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Citizen Matters

Are MTC buses contributing to Chennai's rising NO2 levels?

Chennai's pollution problems are intensifying, with aged MTC buses contributing to the city's rising NO2 levels. Divya Senthil, Senior Researcher, CAG, emphasizes the role of public transport in striking a balance between public demand and environmental protection. MTC's plan to contract 1100 electric buses, if realised, can help reduce emissions and alleviate traffic congestion. 

Check what happens to all that plastic that comes with your online purchases

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.

Chennai’s source segregation woes: No time to waste

The majority of Chennai households continue to not segregate their solid waste, leaving this difficult and messy task to conservancy workers. Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai, Senior Researcher at CAG says that to make source segregation a reality, consistent communication campaigns are required, and that piecemeal approaches to this will only have limited success.

Elections 2024: What Chennai residents and civic groups want their MPs to address

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.