CHENNAI: The inadequate number of traffic policemen, non-synchronisation of existing signals, non-implementation of scientific systems like area traffic control and ineffective monitoring through CCTVs were affecting the enforcement of traffic rules in Chennai, said a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that was placed in the assembly on Tuesday.

Though five agencies were responsible for traffic improvement, road construction and road safety, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) responsible for planning and urban development had no power to coordinate the work of the other agencies or to monitor plan implementation while the Chennai Corporation, the traffic police and the highways and transport departments were responsible for traffic improvement, road construction and road safety, it said.

"Though several agencies coordinate the implementation of the traffic and transportation schemes, the coordination among these agencies is very limited as they don't have financial and administrative powers. The Chennai Corporation, on its own, decides and builds structures like flyovers and subways that were not among those identified under the Chennai Metropolitan Development Programme (CMDP), Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Study 2004, etc., finalised by the CMDA. This resulted in non-synchronisation of CMDP plans and also showed the lack of coordination among the agencies,'' it added.

Pointing out that the projected population of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) would be 88.20 lakh by 2011, the report said road accidents had increased from 4,202 in 2003 to 6,892 in 2007 as road infrastructure and the road safety measures in place within the CMA were inadequate. While the increase in road space was just 3-4% during 1984-2004, the increase in vehicle population worked out to 1,060% during the period, it added.

The report also said that 10 of 25 prioritised road works were not sanctioned as of April 2008. As many as 48 road-widening works were held up due to non-shifting of electric poles and junction boxes despite payment of Rs 11.72 crore as shifting charges to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. Though funds were allocated under the CMDP during 2004-08 for the Chennai Traffic Police towards infrastructure development, no amount was sanctioned by the government as of March 2008.

"Inadequate parking facilities and prioritised subways, non-provision of separate cycle track, encroachment of footpaths contributed to the deficient road development works and traffic management measures in the CMA,'' the CAG noted.

About 27% of the accidents in Chennai occurred on national highways and 73% on other roads. Accident of cars and jeeps accounted for 30%, followed by two-wheelers with 28%, the CAG added.

CHENNAI: The social welfare department has still not used funds raised for rehabilitation of 45,000 street children in September 2002, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said.

The report says the government raised Rs 42.93 lakh through a raffle for rehabilitation of street children in six corporations, but Rs 38.19 lakh remained unutilised until April 2008. Only Rs 4.74 lakh was paid to Madras University's criminology department to conduct a survey on street children. The study was conducted but none of the recommendations were carried out.

This is one of the instances cited in report covering the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 on the functioning of the social welfare and nutritious meal programme department. From pointing out infrastructure and budgetary issues to shortcomings of juvenile justice boards (JJBs) and child welfare committees (CWCs), the report details deficiencies in child protection in the state.

The report says there are only eight JJBs and 18 CWCs in the state, despite the Juvenile Justice Act's requirement of a JJB and a CWC in each of the 30 districts in Tamil Nadu. Children in conflict with law are produced before JJBs, and based on its enquiry, sent back home or to a special home for rehabilitation. Children in need of care and protection appear before CWCs, which conduct enquiries and either reunite the children with their families or send them to government homes. Social defence commissioner Jayashree Raghunandan says the government has to take the decision to form more JJBs and that proposals in this regard have been forwarded to the authorities.

Vidya Reddy of Tulir Centre for Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, however, says there is dearth of people trained in child protection and child rights. "There is a backlog in CWCs and JJBs because there are not enough people to handle cases. There are simply no qualified people to take up this work. It is also a reflection on our education system that does not pay attention to child rights," she says.

CAG also says orphanages under the social welfare directorate have not been registered under the act. "The main problem is that the state government has not framed the rules for the implementation of the amended Juvenile Justice Act, 2006," says Reddy. The report also makes this point.

The report indicts the government for not separating children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, saying that mixing them up exposes innocent children to criminal elements. However, Raghunandan says the children have been separated. "In no district are children in conflict with law kept in the same place as children in need of care and protection. They have all been shifted and separated," she says. "Work on all issues raised in the report has been initiated or completed," she added.

Another problem the report points out is the shortage of probation officers, teachers and other staff at observation homes, special homes, orphanages and other centres. An official of the social welfare directorate said they were concerned about the issues raised by the report and proposals to resolve them were in the pipeline. "The integrated child protection scheme that is to be launched soon will also solve many of the problems," she said.