An article that makes a case for why bus services should be viewed as essential services that governments should not hesitate to subsidise. As Sumana Narayanan, CAG, points out, one of the fallouts of a poorly run bus service is that users are tempted to switch to private transport, resulting in serious consequences to environmental health and road safety.
Saroja.S, CAG, advises that preparation for an eco-friendly Ganesh Chathurthi begin well before the event, training artisans who make the idols. Meanwhile, devotees are urged to avoid idols with plastic, glitter etc for their non-biodegradable, toxic properties and the damage they cause to the water bodies that receive them.
CAG participated in a consultation organised by Directorate of Town and Country Planning (organised by DTCP), to plan revision of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, incorporating steps towards sustainable development, sustainable mobility, climate change resilience, efficient land-use, infrastructure and settlement growth across the state.
Commenting on the safety risks from raised manhole covers, Sumana Narayanan, CAG, says the Indian Road Congress guidelines, if followed, would create safer road surfaces. Additionally, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019, has penalty provisions for road contractors who do not keep safety guidelines. The legal framework needs to now translate into action on the ground.
Following the GO that millets be distributed in the PDS, S.Saroja, CAG, suggests that this be done in one urban location also, to assess demand and plan for future supply.
As policies and procedures make it harder for solar energy consumers to sell power back to the company, Vishnu Rao, CAG, suggests that households set up solar panels for the simple reason that they can be energy sufficient; and that there is much to gain from going renewable'.
A survey by TOI on the efficacy of the single-use ban in Tamil Nadu throws up findings similar to what CAG found in its 2021 study - the use of plastics among vendors remains prevalent. Vamsi Shankar, CAG points out that for the ban to be effective, enforcement must be at the level of plastic bag manufacturing and a viable ecosystem of alternatives should be created. For as long as plastic bags are cheaply available, they will remain the street vendor's packaging of choice.
உடலின் தேவைக்கும் அதிகமாக இருக்கும் உப்பு , சர்க்கரை மற்றும் கொழுப்பின் அளவை பொட்டலம் செய்த உணவு பொருள் பாக்கெட்டின் முன் புறத்தில் நுகர்வோருக்கு எளிதாக எச்சரிக்கை செய்யும் வண்ணம் மக்கள் நலன் பெறும்படி எய்ம்ஸ் அமைப்பு பரிந்துரை செய்த எச்சரிக்கை குறியீடு முறையை அமல்படுத்த வேண்டுமென்று வலுவான கோரிக்கையை சிஏஜி ஆராய்ச்சியாளர் சவிதா மற்றும் இதர நுகர்வோர் அமைப்புகள் கூட்டாக அரசுக்கு முன்வைக்கிறார்கள்.
MTC needs to improve its fleet size from a mere 3454 buses that are operated currently to at least a 6000 strong fleet, if we are to see meaningful increases in bus ridership, says Sumana Narayanan, CAG. All other sops and schemes might be found ineffective in the absence of better bus frequency.
In this systematic break-down of Greater Chennai Corporation's ambitious waste management plans and budget, Vamsi Kapilavai, CAG questions if systems have been set in place to make the 1200 metric tonnes of compost production envisioned by GCC, a reality? With conflicting datasets and poor source segregation, GCC might have to undertake more groundwork, if these targets are to be met.