Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/18-20 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/18-20 Publication: 1st & 16th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) INSIDE G Short ‘N’ Snappy G Our loss, Andhra’s gain G The Tawkers’ home G Exporting Iron & Steel G Goli Soda again WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXVIII No. 2 May 1-15, 2018 Shrinking Porur Lake (above), thanks to all the buildings encroaching on its banks. Insert: a comparatively new embankment marking the present bounds of the lake. Below, a well-tended tank, the Kapaliswarar Temple’s, showing what can be done, and the neighbouring Chitrakulam tank made Where are a garbage dump. (Pictures: R. Raja Pandian.) the funds to save heritage? (by The Editor) t was only a month ago that we carried Ithe story about how the Government had in its budget decided to Time to restore vanishing sanction money for the restora- tion of three heritage buildings o long term Chennai resi- positive sign. This campaign is – Victoria Hostel, Queen dents, it is not new to learn carried out in the face of over a Mary’s College and the T that numerous water bodies of water bodies thousand encroachers hinder- Kumbakonam Government the city and suburbs have ing eco-restoration by legal and Arts College. We had rejoiced disappeared over the years. been lost, perhaps forever, is im- examples and there are others in other means. Chennai Cor- at this sudden change of atti- Unloading boatloads of veg- mense. According to NGOs like a similar state. poration’s proposal to build a tude towards heritage. It is only etables and fruits on the Arappor Iyakkam and Care Lately, there is some concern 26-km wall along the Adyar now that we know that an an- Buckingham Canal at Thanni- Earth Trust, our major lakes over this depleting natural as- bank to prevent encroachment nouncement to this effect does thurai, the flowing Adyar which, have suffered serious encroach- set. NGOs like Environmental- is promising. The public is anx- not mean an automatic release in the 1940s, could be crossed ment and abuse, depleting their ist Foundation of India (EFI), iously looking forward to the of funds. Apparently that can only by boat at Kottur with a holding capacity over the years. are involved in rejuvenating speedy completion of these take till eternity. lone bus service from Mylapore plans. A news report dated April 7, tank to Guindy Engineering To avert the annual night- 2018 carried the full details. twice a day, the Aaraattha G mare of man-made floods, The Public Works Department by A Special Correspondent Kuttai that has become today’s action is also needed, on emer- (PWD) is eagerly awaiting Nageswara Rao Park in gency footing, to remove plastic funds to the tune of around Rs Alwarpet, the Lake area in Villivakkam Lake was nearly smaller ponds to sustain the and garbage blockages of 100 crore for the restoration of Nungambakkam where Vallu- 214 acres in 1972 and has been ecological balance in Madha- stormwater drains. In 2012, the 25 heritage buildings spread var Kottam stands now, and the reduced to 20 acres. The irony is varam, Sholinganallur and Chennai Corporation began across the entire State. The Medavakkam tank have all be- that government organisations Mudichur. Commendable work work on construction of 5,000 Building Centre and Conserva- come memories of a bygone era. themselves have been putting up is also being done in creating rainwater harvesting structures tion Division of the PWD (yes The shrinkage of water constructions on the banks of awareness and enlisting volun- in storm water drains. We do there does exist such an entity) bodies is here in statistical the lake. Korattur fresh water teers from among the public to not know the status of that has completed detailed project terms. It is estimated that the lake is spread over 600 acres and serve as watchdogs against mis- project and whether they were reports for all these structures expanse of water bodies in and experts believe it can contribute use. Volunteer teams have been completed. and has submitted them to the around the City contracted significantly to Chennai’s water desilting and clearing dumped Cities of the world celebrate authorities, after which it has from 12.6 sq. km. in 1893 to 3.2 requirement if it is recovered. rubbish to restore the water waterways flowing through heard nothing about them. sq. km. in 2017. There were as The 8-acre Avadi lake, which is body’s natural capacity and to them, create parks and archi- On the anvil are such presti- many as 60 large water bodies considered to have been at one make the water cleaner. tectural splendours around the gious restorations as the Huma- at one time which have come time in “pristine condition”, is That the Forest Department waterways with attractive civic yun Mahal of the Chepauk down to just 28, most of which practically lost and recovery has recently taken over the amenities. Waterbodies, impor- Palace, now a mere shell with are small. seems impossible as it has been Pallikaranai marshland and em- tantly, act as flood control de- much of its interiors in a state The depleted state of major extensively built upon. So has ployed earthmovers to remove vices to moderate the effects of (Continued on page 2) lakes is disturbing, as what has Porur Lake. These are a few accumulated rubbish is another (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS May 1-15, 2018 Where are The ways of Governors he Man from Madras way sour his friendship with ye There arose a protest that the funds? T Musings has often been olde social worker and he still we were callously enjoying a accused of being cheeky in this came to all her events and was colonial game when farmers in (Continued from page 1) restoration are time-bound and column, but whatever fun he a pillar of support. And in very the mofussil were dying any delay will only push up the has got out of it has been at the recent times, we have had at without water. This said some of collapse for several years. expense of his cheeks alone least one episode of where the protestors, was not cricket. This will cost around Rs 38 costs. What is the value of a and not anyone else’s. Which holder of the highest elected Not quite straight bat, they crore and needs immediate at- cost estimation if execution is is why the recent news item office in our State accused the said. They became all tention. Also of urgency is the taken up a few years after it was and what followed thereafter Governor of misbehaving with Cromwellian and demanded restoration of the Government prepared? concerning the Governor and her. that such amusements as Press in the Mint. The oldest There is also another aspect the Journalist made MMM sit It is all in the air. With so cricket ought to be banned buildings there have already that the Government needs to up and take notice. The in- much having happened in the here till we got water for the been destroyed by fire. The consider. Delays in restoration cumbent of that high office has past in that historic office, farmers. There were others office of the Deputy Inspector projects invariably mean that since explained it all saying he there must have been an who believed that just by shift- some other macro-level devel- did it in an avuncular, and not unseen force, most likely ing cricket out of Madras, General of Registration, on amorous, fashion. The lady has ghosts of Governors past, that water would gush forth in the Rajaji Salai, has long been iden- opment nullifies whatever little been gracious enough to made the Governor, who had paddy fields, released in tified for restoration, but here is done. Take, for instance, the accept the apology and not let probably just lifted his hand to remorse by the neighbouring too there is no action. And in a renovation of VP Hall and Ripon the worm i’the bud feed on her scratch his cheek, extend it and State that is forever building delicious twist, the PWD finds Building, both of which cost a damask cheek, as Shakespeare pat someone else’s. They call it dams and storing the precious that its own historic premises on tidy sum of money. The Gov- put it so well. But others have the fourth dimension in super- liquid. And so cricket went. the Marina need urgent atten- ernment dithered for years and been up in arms demanding natural studies. It is now held in a far-away tion to the tune of Rs 17 crore, then, just as work began, the the Governor’s resignation. To State, where they probably but has no money for it. Last Metrorail stepped in. As a MMM, however, it appears have never heard of Madras or result, work on VP Hall had to that His Excellency is in here its mofussil districts. The seen, despite a seemingly solid for a long haul and is as snug cricketers are happy, the local exterior, the building was crying be given up and as for Ripon as a bug in a rug. Others can SHORT sponsors there are delighted. out for maintenance. Much of Building, it is full of (structural) protest till they are blue in the Cricket fans are going by train its priceless stained glass has cracks.