No civic representatives this monsoon

Whether it is flooded roads or overflowing sewers or clogged drains, which the Chennai city had suffered at almost biblical proportions during the infamous December 2015 floods, people would be left at the mercy of government officers this time. Though one could argue that special officers would run the civic bodies only for little over two months, it still does not prevent alarm bells from ringing as Chennaiites are concerned about this ‘vacuum’ along with monsoon blues. Add vacancies at various levels in the civic bodies, which is a given in officialdom, the less said the better. 

Notably, both ruling and opposition parties conceded that their councillors’ absence would take a toll on the people. 

Former Chennai Mayor and Saidapet MLA Ma Subramanian says, “For 20 years, people have become used to approaching councillors. If they are asked to approach junior engineers suddenly, it will make things difficult for them. Officials are largely cut off from people. They don’t know as much about a neighbourhood as the councilors. That’s why local bodies polls are conducted on time.”

A former AIADMK mayor who did not want to be named, also conceded that absence of councils would directly affect people. He said that complaint cells like 1913 are available, but they ought to be strengthened with more staff members to immediately attend public grievances in the absence of councillors. However, retired IAS officer M G Devasahayam allayed such fears and said, “Officials will fill the gap and discharge their administrative functions and redress public grievance simultaneously. In any case, elected representatives are not good at redressing public grievances, so it is a blessing in disguise.”