Civic activist Ramadoss passes away

He was admitted to a private clinic Wednesday morning for gastric issues but breathed his last at 3:50 pm. Ramadoss, also known as ‘Marathamizhar’ among social and environmental activists in the city, was in the forefront of issues pertaining to deforestation, land encroachment and also in the recent flood relief activities in and around North Chennai.

It was a week ago his 40-year-old son K.Damodaran died after falling from the terrace of his house at Ayanavaram. A veterinary inspector by profession at the Madras Veterinary hospital until 1980, he dedicated his life towards the cause of environment for the last 35 years in Chennai.

The demise came as a shock to the civil and social activists in the city, and especially to the people of Ayanavaram for whom he was in the forefront for all civic and social issues.

“When I met him last week at his son’s funeral, he found time to speak about planting more trees in the coming months as he felt there is availability of water. His loss is irreplaceable to the civic society as there is no one like him who took immense interest and enthusiasm to address civic issues and environmental issues with the authorities,” said S. Nirmal, secretary, Ayanavaram Exnora Innovators Club.

It was after his intervention with Chennai corporation in the month of November, that the temple authorities widened the inlet to allow the entry of rainwater besides removing vegetation that had grown in it. The report ‘Bone-dry temple tank was published in Deccan Chronicle on December 5. He is survived by his wife R. Jayalakshmi and daughter K. Shanthi.