Elected representatives from neighbouring districts demand better civic infrastructure at pre-budget meeting

Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister K.N Nehru presided over the first pre-budget review meeting held at Kalaivanar Arangan regarding the development project works in ten districts, along with Mayors, commissioners, officials in Chennai on Friday.
| Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN

Requests to improve 35-year-old underground drainage system, damaged roads and other civic amenities were put forth by elected representatives including Mayors, Chairpersons, and MLAs at a review meeting of Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department.

The meeting was presided over by Minister K.N. Nehru in which officials and elected representatives of local bodies participated.

Certain areas of Kancheepuram Corporation still depend on an over 35-year-old underground sewage system that needs immediate replacement, said the city’s first Mayor M. Mahalakshmi of DMK. She added that none of the parks had ever been revamped and roads dug up for UGD installation must be repaired soon.

Ponneri Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Durai Chandrasekar of DMK said that 80% of the works undertaken for Ponneri Municipality have been completed and the remaining need to be approved, including a narrow road over the bridge which needs to be made two-way by the Railways Department.

DMK’s District Secretary of Villupuram North Gingee K.S. Masthan insisted that along with prioritising roads, stormwater drains and underground sewage system, a knowledge centre should be given for Gingee.

Improving roads, mainly the ones used frequently by about 5 lakh people including political leaders, in Tiruvallur, a children’s park, electrical crematoria, knowledge centre at Vikkiravandi town panchayat and additional funds to set up shops at a bus stand under construction in Arcot constituency were among the many requests placed by elected representatives at the meeting.

Talking to media later, the Minister said so far, 90% of the development projects announced by Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) from 2021 to 2024.

Roads in focus

At the meeting, the Minister said the primary focus was on improving roads, followed by stormwater drains, along with underground sewage systems, drinking water supply, public toilets, electric crematoriums, markets, streetlights, and knowledge centres.

He directed authorities to address tax-related issues, including solid waste management and property taxes, and to conduct drone surveys for property assessment. He denied allegations that a fund crunch was behind water supply issues and cited the need to replace 40-year-old narrow water supply drains and the increased demand due to urbanisation.

He also instructed officials to prepare Detailed Project Reports for all requests from elected representatives before the next fiscal year to avoid delays in initiating projects.

He said the pre-Budget review was to identify priority civic projects in the districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, and Thiruvannamalai, assess progress, pinpoint reasons for delays, and propose solutions to expedite work.

He added that the next review meeting will cover Madurai district, followed by Coimbatore, with all districts to be covered by February 21.

Before the review session, K.N. Nehru called out two Melvisharam officials for conversing among themselves during his media address, stressing that officers must pay attention to the discussion and understand the purpose of the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Ministers R. Gandhi, S.M. Nasar, C.V. Ganesan, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly K. Pitchandi, and officials from the department.