past complaints have not provoked the authorities to act. Obviously, the authorities are unwilling or incapable of ensuring that the beach is free of multiple shops, which is the root cause for the lack of cleanliness.

Finally, there is no doubt that a lot of money has been spent by Chennai Corporation in beautifying the beach. But, how can there be beauty when cleanliness is not maintained on the sands?

N.S. Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
M 60/1, 4th Cross Street
Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090

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