Citizen Matters

Citizen Matters is a digital news platform that focuses on public issues, community life, and cultural topics in Indian cities. It aims to inspire citizens to participate actively in their local affairs. At present, there are two editions available: one for Bengaluru and another for Chennai. This publication is produced by Oorvani Media, an independent media organization established by local residents Subramaniam Vincent and Meera K. The journalism at Citizen Matters is backed by the Oorvani Foundation, a non-profit trust created to maintain a community-supported and independent media landscape.

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Why the closure of waste processing units in Chennai is a setback for sustainability efforts

2 days ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

Muthulakshmi*, a sanitary worker contracted with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), begins her day at 4 am, travelling from her home in Kodungaiyur to South Chennai. After street cleaning, she and her co-workers use battery-operated vehicles (BOV) to collect household waste. Few families practise waste segregation, leaving sanitary workers like Muthulakshmi to sort mixed waste themselves. Despite BOVs having separate bins, the process is time-consuming.
Chennai braces for extreme heat, prepares measures to combat rising temperatures

1 week ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

Chennai recorded the highest temperature of 42.7 degrees Celsius on May 17 last year, marking the hottest day of summer so far. According to a study by Heat Watch, titled Struck by Heat: A News Analysis of Heat Stroke Deaths in India in 2024, 733 deaths due to heatstroke were reported across 17 states in India between March and June. This year, the sweltering conditions have returned early.
What stench? Chennai composting centre turns trash into treasure, minus the smell

2 weeks ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

In urban areas, an unmistakable, overpowering stench often signals the presence of a waste processing facility in a neighbourhood. The foul odour emanating from these sites has long been a major concern for residents and civic authorities. It is also purportedly one of the main reasons behind the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) recent decision to shut down 168 Micro Composting Centres (MCC) and 88 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) across the city.
1.94 crore litres of water saved: How one Chennai apartment mastered sewage treatment

3 weeks ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

Two years ago, I visited the Central Park South apartment complex in Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) to observe and write about its in-house Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). While large apartment complexes are required to have the facility to treat their sewage, many in Chennai lack one.
பாதுகாப்பற்ற தண்ணீர், பாதுகாப்பற்ற வாழ்க்கை: சென்னையில் அதிகரித்து வரும் நீர்வழி நோய்கள்

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

வண்ணாரப்பேட்டையைச் சேர்ந்த 24 வயதான தரிஷினி, தான் தினமும் குடிக்கும் தண்ணீர் தனது உடல்நலத்தை இவ்வளவு மோசமாக பாதிக்கும் என்று ஒருபோதும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. திருநெல்வேலியைச் சேர்ந்த தரிஷினி கடந்த இரண்டு வருடங்களாக சென்னையில் தனியாக வசித்து வருகிறார். ஒரு நாள் மாலை, வேலையிலிருந்து வீடு திரும்பிய பிறகு, அவருக்கு கடுமையான வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டது. மதிய உணவாக சாப்பிட்ட காரமான உணவு காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதி, அவர் மருந்தகங்களில் கிடைக்கும் சில மருந்துகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு படுக்கைக்குச் சென்றார்.
உங்கள் தண்ணீர் குடிப்பதற்கு பாதுகாப்பானதா? தண்ணீரை சோதிப்பதற்கான நடைமுறை வழிகாட்டி

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

உங்கள் வீட்டிற்கு வழங்கப்படும் தண்ணீர் விசித்திரமான வாசனையை வீசுகிறதா அல்லது உலோக சுவையை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறதா? சென்னையில் குடிநீர் மாசுபடுவது குறித்த கவலைகள் அதிகரித்து வரும் நிலையில், சென்னை மக்கள் தங்கள் குழாய்களில் இருந்து தரமான தண்ணீர் மட்டும்தான் வருகிறதா என்று கேள்வி எழுப்ப இது ஒரு இது சரியான நேரம். ஐஐடி-மெட்ராஸ் நடத்திய ஆய்வில், சென்னையில் உள்ள 75% வீடுகளில் உள்ள தண்ணீர் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு மற்றும் வாந்தியை ஏற்படுத்தும் பாக்டீரியாவான ஈ.கோலையால் (E. coli) மாசுபட்டுள்ளது தெரியவந்துள்ளது.
Explained: What it costs to get a BWSSB connection in Bengaluru

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

You and every citizen frustrated by potholed roads, air pollution, garbage—in short our broken cities. Citizen Matters is India’s leading Civic Media Platform. We dig into the “why” and “how” behind issues plaguing our cities and neighbourhoods—and spotlight solutions. But we go further. We focus on citizens driving change and their strategies and bring you a playbook for better cities.
Bengaluru’s looming water crisis: Why citizens are struggling to follow the BWSSB order

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan

As summer starts kicking in, the strong likelihood of a critical water shortage in Bengaluru is again making headlines. A recent report by BWSSB and Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) reported 80 wards that will face severe water crisis and scarcity this summer and recommended switching to Cauvery connections, as groundwater is depleting at a faster rate.
Chennai’s last lung space: Nanmangalam Lake faces an ecological emergency

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Shobana Radhakrishnan |Laasya Shekhar |a Bachelors

Catching a glimpse of the Indian Eagle Owl is not a rarity for birders and nature enthusiasts who frequent the Nanmangalam Lake and the surrounding forests. Yet, this privilege is under threat as the lake’s once-thriving ecosystem faces severe environmental degradation. Fed by rainwater from the hillocks of the Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, the lake — spread over 200 acres — is now ravaged by encroachments, illegal water extraction, sewage and garbage disposal.
Winter pollution crisis in Indian megacities: What the CSE report says

1 month ago | citizenmatters.in | Laasya Shekhar

You and every citizen frustrated by potholed roads, air pollution, garbage—in short our broken cities. Citizen Matters is India’s leading Civic Media Platform. We dig into the “why” and “how” behind issues plaguing our cities and neighbourhoods—and spotlight solutions. But we go further. We focus on citizens driving change and their strategies and bring you a playbook for better cities.