Govt policies tweaked for pvt contractors turn nightmare for public

Chennai

For instance, the public-private partnership (PPP) policy mooted for State Highways and the viability gap funding policy (VGP) has now allowed the maintenance of storm water drains by State Highways that have turned death traps for motorists and the fee at toll plaza eats into the monthly expense of motorists.

“A few government policies that were tweaked by the state government in recent years have become an administrative headache for officials and also the people of the State,” said a senior IAS official who has served in the Local Administration Department, citing the example of storm water drains along State highways.

“The State Highways Department, which operates with the minimal staff, use road contractors who, however, are not specialists in hydrology or maintenance of drains,” he explained. According to him, Poonamallee High road and Chennai Bypass are classic examples of poor storm water drains. “The maintenance of roads can be with Highways but drains should be handled by civic bodies,” the official said.

Many policies like laying cement roads in interior areas, poorly constructed storm water drains and toll plazas within Chennai city limits have caused trouble for Chennaiites, alleged former city mayor and opposition MLA Ma Subramanian. He said DMK president MK Stalin has assured changing these policies that are against public interest, Subramanian added.

“A few decades ago, policies were designed without affecting public. But after the World Bank started funding projects, the foreign policies were imposed on us. The PPP and VGP are disasters, robbing public off their money and helping only contractors,” fumed retired IAS official MG Devasahayam.

The former bureaucrat questioned the need for toll collection when the public are already paying in the form of motor vehicle tax. “How much will the motorists pay for contractors and corrupt politicians,” asked Devasahayam.

Charging that policy-making has now become autocratic ignoring public welfare, he noted the recent proposal by the State government to create storm water channels inside Pallikaranai marshland. “It shows the poor understanding of wetland by the current administrators,” Devasahayam added.

“Most of these policies were supported by the DMK or AIADMK and now it is for these parties to correct or change the policies,” said a senior official associated with planning and public policy issues.