Published Date: 12/6/2009
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 11: IN what could have been a clear case of double standards in the functioning of Chennai Corporation, a senior official overruled a subordinate officer’s action to seal shops found selling artificially ripened mangoes using calcium carbide stones in Koyambedu. According to sources, a team of health officials from Corporation’s Zone-V (Kilpauk) recently inspected several fruit shops located inside the Koyambedu main fruit market to check the reported sales of artificially ripened mangoes. After the inspection, the officials collected samples of mangoes from those shops to ‘verify’ if they were artificially ripened.
Based on the verification report, an official linked to the civic body’s health department ordered sealing of five shops for selling ‘artificially ripened mangoes’ two days ago. Ironically, another senior official in the zone overturned the sealing order and allowed reopening of those shops the very next day.
The turnaround came after a group of fruit vendors from Koyambedu fruit market ‘successfully negotiated’ with the senior official and giving their version of the sequence of events happened from inspection till sealing of shops. When contacted, the health official concerned said they did go on an inspection at Koyambedu fruits market few days ago but denied of any such overruling by another senior official in the artificially ripened mangoes case.
However, the official who actually overturned the sealing orders of health official confirmed that indeed those shops were ordered to seal initially for selling artificially ripened mangoes. “After a meeting with fruit vendors representing those shop owners, we were satisfied with their answers, and so we asked our officials to unseal them,”the official added. When asked how it was possible, the official explained that the shops, which were sealed, were empty that time (of sealing) and added that there was no point in sealing empty shops. The shops selling artificially ripened mangoes were reportedly full of stock when they were inspected few days ago, but during the action it was found empty.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Big time encroachers stay put
Published Date: 10/6/2009 - (NIE)
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 9: AT a time when the administration is trying to recover areas encroached upon by voiceless people in the state, officials turn a blind eye on clearly established encroachments along the Injambakkam Beach, that too even after judicial orders demanding strict action against the people regardless of their clout in society. At Injambakkam beach, nearly 50 acres of beach area were reportedly encroached upon by several influential people for the last 15 years.
The Kancheepuram district administration appears to be still reluctant in clearing them despite three Madras High Court orders asking the removal. The court ordered removal of encroachments at Injambakkam Beach in 1997 and then in 2007, and this time, in December last. But the district officials have not taken any concrete action yet.
Braving several intimidation attempts, ‘Injambakkam’ H Sekar, founder of Nature Trust and a local resident, had filed a writ petition in Madras High Court last year seeking the removal of all the illegal and unauthorised encroachments and structures on Injambakkam beach adjoining the lands in survey numbers 2,7, 8, 11, 12 and 15.
Based on Sekar’s petition, the High Court ordered the district administration in December last to remove those encroachments along the beach and to file a detailed report on steps taken for the removal. A week after the order, the district Collector filed an affidavit saying that based on previous court orders on the same issue, notices were served to 19 people mentioned as encroachers and action was being taken.
In the affidavit, the district official submitted that besides two (beachside) encroachments that were removed already, eviction drive along the particular seashore in Injambakkam was scheduled several times, but due to ‘unforeseen administrative’ reasons it did not happen.
In reality, two months ago, the officials concerned performed the ritual of ‘removing encroachment’ at the beach (at two different points) clearly leaving those encroached beach villas held by influential people, Sekar said. “A powerful union minister, several industrialists, an educationalist and people close to a sprawling amusement park near the area were the encroachers,” he further added.
When Express tried to get details pertaining to the delay in executing the eviction drive in the seashore area, village panchayat officials avoided answering directly on the issue and sought lame excuses. When contacted, a senior official responsible for removing encroachment at Injambakkam Beach, said that the district administration removed all encroachments along the beach and increased its vigil to ensure that there were no further such encroachments.
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 9: AT a time when the administration is trying to recover areas encroached upon by voiceless people in the state, officials turn a blind eye on clearly established encroachments along the Injambakkam Beach, that too even after judicial orders demanding strict action against the people regardless of their clout in society. At Injambakkam beach, nearly 50 acres of beach area were reportedly encroached upon by several influential people for the last 15 years.
The Kancheepuram district administration appears to be still reluctant in clearing them despite three Madras High Court orders asking the removal. The court ordered removal of encroachments at Injambakkam Beach in 1997 and then in 2007, and this time, in December last. But the district officials have not taken any concrete action yet.
Braving several intimidation attempts, ‘Injambakkam’ H Sekar, founder of Nature Trust and a local resident, had filed a writ petition in Madras High Court last year seeking the removal of all the illegal and unauthorised encroachments and structures on Injambakkam beach adjoining the lands in survey numbers 2,7, 8, 11, 12 and 15.
Based on Sekar’s petition, the High Court ordered the district administration in December last to remove those encroachments along the beach and to file a detailed report on steps taken for the removal. A week after the order, the district Collector filed an affidavit saying that based on previous court orders on the same issue, notices were served to 19 people mentioned as encroachers and action was being taken.
In the affidavit, the district official submitted that besides two (beachside) encroachments that were removed already, eviction drive along the particular seashore in Injambakkam was scheduled several times, but due to ‘unforeseen administrative’ reasons it did not happen.
In reality, two months ago, the officials concerned performed the ritual of ‘removing encroachment’ at the beach (at two different points) clearly leaving those encroached beach villas held by influential people, Sekar said. “A powerful union minister, several industrialists, an educationalist and people close to a sprawling amusement park near the area were the encroachers,” he further added.
When Express tried to get details pertaining to the delay in executing the eviction drive in the seashore area, village panchayat officials avoided answering directly on the issue and sought lame excuses. When contacted, a senior official responsible for removing encroachment at Injambakkam Beach, said that the district administration removed all encroachments along the beach and increased its vigil to ensure that there were no further such encroachments.
Fewer transfer opportunities upset corpn school teachers
Published Date: 8/6/2009 -
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 7: WHILE the Chennai Mayor rejoices over Corporation-run schools consistently showing good results and improving the pass percentage in public examinations in the last few years, teachers of the schools, who aspire to move out of the city, are a peeved lot.
The teachers from other districts are said to be depressed over what they allege to be a denial of their basic rights to live with their family by getting a transfer to their native places through annual counselling.
Though Corporation school teachers are also selected through proper procedures like the Government school teachers, when it comes to transfer counselling, they claim that they feel discriminated. Unlike Government school teachers, Corporation school teachers can not move out unless a replacement is found for the particular post.
The Corporation’s stand has almost made it impossible for many teachers to think of a transfer. The situation is so bad for a few teachers that they never live with their family members other than the annual vacation. This year alone 78 teachers, including 30 women, applied for NOC from civic body to participate in transfer counselling but none of them is sure of making it finally.
“My three-year old daughter has to undergo a heart operation in the next few days in a local hospital near my native place, but I don’t think I would be able to join her during those crucial days when the child would like her parents to be with her,” said a visibly upset teacher, hailing from another district.
The Chennai Corporation runs 135 primary schools, 109 middle schools, 65 high schools and 27 higher secondary schools, employing more than 3600 teachers, including the 500-odd ones selected through Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).
When the 500-odd teachers were recruited for Corporation schools through TRB few years ago, they were promised transfer to their native places through counselling after a year.
When these teachers mounted pressure on the education department after the one-year period, officials at the civic body issued the mandatory ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) needed to participate in transfer counselling.
But they were in for a rude shock as the NOC came with a string attached. According to the letter, in the event of a transfer, the teacher will be relieved only after another teacher joins the particular school for the same job.
However, a senior Corporation official attributed it good intentions. In view of the good results produced by the schools, they do not want the teachers to leave and the condition in the NOC was included just to ensure that the academic activities were not disrupted, the official said.
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 7: WHILE the Chennai Mayor rejoices over Corporation-run schools consistently showing good results and improving the pass percentage in public examinations in the last few years, teachers of the schools, who aspire to move out of the city, are a peeved lot.
The teachers from other districts are said to be depressed over what they allege to be a denial of their basic rights to live with their family by getting a transfer to their native places through annual counselling.
Though Corporation school teachers are also selected through proper procedures like the Government school teachers, when it comes to transfer counselling, they claim that they feel discriminated. Unlike Government school teachers, Corporation school teachers can not move out unless a replacement is found for the particular post.
The Corporation’s stand has almost made it impossible for many teachers to think of a transfer. The situation is so bad for a few teachers that they never live with their family members other than the annual vacation. This year alone 78 teachers, including 30 women, applied for NOC from civic body to participate in transfer counselling but none of them is sure of making it finally.
“My three-year old daughter has to undergo a heart operation in the next few days in a local hospital near my native place, but I don’t think I would be able to join her during those crucial days when the child would like her parents to be with her,” said a visibly upset teacher, hailing from another district.
The Chennai Corporation runs 135 primary schools, 109 middle schools, 65 high schools and 27 higher secondary schools, employing more than 3600 teachers, including the 500-odd ones selected through Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).
When the 500-odd teachers were recruited for Corporation schools through TRB few years ago, they were promised transfer to their native places through counselling after a year.
When these teachers mounted pressure on the education department after the one-year period, officials at the civic body issued the mandatory ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) needed to participate in transfer counselling.
But they were in for a rude shock as the NOC came with a string attached. According to the letter, in the event of a transfer, the teacher will be relieved only after another teacher joins the particular school for the same job.
However, a senior Corporation official attributed it good intentions. In view of the good results produced by the schools, they do not want the teachers to leave and the condition in the NOC was included just to ensure that the academic activities were not disrupted, the official said.
Dead vice-chairman still alive on Thiruvottiyur Municipality website
G Saravanan:
Chennai, June 6:
While the Tamil Nadu government boasts as best information technology (IT) destination in the country on one side, browsing through the state-maintained websites reveals that many sites (that serve vital government details to whoever access it) has not been updated for almost six months.
There was a classic example to prove the case where the government failed to update its websites in regular basis at Thiruvottiyur Municipality website (http://municipality.tn.gov.in/Tiruvottiyur/who_Deputy.htm), where its vice chairman K Veerasamy was died six months ago, but the site still shows him as alive and serving the people there by holding the post.
But the real story at the municipality circles is something different. After the demise of DMK party leader Veerasamy, who was revered as stalwart even among the opponent party leaders in Thiruvottiyur for the past four decades, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission conducted bye-election in February this year to fill the ward (32) councilor post that went vacant after his death.
The DMK party in Thiruvottiyur had nominated his son Sathish Kumar for the post and he won the seat with handsome margin. Likewise, another ward councilor V Ramanathan was elected for the vice chairman post held by Veerasamy in the municipality.
“If such government websites, which serve every fundamental information to visitors, did not have proper updates, the whole purpose of giving online information to the public is defeated,” said Sekar, a ward councilor in the municipality.
This is the state of many state-government maintained websites where there were no updates for several months, he added.
When contacted the chairman R Jayaraman of the municipality, he acknowledged that the (municipal) website indeed carrying the wrong information as Veerasamy died some six months ago.
We have informed the government about the developments in the municipality months ago and the administrators of the website should have updated with the new information, Jayaraman added.
Eom.Saravanan
Chennai, June 6:
While the Tamil Nadu government boasts as best information technology (IT) destination in the country on one side, browsing through the state-maintained websites reveals that many sites (that serve vital government details to whoever access it) has not been updated for almost six months.
There was a classic example to prove the case where the government failed to update its websites in regular basis at Thiruvottiyur Municipality website (http://municipality.tn.gov.in/Tiruvottiyur/who_Deputy.htm), where its vice chairman K Veerasamy was died six months ago, but the site still shows him as alive and serving the people there by holding the post.
But the real story at the municipality circles is something different. After the demise of DMK party leader Veerasamy, who was revered as stalwart even among the opponent party leaders in Thiruvottiyur for the past four decades, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission conducted bye-election in February this year to fill the ward (32) councilor post that went vacant after his death.
The DMK party in Thiruvottiyur had nominated his son Sathish Kumar for the post and he won the seat with handsome margin. Likewise, another ward councilor V Ramanathan was elected for the vice chairman post held by Veerasamy in the municipality.
“If such government websites, which serve every fundamental information to visitors, did not have proper updates, the whole purpose of giving online information to the public is defeated,” said Sekar, a ward councilor in the municipality.
This is the state of many state-government maintained websites where there were no updates for several months, he added.
When contacted the chairman R Jayaraman of the municipality, he acknowledged that the (municipal) website indeed carrying the wrong information as Veerasamy died some six months ago.
We have informed the government about the developments in the municipality months ago and the administrators of the website should have updated with the new information, Jayaraman added.
Eom.Saravanan
Ambattur Municipality ignores RTI plea
Published Date: 6/6/2009 - (NIE)
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 5: TWO months have passed by now, but officials at the Ambattur Municipality are yet to reply to an RTI application filed by Bharathi Cultural and Welfare Association, Korattur, seeking details about the expenditure incurred while desilting North Canal in their locality. In an RTI application dated March 23, 2009, V Jayapalan, secretary of the association, a united body of several TNHB colonies in Korattur, had sought details like how much was really spent on desilting the North Canal and also about the duration of the cleaning work from Ambattur Municipality.
“We the residents of Korattur are disappointed with the lackadaisical attitude of the municipal authorities, who possibly do not like people to know the truth,” lamented Jayapalan.
The highly polluted and encroached North Canal is a perennial problem for the local residents, said Seshagiri Rao, joint secretary of the association. “The particular canal was not cleaned or desilted for the last three years. After media reports on the issue last August, the former commissioner of Ambattur Municipality Chakrapani had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh. But no one knew where the amount had indeed gone, but the canal remains the same,” Rao said. As the canal was not desilted on time, the entire colony along the banks was inundated and rainwater entered into every house during last November. Few days after the torrential rain, Chief Secretary K S Sripathy, visited the area and met the affected residents.
“When Sripathy landed in our colony, I explained to him the issues in person how the canal is causing floods during rainy season,” Rao further said. Even after his visit, nothing fructified and finally the residents filed a RTI petition with Ambattur Municipality seeking details of expenditure, but there was no reply even after two months. Reply to any RTI queries should be sent within 30 days to the applicant and failing to comply the period would invite fine.
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 5: TWO months have passed by now, but officials at the Ambattur Municipality are yet to reply to an RTI application filed by Bharathi Cultural and Welfare Association, Korattur, seeking details about the expenditure incurred while desilting North Canal in their locality. In an RTI application dated March 23, 2009, V Jayapalan, secretary of the association, a united body of several TNHB colonies in Korattur, had sought details like how much was really spent on desilting the North Canal and also about the duration of the cleaning work from Ambattur Municipality.
“We the residents of Korattur are disappointed with the lackadaisical attitude of the municipal authorities, who possibly do not like people to know the truth,” lamented Jayapalan.
The highly polluted and encroached North Canal is a perennial problem for the local residents, said Seshagiri Rao, joint secretary of the association. “The particular canal was not cleaned or desilted for the last three years. After media reports on the issue last August, the former commissioner of Ambattur Municipality Chakrapani had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh. But no one knew where the amount had indeed gone, but the canal remains the same,” Rao said. As the canal was not desilted on time, the entire colony along the banks was inundated and rainwater entered into every house during last November. Few days after the torrential rain, Chief Secretary K S Sripathy, visited the area and met the affected residents.
“When Sripathy landed in our colony, I explained to him the issues in person how the canal is causing floods during rainy season,” Rao further said. Even after his visit, nothing fructified and finally the residents filed a RTI petition with Ambattur Municipality seeking details of expenditure, but there was no reply even after two months. Reply to any RTI queries should be sent within 30 days to the applicant and failing to comply the period would invite fine.
CMDA FILES ON ‘DEMOLISHED’ BUILDINGS GONE
Published Date: 2/6/2009 - (NIE)
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 1: TWO buildings located on Anna Salai and Arcot Road, which were constructed in contravention to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority regulations have ‘escaped’ demolition for the last two decades as files relating to them have mysteriously been either ‘destroyed’ or ‘misplaced.’
R Natarajan, a research scholar who unearthed the startling details, told Express that he had lodged a complaint with the CMDA seeking details about the illegal buildings and, when the agency refused to reveal the facts, also filed an RTI application in May 2008. The agency then tried to delay its response using every option available. Irked over the CMDA’s attitude, Natarajan moved the State Information Commission, which ordered the agency to issue free copies of the files.
During the commission’s hearing, the CMDA admitted for the first time that one of the files related to an illegal building had been destroyed and that a file of another building was ‘missing’ since 1994. The CMDA did not state who had authorised the file to be destroyed. The RTI reply also revealed that the agency had claimed falsely that the buildings had been demolished in the early 1990s.
However, a senior official in the CMDA denied any wrongdoing in both the cases. Asked about the file that was destroyed, the official said, “based on the government’s order, every agency usually destroys files to minimise the load on the archives section and this file could have fallen under some category by which it had to be destroyed.” On the missing file, the official said that it could still be traced from the archives.
G Saravanan
Chennai, June 1: TWO buildings located on Anna Salai and Arcot Road, which were constructed in contravention to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority regulations have ‘escaped’ demolition for the last two decades as files relating to them have mysteriously been either ‘destroyed’ or ‘misplaced.’
R Natarajan, a research scholar who unearthed the startling details, told Express that he had lodged a complaint with the CMDA seeking details about the illegal buildings and, when the agency refused to reveal the facts, also filed an RTI application in May 2008. The agency then tried to delay its response using every option available. Irked over the CMDA’s attitude, Natarajan moved the State Information Commission, which ordered the agency to issue free copies of the files.
During the commission’s hearing, the CMDA admitted for the first time that one of the files related to an illegal building had been destroyed and that a file of another building was ‘missing’ since 1994. The CMDA did not state who had authorised the file to be destroyed. The RTI reply also revealed that the agency had claimed falsely that the buildings had been demolished in the early 1990s.
However, a senior official in the CMDA denied any wrongdoing in both the cases. Asked about the file that was destroyed, the official said, “based on the government’s order, every agency usually destroys files to minimise the load on the archives section and this file could have fallen under some category by which it had to be destroyed.” On the missing file, the official said that it could still be traced from the archives.
Graffiti-free Kamarajar, Anna Salai from June 10
Published Date: 29-5-2009 - (NIE)
G Saravanan
Chennai, May 28: COME June 10 and Kamarajar Salai and Anna Salai in the city would be graffiti-free.Cracking the whip on those defacing the walls in these areas, the Chennai Corporation said graffiti, posters or hoardings will not be allowed on these roads as they have been designated ‘poster free zones’.
Making the announcement during a debate at the council meeting here on Thursday, Mayor Subramanian said that initially, the ban would be strictly enforced on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai and later extended to other arterial roads and areas. However, the Mayor did not elaborate on the kind of action the corporation would take against violators.
While the 5km stretch of Kamarajar Salai has important government establishments like All India Radio, Madras University campus, Secretariat and Reserve Bank buildings, the 14km long Anna Salai is considered as a gateway to the city for visiting foreign dignitaries.
Earlier during the debate, opposition floor leader Saidai P Ravi said that a majority of Chennaiites were happy with the adherence to the ban on posters enforced in connection with the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. When officials could ensure a graffiti-free period during the elections, why cannot the same officials enforce it permanently in the city, wondered Ravi.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has also decided to crackdown on sale of unsafe drinking water. The Mayor announced that the civic body would seek help of the police in filing criminal cases against those shop owners who sold drinking water in sachets.
G Saravanan
Chennai, May 28: COME June 10 and Kamarajar Salai and Anna Salai in the city would be graffiti-free.Cracking the whip on those defacing the walls in these areas, the Chennai Corporation said graffiti, posters or hoardings will not be allowed on these roads as they have been designated ‘poster free zones’.
Making the announcement during a debate at the council meeting here on Thursday, Mayor Subramanian said that initially, the ban would be strictly enforced on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai and later extended to other arterial roads and areas. However, the Mayor did not elaborate on the kind of action the corporation would take against violators.
While the 5km stretch of Kamarajar Salai has important government establishments like All India Radio, Madras University campus, Secretariat and Reserve Bank buildings, the 14km long Anna Salai is considered as a gateway to the city for visiting foreign dignitaries.
Earlier during the debate, opposition floor leader Saidai P Ravi said that a majority of Chennaiites were happy with the adherence to the ban on posters enforced in connection with the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. When officials could ensure a graffiti-free period during the elections, why cannot the same officials enforce it permanently in the city, wondered Ravi.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has also decided to crackdown on sale of unsafe drinking water. The Mayor announced that the civic body would seek help of the police in filing criminal cases against those shop owners who sold drinking water in sachets.
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