Civic body councillors here are unhappy with the way the Corporation is spending its money. They say that the civic body is not spending money in the right areas – wards that are seeing growth and development.
Referring to figures available with the corporation, they say that in the past three years, North Zone has seen the maximum growth in that there have been 12,909 new property tax assessments. This is the highest compared to the remaining four zones.
But the money the Corporation has spent is Rs. 127.57 crore – the second lowest spending among the five zones in the 2015-16 financial year.
Councillors in the North Zone say that in Thudiyalur, Saravanampatti and other areas, a number of houses, apartments, commercial establishments and industries are coming up but the development is not commensurate with the need.
There are areas in those places without street lights, adequate water supply and sewerage facilities.
A councillor says that his efforts to decongest the Saravanampatti stretch and push a scheme project are yet to bear fruit.
The corporation has spent the maximum that year in the West Zone – a whopping Rs. 287.41 crore. The property registration there is 8,717 in the last three years, including the 2,030 in 2015-16.
The least the corporation has spent in the 2015-16 is in the Central Zone – Rs. 21.91 crore.
Old city areas
Officials say that the Central Zone that comprises wards from the old city area has good roads, street lights, waste management system and drinking water facility. It is the added areas that are found wanting in these facilities.
They also say that while they look at parameters such as property development while planning their spending, they do not always have the luxury to spend where they want due to political pressure. Sometimes, the officials are instructed to spend in a particular zone or a few wards and they cannot disobey the orders. In such cases, they are forced to reallocate resources and a few other wards turn out to be the casualty.
Councillors say that the corporation will do well to take a hard look at growth and devote resources to those areas so as to bring about parity in basic amenities.
Though North Zone has seen maximum growth, the money spent is Rs. 127. 57 crore
A whopping Rs. 287.41 crore has been spent in West Zone
The least the corporation spent in the 2015-16 is in the Central Zone – Rs. 21.91 crore
