chennai theyve been celebrating the founding of the city for eight years but this year the coordinators of madras week celebrations will be running a signature campaign to demand the passing of a heritage act for tamil nadu for 15 years weve been asking for a heritage act that will cover not just buildings but also natural and cultural heritage said historian and author s muthiah at a press conference announcing the dates for this years madras week celebrations which will be held from august 21 to 28 following the centres recommendation tamil nadu drew up a draft act 15 years ago successive governments have done nothing to protect buildings being pulled down rivers being destroyed trees cut and temple tanks filled up said muthiah two years ago the cmda formed a heritage committee but it has no powers there is consciousness about chennais heritage but to translate that into action we need an act apart from the campaign madras week celebrated to mark the founding of madras on august 22 1639 will feature the usual mix of heritage walks quizzes talks contests art and photo exhibitions presentations and documentary film screenings the coordinators who include muthiah mylapore times editor vincent dsouza and historian v sriram will help those who want to organise events in their neighbourhoods all programmes are free and open to all if you want to conduct a walk or an exhibition in your area we will help you plan it said dsouza the coordinators are hoping for greater participation from north chennai residents maybe we should contact community groups in north chennai that is where the city really started and it would be good to have more programmes there said sriram