A number of Chennai Corporation officials have allegedly fooled residents and their higher-ups, recording misleading information on database maintained by the civic body on grievance redressal.
As a result, petitions received from residents on major civic issues have not elicited any response from officials. Since a number of grievances in many zones have not been redresssed, residents started re-opening the complaints through the online system.
According to data compiled by the Corporation, 121 civic issues have not been resolved in areas such as Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam.
However, the officials closed the files claiming that all the issues had been addressed.
Raised multiple times
In one case, issues were raised multiple times by the same resident through helpline 1913 and through the websites www.chennaicorporation. gov.in and cmcell.tn.gov.in
In zones such as Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur, 120 issues were not resolved even after multiple complaints were lodged by a resident.
Most of the complaints received by the Corporation pertain to public health, solid waste management, potholes and street lights. According to Corporation sources, many officials allegedly gave misleading information because of the review conducted by Commissioner on a daily basis. Officials had also given misleading impression about complaints registered through the Chief Minister’s Special Cell.
Normally, complaints received through CM’s cell are resolved in two days. However, the average number of civic issues not resolved for more than two days is more than eight every day.
Former councillor S. Mangala Raj said information on most of the complaints registered on 1913 do not reach senior officials concerned.
“I also tried to get information through RTI. They have not shared information,” said Mr. Raj.
