The Hindu 31.08.2009
Mixed response from northern, western suburbs
K. Lakshmi and Deepa H. Ramakrishnan
| Residents want civic infrastructure to be improved first |
CHENNAI: The proposal to either bring more areas under Chennai Corporation or create two additional Corporations has met with mixed response from residents of northern and western suburbs.
Though many welcome the move, residents want the State government to improve civic infrastructure in the suburbs before merging them into a single entity. Several local bodies have been upgraded from townships to municipalities. However, the change in status has not reflected on the development.
Complaining about the undue delay in providing even basic infrastructure such as underground drainage system, water supply network, roads and bridges, they say that a comprehensive solution must be put in place to finish long-pending works.
Residents of Valasaravakkam feel the locality would get better access to civic amenities if it was merged with Chennai Corporation. S. Srinivasan, a resident, says that as Valasaravakkam was geographically closer to Chennai, it must be clubbed with the present Corporation as it would get more attention instead of joining with either Ambattur or Avadi.
Those living in Madhavaram and Maduravoyal say that the proposal for additional Corporations would result in better administration and development even if it meant more property tax. Madhavaram Municipality Chairman D. Shanmugam says that the creation of a new Corporation would delegate more powers and also generate additional resources, which would help in rapid growth of the area.
R. Karunanidhi, a resident of Tiruvottiyur, says merging with a Corporation would definitely mean an improvement of basic infrastructure. “The supply of water would be with the Chennai Metrowater. Also, there would be more administrative and conservancy staff covering the area.” But elected representatives and residents of Ambattur feel that merging of the locality either with Chennai Corporation or Avadi as headquarters would only aggravate problems. G. Natarajan, a resident of Ambattur, says: “The Corporation already has a vast area to administer and Ambattur may not get enough attention. We have to travel far to submit our demands.”
T. Sadagopan, a consumer activist, says the Avadi municipality does not have a health dispensary or a large enough public library. Unless there is consistent development in all the areas, creation of new corporations would not have any impact.
Areas with a large number of industries need a different kind of treatment, says M. Mahalingam, a resident of Manali. “Though we agree that there will be an improvement in facilities, it remains to be seen how well they are able to handle the needs of industrial areas like Manali, Tiruvottiyur and Ambattur. At present, we have many councillors to address our issues. If we are clubbed with a Corporation, there will be lesser representation.”
Lynal Rajamanickam of Kathivakkam feels that lesser representation would not be an issue. “Many development works remain on paper due to intra-party squabbling. We are almost non-existent. Being at the tail end, Kathivakkam gets very little attention. We hope that things will improve when merged with Chennai Corporation.”
