Tamil Nadu: Campaign Ends for Civic Polls; Lack Infrastructure and Amenities a Major Concern

Chennai: As campaign ends for the urban civic body  polls in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, lets’ take a look at the history of  these municipal corporations and how effective they have been.

Tamil Nadu had just six municipal corporations until 2008. The state government upgraded four municipalities to corporations, pushing the number to 10 in the same year. During the decade-long tenure of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, five more corporations were announced.

After the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government assumed power in May 2021, it announced the formation of six new corporations and 28 municipalities. The total number of corporations is 21 now along with 138 municipalities and 490 town panchayats.

Successive governments have justified such elevation considering the increasing population, urbanisation and need for better infrastructure in cities. But several such civic bodies continue to lack even basic amenities, such as  public toilets, water supply connections, roads, parks and even street lights.

The upgradation process continues to evoke mixed responses from residents of rural and semi-urban areas. While a section hopes for improved facilities, another argues that their voices will be unheard when small areas are merged with larger local bodies.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AT SNAIL’S PACE

The AIADMK government upgraded Dindigul and Thanjavur municipalities as municipal corporations in 2014. But development works remain untouched in these important towns.

Thanjavur, known as the granary of Tamil Nadu, is also famous for the Brihadishwara Temple also known as the big temple or the Thanjai Periya Koil in the heart of the city. The lack of basic amenities, including roads and drinking water, continue to haunt residents.

N Sivaguru, a resident of Thanjavur, said there is lack of developmental activities in the civic body. “After Thanjavur was converted into a corporation, it was selected under the smart city project as well in 2016. But, the pace of several projects is sluggish, forcing the people to face hardships”, he said.

The long wait for improved roads and drinking water connections in the old Thanjavur city continues despite it being a major destination of pilgrims and tourists. “Apart from the lack of facilities for residents, important localities surrounding the big temple are also a matter of concern. The administration has failed to ensure availability of essential services here”, Sivaguru added.

‘WATER SUPPLY, DRAINAGE SYSTEM NEED URGENT ATTENTION’

More or less, in most urban civic bodies where the underground sewerage system was initiated have created problems for the residents rather than solutions.  The residents complain of either slow pace or incomplete work in most of the areas.

Dindigul, known for locks and tanneries, also has a corporation where the sewerage system is creating trouble for the people. “People now feel that initiation of the underground sewerage system could have been avoided”, said A Arabu Mohammed, secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Dindigul city committee.

“Less than 50% works have been completed in the past 10 years. The roads, after the laying of pipes, remain damaged causing trouble for the passersby and vehicle users”, he said.

Nagercoil municipal corporation has a similar tale. The underground drainage system work was scheduled to be completed in 2016. S Anthony, a CPI(M) candidate for the corporation elections said: “Whatever works completed for the drainage system have proved to be faulty. The roads around the city continue to be unmotorable for the past several years. The city administration has failed in completing the project in time”, he said. 

The roads in Dindigul city are no different with increased traffic and lack of attention on widening these. Three time MLA from Dindigul, K Balabharathi of the CPI(M), said the corporation exists only in name, The Hindu reported. 

The supply of drinking water in Dindigul, Thanjavur and Nagercoil is also erratic, particularly during the summer season. “We depend on river Cauvery for drinking water, but if the Athoor dam is desilted and the capacity increased, we can ensure proper supply in summer season as well”., said Sivaguru.

Nagercoil, despite receiving sufficient rainfall across the year, faces frequent water shortages. The city population depends largely on Mukkadal dam for its drinking water needs. With the expansion of corporation limits, the administration needs to think about ensuring supply to the newly added areas as well.

“Individual connection to every home under the Jal Jeevan Mission is only half complete in Thanjavur. Supply is also not regular in the existing system. The city depends on  the Kollidam river and other borewells. But, with increasing population, the demand may increase quickly”, Sivaguru added.

LARGER BODIES AND LESSER VOICE

A major concern raised by a section of the population on the formation of larger civic bodies by merger of other local bodies is the possibility of neglect. The AIADMK and DMK governments have upgraded several civic bodies resulting in reduction in the number of representatives.

When the Nagercoil corporation was announced, Thengamputhoor town panchayat was merged with it. The panchayat had 15 wards, which have now been reduced to three wards in the corporation. 

Thousands of residents from fishing hamlets in Kollemcode held protests against the upgradation to municipality by merging the nearby Ezhudesam town panchayat. The residents of the hamlets have threatened to boycott the elections.  

Despite the category of local bodies, infrastructure and other basic amenities require massive ramp-up to cater to the needs of the people. Civic bodies being the important and lowest form of the democratic exercise, an aversion toward such bodies would lead to lesser participation of the people.