With the corporation planning to set up 800 more Amma Unavagams,
which have become a runaway hit, a separate department is being mooted
to run them with a proposed expenditure of around 2.77 crore.

A
resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the corporation
council here on Wednesday. Amma Unavagams, which offer hygienic food at
very lower prices, were launched a few months back.

Currently 200
such canteens are functioning in 200 wards of Chennai Corporation. At
present, the engineering, health and revenue departments of the
Corporation have the responsibility of overseeing the functioning of
these canteens.

However, as this comes in addition to the regular
functions of these departments, it has burdened officials of these
divisions, the resolution noted.

The civic body plans to begin the
new department to offer better services at the canteens.  Mayor Saidai S
Duraisamy said, “The Corporation plans to set up 800 more such canteens
in different parts of the city. Members of Swarna Jayanthi Shahari
Rozgar Yojana would also be employed.”