Second Right to Information Act application filed

This blog is happy to report that a second Right to Information Act application has been filed with the Mangadu Town Panchayat, seeking to know what steps have been taken to make the roads in Jeeva Nagar, Mangadu, fit for use year round.

As the residents and property owners of the CMDA-approved layout know, Jeeva Nagar gets cut off during the monsoon and other rainy periods, due to flooding.


This is because the promoter BLB Estates of T.Nagar and the Mangadu Town Panchayat have not done anything to raise the road level to a suitable height. Actually, the layout roads are not level with those in the Badrimedu area adjacent to it.

Read the earlier post to see what the Mangadu Town Panchayat has promised to do, in response to our first application under the RTI Act, 2005.

Despite the issue of nine building licences, including one for an apartment complex, no action has been taken by the Panchayat. It could very well have dumped the debris generated by demolition of encroachments on Kunrathur Main Road to raise the level of roads in Jeeva Nagar. But it failed miserably.

Jeeva Nagar experience with Right to Information (RTI) Act now on Exnora-5th Pillar portal

The experience of using the Right to Information Act, 2005 by Jeeva Nagar is now featured on the website of 5th Pillar, the activist portal of Exnora International.

The link is: Success Stories

Jeeva Nagar successful with RTI in getting reply from Mangadu Town Panchayat

The Right to Information Act 2005 is seen as a powerful citizen-empowering tool, to bring about positive action by Government at all levels.

On behalf of the Jeeva Nagar residents, a media person from Central Chennai used the Act and filed a petition to the Executive Officer, Mangadu Town Panchayat seeking information on the road works, open space reservation and street lighting, among other aspects, in the Nagar.

After one full month, the Panchayat has responded with a reply. You can read it here

Also see latest pictures from the layout here.

If you know someone who owns property in Jeeva Nagar, please pass on this information and ask him to mail the association at jeevanagar@gmail.com

Mangadu Town Panchayat asked to explain under RTI

This blog is happy to report that the Mangadu Town Panchayat has been asked under the Right to Information Act, 2005, to explain the steps taken to provide roads and civic amenities in Jeeva Nagar.

The RTI application was sent on July 3, 2007. This means the Executive Officer of the Panchayat, who is the Public Information Officer under the Act, has one month to explain the situation.

We will update the blog with the progress in the matter.

An unusual occurrence

This blog has heard that three vehicles appearing to be from the Police came to Jeeva Nagar on the night of July 6, 2007 and the personnel entered the houses of some residents claiming to be conducting a search.

It is reported that some of them were in possession of metal detectors and so on.

They got a call while they were in the layout and suddenly left, apologising to the residents.

Both Poonamallee Police Station and Mangadu Police Station had no idea about any search operation in the area. The personnel at the Poonamallee PS were needlessly rude to the residents of Jeeva Nagar when they went to enquire about the incident. That is not surprising, given that the general demeanour of most Indian police personnel is less then civilised and they consider the taxpaying public to be helpless.

After ETA Star, a proposal for flats in Jeeva Nagar

It is now clear that the value of Jeeva Nagar is established as one of the most attractive destinations in an expanding metropolis: a middle class builder has announced the construction of single and double-bed room flats in a plot in Jeeva Nagar.

The owners of property here feel glad that this locality appeals to the sensibilities of the middle class, which is a solid endorsement of its long-term viability.

It is difficult to find today anywhere in Chennai, flats of the size now planned, affordable to the salaried middle class that is not plugged into the new economy in the upper stacks.

However, we take this opportunity once again to express our deep disappointment with BLB Estates the original promoter of the plots and the Mangadu Panchayat, led by its Chairman and the Councillor of Badrimedu, who have not provided proper roads, street lighting and have failed to develop the common areas, leaving them open to encroachment.

An appeal is also pending with the Kancheepuram District Collector, (Mr. Pradeep Yadav, IAS when it was filed), with no sign of action. The Mangadu Panchayat should realise that with the occupation of Jeeva Nagar in coming years, the complexion of the Badrimedu ward is bound to change, and residents will remember the inaction of the present party in power, the DMK. It should act to remedy the situation today.

Property Values in Chennai

The news item in The Hindu today that IDBI has sold a piece of property on Boat Club Road through e-auction for the staggering amount of Rs.175 crore highlights the levels which property prices in Chennai are touching.

This price works out to a rate of Rs. 4.02 crores per ground of 2,400 sq. ft. In many other places, the price touches about Rs. 3.5 crores a ground.

As a prime piece of real estate on the high value Mount - Poonamallee Road and the upcoming widenened Poonamallee - Kunrathur road via Mangadu, Jeeva Nagar is truly a gem of a place to have.

Already, all the signs of development around it are evident. In fact, by the time most of us move in there, it may acquire the contemporary "metro" look, without the benefit of solitude and quiet!

Let us do our best to improve its environs.