The Times of India 16.02.2013
Surat Municipal Corporation's online redressal system fails to deliver
SURAT: If you are planning
to use online complaint redressal system of Surat Municipal Corporation
(SMC) to get your complaints on civic issues resolved, then think
twice. It may happen that your complaint would go unheard.
The system launched one-and-a-half-years ago has turned out to be a complete failure. Most of the residents, who have used the system claim that they have received a standard reply that their query has been forwarded to the respective departments with the duration of compliance. Interestingly, the complaints are not dealt with in the given duration of compliance mentioned in the complaint status and the residents have no option but to wait for almost three to four months.
On December 27, a resident of Chowk Bazaar had written for construction of a speed-breaker on down-lane of Nehru Bridge to prevent accidents. The speed-breaker is yet to be built. Similarly, Hitesh Patel of Bhagnal had lodged a complaint for the installation of a street light in his residential society about three months ago. While the mail received by him said that the job was done, not a single street light has been installed. An official said, "Each and every complaint received online is sent to the executive engineers of the respective municipal zone for compliance within the stipulated time frame. However, it is the responsibility of the executive engineers to see that the complaints are taken care of."
The system launched one-and-a-half-years ago has turned out to be a complete failure. Most of the residents, who have used the system claim that they have received a standard reply that their query has been forwarded to the respective departments with the duration of compliance. Interestingly, the complaints are not dealt with in the given duration of compliance mentioned in the complaint status and the residents have no option but to wait for almost three to four months.
On December 27, a resident of Chowk Bazaar had written for construction of a speed-breaker on down-lane of Nehru Bridge to prevent accidents. The speed-breaker is yet to be built. Similarly, Hitesh Patel of Bhagnal had lodged a complaint for the installation of a street light in his residential society about three months ago. While the mail received by him said that the job was done, not a single street light has been installed. An official said, "Each and every complaint received online is sent to the executive engineers of the respective municipal zone for compliance within the stipulated time frame. However, it is the responsibility of the executive engineers to see that the complaints are taken care of."
