Chennai Corporation councillors want the civic body to levy property tax on private educational institutions to increase its revenue. They also asked the Corporation to clamp down on unauthorised constructions.
Pointing out that unauthorised constructions and deviations are on the rise, the councillors said 10-20 per cent additional tax should be levied on buildings, both commercial and residential, that have violated the rules. The councillors were participating in the discussion on the Corporation's 2011-12 budget on Thursday.
A few councillors wanted to know the status of the scheme under which incentives were to be provided for prompt payment of property tax. Some of them complained about the delay in online sanction of the building plan approval.
Opposition floor leader in the council Saidai P.Ravi said the civic body must seek details of consumers from utility service providers such as the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation to check for property tax defaulters.
Besides appointing personnel to monitor the ban on plastic, the civic body must expedite steps to set up integrated solid waste management projects in Perungudi and Kodungaiyur.
He also wanted a traffic cell to be established to chalk out plans to prevent congestion and review the need of bridges and flyovers.
Mayor M.Subramanian said the list of consumers obtained from TANGEDCO was being reviewed at the zonal level.
Many councillors wanted the work to construct and repair stormwater drain network to be expedited. They complained that the work remained incomplete in some wards owing to contractors' negligence.
Shortage of teachers
Shortage of teachers in Chennai Schools and the need to enrol more students was also raised at the meeting. Ward 59 councillor Devaki said teachers must be trained to handle students sensitively.
Zone 10 chairman M.Jayaraman said the civic body must take steps to arrest release of sewage into stormwater drain to prevent mosquito breeding.
Other demands made at the meeting included a foot over bridge with lift in any location between Santhome High Road and Lighthouse of the Marina.
A committee comprising Corporation officials and councillors from various political parties would be formed to monitor the implementation of Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana, a scheme to provide jobs for urban unemployed youth, he added.
