As vendors struggle to transition away from single use plastic (SUPs) bags, Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai, Senior Researcher at CAG, explains that the low production cost of plastic coupled with the low production of alternatives perpetuate our reliance on SUPs. He recommends curtailing plastic production as more effective than raiding vendors.
Using data from CAG's Fair Fares report, this article makes the point that progressive urban transport schemes such as the free bus scheme for women in Tamil Nadu have personal and societal benefits that work at different levels in different sections of the population.
A baseline study on climate literacy in Tamil Nadu was conducted as part of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission by CAG for the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu. The findings of the study emphasise the need for enhancing the climate literacy in schools and colleges.
A study by CAG exploring the intriguing correlation between ambient air quality and instances of violent crime in Chennai, has been featured by the press. While the study finds a weak correlation between the two, the aim has been to further impress on the need for maintaining healthy air quality.
Mr. Alby John, IAS, Managing Director of the MTC, speaking at the launch of CAG's report analysing TN's free bus scheme for women, mentioned several anticipated improvements to Chennai's bus fleet including an automated fare collection system, installation of high quality GPS on all buses, and a new passenger information app.
An article discussing findings from the CAG study which revealed that a significant majority of consumers knew of the single-use plastics ban. However, poor enforecement and therefore easy availability of SUPs lead to a reliance on plastics.
Madhuvanthi Rajkumar, CAG, participated in the Citizen's Clinic organised by Citizen Matters. The event brought together experts who guided households onward in their zero waste journeys.
An article quoting CAG's analyses of the Tamil Nadu government's fare free scheme for women on public buses, even as Telengana replicates the scheme on government operated buses, non-luxury buses anywhere within the state.
The quintessential Aavin milk packets, produced in the thousands, are made of Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), a type of plastic that can be recycled effectively. However, Chennai-based petitioner Ayya points out that the pouches are merely discarded, endangering human health and the environment. The petition filed before the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal cites findings from CAG's plastic brand audit (2021) that Aavin milk pouches constituted 7% of the plastic waste analysed in the audit.
An article that explains Tamil Nadu's road safety policy and its lack of clarity with regards to implementation and resource allocation, based on CAG's qualitative comparative analysis on road safety policies from different states across the country.