Date:11/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/11/stories/2006111114930400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Council votes for A/C hall, when residents sweat it out

K. Manikandan

Citizens, activists angered by the indulgence of Maraimalai Nagar local body

SPRUCED UP: The council hall of the Maraimalai Nagar municipality, which has been air-conditioned and renovated, is now a subject of anger among residents. — Photo: A. Muralitharan.

TAMBARAM : When it comes to civic services, Maraimalai Nagar Municipality lags behind other local bodies, if one goes by residents' complaints.

The roads are bad in the residential neighbourhoods and the industrial estate, the quality of water supplied is poor, and conservancy services leave much to be desired... the complaints are legion.

However, one thing has changed: the municipal body has joined the ranks of Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tirunelveli Corporations, all of which have air-conditioned council halls.

At least in this aspect it is ahead of other local bodies, including Coimbatore and Salem Corporations, which are yet to be equipped with such comfort.

During the term of the previous council, the meetings were held in a room on the first floor. But now, a room serving as a store for the municipality's wares on the ground floor, has been spruced up. Brand new furniture, decorative lights, a false ceiling and windows have been installed, besides a couple of split air-conditioners.

The air-conditioning of the council hall of Maraimalai Nagar Municipality has come in for sharp criticism from residents and activists here who have been fighting for long to improve the quality of life in this 30-year-old township.

Residents and members of voluntary organisations wondered if air-conditioning the council hall was necessary and more important than executing certain basic civic works.

Drinking water supplied to residents had to be boiled and filtered at least a couple of times before being consumed, they said.

Garbage dumped around the Municipality was an eyesore and if at all cleared, it was only to be dumped adjacent to the railway station and burnt, activists pointed out.

Scant attention was being paid to protect the only lake of the local body. Under such circumstances, why should elected representatives and officials be provided with creature comforts, while residents had to pay for the same, the activists asked.

Municipal authorities said more than Rs. 2 lakh was spent on the renovation.

Officials of the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply were unaware of the renovation of the council hall. A senior official said local bodies should pay attention to attending to people's problems rather than indulging themselves.