Greater Chennai Corporation Budget: No one’s asking the citizens what they want

CHENNAI: It has been more than a year since the 200 councillors took over, but the Greater Chennai Corporation at the end of this month will be presenting the annual budget for 2023-2024 without people’s consultation.
Residents, civil society members and activists are a disappointed lot as the corporation has not held area sabhas to consult people despite having time for a year. Activists said this budget will merely end up as a councillors’ budget. Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor for anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam, said without giving space to people’s views, the budget cannot be termed as inclusive as different areas have different requirements. “A crowded area would need a parking solution, like multi-level parking.
Some other localities would have a local issue. Without consulting people, you cannot know their issues. Councillors’ views as people representatives cannot be fully representational and that’s why we have area sabhas,” he said. Venkate - san said this would merely end up a s a councillors ’ budget and would give possibilities for councillors to propose easily executable projects. “Councillors may have vested interests.
“They may know contractors. No space for people’s views will enable them to propose easy projects that can be quickly executed. The way the budget is being presented is condemnable,” he added. Former additional director of municipal administration department D S Sivasamy said area sabhas have official minutes and the views of residents are recorded. “This is passed to the zone and to the council.
This is the procedure. The sabhas would have different sections of people who would come up with creative suggestions. Without implementing that, presenting a budget is not a planned approach,” he added. Advocate N Vishwanathan said the way corporations are presenting the budget shows they actually do not want to include people’s views. “In my area of Ashok Nagar, they are constructing stormwater drains haphazardly without planning.
Only if they consult us, we can convey suggestions and improvements,” he added. While the corporation last year largely focussed on storm water drains and bridges earmarking upto Rs 1,250 crore, residents have called for special focus on creating ponds, setting up animal birth control centre for every zone, upgrading solid waste management infrastructure to meet higher waste generation, and roads, stormwater drains for added areas.
“Special funds must be allotted exclusively for encroachments removal with separate officers posted with vehicles. Investments must be made to procure more vehicles and manpower to catch stray dogs. More gas crematorium should be set up,” said Satish Galley of Sholinganallur. N S Kumar, a resident of Parrys, said cycling infrastructure is needed for the city. “They previously introduced cycling lanes under smart city project. But those are either encroached or damaged for SWD works,” he said