Date:08/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/08/stories/2007040814230500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Corporation seeks to make employees more accountable

Staff Reporter

Credit will be given where due; punitive action for officials at fault

PROUD MOMENT: Mayor M. Subramanian presents a promotion order to conservancy supervisor Kumutha in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: City Mayor M. Subramanian and Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni have said Corporation employees who do good work will be commended and those who neglect their duties would face disciplinary action.

Over the past six weeks, the Corporation had suspended several employees who had shown disregard for work, while offering a round of promotions to efficient employees, also in order to motivate others who showed potential.

On Saturday, the Corporation issued promotion orders to 215 employees. The Mayor said many of the workers had not been given promotions in the last 15 years. "We have offered these promotions to encourage them to perform better." The employees include 102 sanitary workers, promoted to the post of supervisors; 56 junior assistants/typists, promoted to the post of assistants and 16 division managers, promoted to the level of superintendents.

Three assistant revenue officers (for Saidapet, Nungambakkam and Adyar zones) who had achieved over 90 per cent tax collection in their zones were felicitated by the Mayor. The vigilance section is keeping a watch on dereliction of duty. In the first week of March, three officials of the Corporation were suspended for undervaluing property during assessment in Ward 108 in the Nungambakkam zone. This month, a junior engineer was suspended for the lack of maintenance of a health centre in Moolakothalam.

A conservancy inspector of Ward 70 in the Kilpauk zone was suspended for fudging the attendance records of sanitary workers. He had tried to make away with Rs. 62,000 by registering attendance even when the workers were on leave. In the Kodambakkam zone, three officials were suspended as they had failed to take action on unauthorised buildings in the commercial area in T. Nagar. An assistant executive engineer and two junior engineers (Wards 126 and 127) were suspended.

Officials who are suspended would face an enquiry. They would lose 50 per cent of their salary during the suspension period. If the enquiry committee finds them at fault, punitive action would be taken, the Mayor added.