Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai, Senior Researcher at CAG, points out that less than a tenth of the Chennai city’s waste gets processed. This is a serious concern even as the rise in e-commerce leads to more plastic waste. Much of this ends up in landfills, highlighting the need for both industry and consumer responsibility in tackling these growing mountains of waste.
Activists warn that waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, while seen as a solution to Chennai's waste crisis, may pose significant environmental and health risks. Concerns include the release of toxic gases and harmful byproducts, challenging the efficacy of WTE technology.
Divya Senthil and George Cheriyan, Citizen consumer civic Action Group, write on why drunk driving among young drivers needs a zero tolerance policy to anything above zero Blood Alcohol Content levels.
This article examines the financial feasibility of the proposed scheme for free transport on public buses for women in Andhra Pradesh, quoting CAG's analysis of the same in Tamil Nadu.
An article reporting on the free transport scheme for women on TN's public buses as one way of creating gender-inclusive design, using data from CAG's Fair Fares report.
As the Tambaram Corporation outsources waste management of waste generated by Bulk Waste Generators (BWG), Vamsi Shankar, Senior Researcher, CAG comments that the main consideration with any waste handling protocol is that it does not go on to harm the environment. Dry waste handling techniques that cause air pollution, he says, is a case in point.
Afroz, Researcher, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group, participated in the recent 'No Burn Chennai' event, and spoke about the ill-effects of incinerators. As incinerators are being increasingly promoted as a solution to plastic pollution, organisation at the event explained why burning plastic waste was a false, 'greenwashing' solution.
Construction debris dumping becomes a marked problem across the city, even though SWM by-laws state that construction and debris waste generators must plan disposal measures before commencing a project. Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai, senior researcher at CAG, talks about the need for better enforcement which in turn needs adequate budgetary allocation.
Quoting CAG's study on the impact of the free bus travel scheme for women, this article explains that the scheme has been a lifeline to the transport corporations which were facing losses and fund shortages. Sowmya.K, researcher, CAG, says that even free schemes need to heed the voices of its beneficiaries. Crowding remains a significant concern for women using these buses; this would ease if the scheme was extended to all bus types similar to other concession schemes available.
As the population of Chennai grows, it is crucial that we consider the city's mobility landscape, and the changes needed in it. Presently, our streets cater primarily to motor vehicles. To truly achieve sustainable and safe mobility accessible for all, we must prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport, says Sowmya K, researcher, CAG.