Anyone who’s aware of the greening exercises carried out at Harrington Road would vouch for its residents’ ability to work as a well-coordinated team towards neighbourhood-centric goals.
So, it comes as little surprise that the Harrington Road Residents Association (HRRA) has chalked up ambitions plans for 2017.
Topping the list of programmes to be taken up in the new year is waste management.
The Association has already done the spadework, educating residents on how necessary it is to dispose of waste responsibly, and the benefits of waste segregation, since the beginning of 2016.
“Besides residents and commercial establishments on Harrington Road, we will involve schools in this drive. We have to help them play an active role in waste management,” says Sabina, a member of HRRA.
Safety of schoolchildren
As five schools are located in the neighbourhood, the Association wants to ensure children could walk to these institutions safely.
“We are in talks with the officials concerned on having speed breakers. Though we have already initiated our drive towards a safe traffic management this year, we will move forward with this in a bigger way in the coming year,” says Sabina.
Tree planting drive
Another resolution is encouraging residents to plant more trees and thereby resorting the greenery of Harrington Road, which received a setback due to Vardah.
“We are urging the residents to plant trees not just on the roads but also on the premises of their houses, preferably local species of trees,” she says.
Bonding exercise
Taking a cue from what happened after cyclone Vardah, the residents have decided to have many bonding exercises in the new year.
Around 40 residents of Harrington Road recently volunteered to help Greater Chennai Corporation clear copses of trees from the road.
“That made us realise we need to engage the residents in more such bonding exercises. It feels good to get out as a community and do things. It will enable a sense of ownership about the locality and build community spirit,” explains Sabina.
