CHENNAI CORPORATION: Mixed bag for Mayor at fag end of tenure

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on August 29, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/mixed-bag-for-mayor-at-fag-end-of-tenure/308572.html

CHENNAI: There were highs, there were lows. In the past five years, there were several achievements the DMK-led Corporation Council could perhaps take pride in, but then there were many incidents that it hopes history will forget.

In the local body elections in October 2006, the DMK-led front romped home handsomely and the sitting Mayor M Subramanian, was elected the head for the city. However, the ruling party drew flak from the court over poll-related violence and alleged rigging.

The DMK salvaged some pride directing the 99 councillors and the Mayor to resign from their posts and face re-election. At the re-poll held in February 2007, which the Opposition AIADMK boycotted, the DMK members were re-elected without a contest.

Even though the Chennai Corporation did not have a real opposition party inside the House, monthly Council meetings were stormy several times after the DMK’s allies like the Congress and the PMK raked up controversial issues.

In July 2009, for example, the PMK, an ally of the ruling DMK, had raised the issue of grabbing a piece of land worth `120 crore near Koyambedu. The house witnessed chaotic scenes after the Congress and DMK members made counter-allegations against the PMK. Many such instances occurred and normalcy was restored after Subramanian stepped in.  The Mayor also let the Left members’ to raise their points and accusations, which always ignited sharp reactions from the treasury benches. While that was the case inside the House, outside, the civic body has won laurels in both national and international arena.

‘World Leadership Award’ for its programme on promoting life skills and HIV prevention education among adolescents in Chennai schools by the London-based World Leadership Forum in 2007, national award for excellence in municipal initiatives in 2007, ISO certifications for three Corporation facilities and Skoch Award for its online integrated public grievance and redressal facilities last year were among the recognitions.

The intricate RS 1,447-crore storm water drain project to mitigate floods in the city too has been a high point for the civic agency. The scheme has been progressing smoothly and is likely to be completed in a couple of years.

The Council in the last five years had also brought in changes the education sector. The improvement in pass percentage, over the years, in the SSLC state board examination results (Class X) is a pointer.  The Chennai Corporation also became the first local body in India to announce free burial and cremation, free birth certificates to all in 2008 and several other free schemes for residents.

Its flagship on-the-spot grievances redressal programme Makkalai Thedi Maanagaratchi drew good response from the public.