Fruits of Labour are Sweet - Thanks to Chennai Corporation Sewage department

Did someone say "Fruits of the Labor are Sweet - Harder the labour, sweeter the fruits"! - No one!, well, in that case, let it be yours truly..

For the past couple of days, Chennai has been receiving good quota of rains. After y'day's downpour many parts are flooded (As an aside, I find that there is a good amount of interpretation of difference between "flooded" in India and "flooded" in U.S.A - For e.g. while driving on U.S. highways if there is even a thin stretch of water that has not drained, a board "Highway flooded" will warn you, I've many times searched for the flood water in such cases.. In India, mostly "flooded" is used as a synonym for 'inundated'). Many parts of Chennai including the main G.S.T road was under a few feet of water for many hours.

Going back a few days, over the last week/10-days, I've been watching Guys cleaning up the Drains in the R.K. Salai. The stench was unbearable for the passers by. One can only imaging how it would be for the cleaners. The debris was being dumped on the footpaths and the roads and I thought "What a mess!"

Cut back to today, and after the rains, the Salai is so clean. Even after a few minutes of rains, portions of the road will be filled with water and Pedestrians would have to navigate a tight 3-way balance between walking on the dirty water, Getting water splashed on them by vehicles and walking on the middle of the road in the dangerous company of speeding vehicles.

But today the regular culprits like the corners next to Tafe, the entrance to Dewberrys' cafe, stretch near Citi center are so clean, that there is no water logging.

Appreciate the difficult, dangerous, dirty and nasty work done by the Cleanup guys. It has been their Labour, for us bearing the sweet fruits. Thank you lots!

Karnataka Lokayukta takes back resignation

Good sense prevailed for once and the BJP lived up to its slogan of "Party with a difference" and managed to convince the Karnataka Lokayukta to take back his resignation submitted a few days earlier.
Senior Leader L.K. Advani and BJP heads got together to convince Mr. Santhosh Hegde to continue on the post.
The Lokayukta is one (maybe only one) good organization trying to find out corruption and bring out corrupt government officials. It works against many odds including Government apathy, seeing many of the culprits going unpunished etc.

It is a good move by the BJP. Hopefully this time around the culprits get booked and get the required punishments.

Karnataka Lokayukta resigns - Shameful and sad

http://www.hindustantimes.com/K-taka-lokayukta-resigns-says-post-lacks-adequate-powers/Article1-562142.aspx

Atleast there was one organization that was fighting against corruption. Successive governments have tried hard to reduce the powers or to curtail the operations in one way or other.

Hope better sense prevails to encourage atleast one way of fighting corruption.

Beauty and the beast

This is a lake present on the bypass road between Velachery and Pallavaram. The water, greenery and the cranes were beautiful

Check out what is behind – Beast of a garbage dump!

Velachery Electricity Board office - Not friendly for Senior Citizens or disabled

Went to the Electricity Board office in Velachery the other day to pay the monthly bill

The payment counters are in the first floor and there are about 20-25 steps to climb. Many of the paying consumers are senior citizens.

I think the Government should take the lead in showing that it cares for the Seniors, and those who need extra care and attention. It can easily set the standards that others need to follow. Some action instead of the usual and statements would help.