Tribute to TT Jagannathan

In the tribute about TT Jagannathan and TTK Group, the author has failed to mention about Orient Pharma Pvt Ltd, Pallavaram, which later became TTK Pharma, and their popular product Woodwards Gripe Water.

Parantharami Mani
F8, Krishna Kuttir
18/11, Justice Sundaram Road
Mylapore, Chennai 600 004

About Redevelopment

I refer to the letter of Krithiga Viswanathan, published in the Website comments (MM, Oct 16-31, 2015), wherein she sought to know whether the CMDA has any facility to assess old buildings and issue certificate paving its way for redevelopment. While such a certificate issued by a government agency can be used as a trump card to silence the dissenters who are against the demolition for whatsoever reasons, at present no agency is empowered to do so. Even if any agency is given the powers, it can be contested.

As mentioned that age is a mere number, the age of the building should not alone be a determinant factor for redevelopment. Thanks to the yester-year constructions, there are many residential buildings which can still weather many storms. If such structures are demolished to put up new ones for reasons like lack of parking space and unwillingness on the part of the residents to contribute towards repairs to the old structure, while one can enjoy newer facilities, the new structure will be nowhere near the old ones with regard to longevity, triggering yet another process of redevelopment sooner than later.

This is not to suggest that the residents should not pursue redevelopment. All aspects need to be taken into consideration before redevelopment is taken up. If the structure is dilapidated or in a ruinous position, endangering the lives of the occupants, well, such buildings should surely face the axe. Regular maintenance of buildings will ensure its longevity.

While the apartment rules suggest that a complex having more than four units should form an association and get it registered, the decision is best left to the collective wisdom of the residents. The registration of the apartment association will help deal with recalcitrant residents.

V S Jayaraman
ramvsj@gmail.com

Names Games – another futile exercise

The confusion earlier created due to the indiscriminate change of street names in Madras city has not died down. The odd/even house numbers contradiction still exists! Why again another costly, futile and unwanted name change exercise in the guise of eradication of castes, just a few months before the general election? And already the principal opposition party has said that they will restore the old names, if they come to power!

The absurdities committed in the earlier change in names, still linger, e.g. Krishnamachari is a full name, but someone thought otherwise and changed the name to Krishnama road! No checks and balances! Renowned academician and physicist Dr Sir Arcot Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar has been truncated to Lakshmanaswamy Salai, the name of the famous industrialist and philanthropist Dr Sir Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar into Ramaswamy Salai, and Sir CP Ramasamy Iyer Road into CP Ramasamy Salai (is there any other way of heaping praise or shaming these personalities, I wonder!). Please do not use these names any more and change to something else! Spare the great personalties. Similar is the case of roads and streets such as Thirumalai Road, Linghi, Kondi, Thambu, etc! But Dr. Nair road still exists (T’ Nagar). You can’t get away with shortening it to Muthuramalingam Road – you have got to call it Muthuramalinga Thevar Road only. The century-old name of Halls Road (Egmore) was changed overnight to Tamil Salai! The powers that be should have put the old name, at least, in brackets!

Is Chennai a historical or literary name like the original names of Mambalam, Kodambakkam villages? Madras changed to Chennai (whatever it be, the international call sign will always be MAA only!)

There are many civic issues crying for greater attention, e.g., in the Mahalingapuram Main Road (Nungai) sewage overflows like a river in spate. Worst is when it rains, the rain water mixes with the drainage water and becomes another fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes. No action taken for many months. On the one hand they call for eradication of mosquitoes and on the other create plenty of breeding grounds!

To cap it all, and to make a mockery of the caste eradication drive, the much fancied new Kovai overbridge opened with elaborate arrangements, is called GD Naidu Bridge!

N P Andavan
audconp@gmail.com