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VOICE MAIL

        Sir,

        As a Chennaiite for a long time, I was bemused to read a news item which stated that Chennai was ranked second in a cleanliness survey. Chennai, it was reported, has scored high marks on greenery and plantations, clean roads, garbage disposal systems and availability of dust bins in public places. The survey was conducted by a reputed agency — AC Nielsen ORG Marg covering 18 State capitals, and it took into account various parameters like cleanliness of roads, involvement of municipal bodies and garbage disposal system and the opinion of the citizens of respective cities.

        Incredible, because how can Chennai rank second in cleanliness? For,

        I know for sure, what Chennai is and how the system works. A visit to

        North Chennai would prove the survey wrong. Certain areas are made to look clean and tidy only when VVIPs land up there for some functions. Otherwise, they are left to the care of Mother nature. If the roads were so clean and if the municipal bodies do involve themselves in the cleanliness drive, how come we had floods in the last rainy season? I am an optimist and would really feel happy had Chennai ranked second in cleanliness and other factors; but to realise this, we need to do a lot, lot more.

        V S Jayaraman,

        T Nagar

        The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

        or e-mail to : letters@newstodaynet.com