Tamil Nadu   

‘We have done our best to meet people’s expectations’

Photo: M. Periasamy

‘I always have a dream to see our city as a model city’ —

Mayor R. Venkatachalam is confident that in a few years, the city can be turned around and rid of most of the civic problems. Replying to questions on e-mail on the present Corporation Council completing a year of its five-year term, he admits that complaints of poor drainage, streetlights and water supply continue to pour in. But, there is concerted effort to meet people’s expectations with both immediate and long-term focus.

As far as providing civic services are concerned, the performance of the Corporation is appreciable and up to the mark. Though the expectations of the people are high, we did our best to meet them. I can very well say it is satisfactory.

As a common man, I can say the present condition of providing civic amenities to the people should be improved. The state-of-the-art facilities in various cities have to be adopted in our city.

We got approval from the Central Government for the schemes under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission), especially the Pilloor II scheme (for drinking water) and also projects for solid waste management, underground drainage and basic services to the urban poor. These will pay off well in the long run for the city.

Apart from these, development works have been taken up in the unapproved layouts. As many as 766 temporary conservancy workers were absorbed as permanent employees to keep the city clean. Appointments to 132 persons in various posts have been provided to fill up vacancies.

Owing to the lack of adequate staff in the Corporation, the administrative machinery could not be tuned properly.

To overcome this impediment, steps are being taken to fill up the vacancies.

The perennial problems like garbage accumulation, malfunctioning of streetlights, improper drainage cleaning, inadequate supply of water and maintenance of roads are the common complaints that we are facing in the Corporation.

Certainly. The problem of stray dogs that I raised in every Council meeting has been controlled to a very large extent. This issue did not crop up in the last three Council meetings. As a Councillor I was only in a position to demand solutions, but as the Mayor now I hold the authority to provide them.

Politics and development are inter-woven. We are facing political domination to some extent. But it is a domination aimed towards the attainment of planned development of the city. In fact, I am encouraging the constructive arguments put forth by councillors belonging to various political parties.

As I have already said, I am a ‘councillor for the whole city’. Some sections of the people make such a charge. It is not true. It is the will of the people that has elected councillors; in turn councillors have elected me Mayor.

Earlier, a Government, for some political reasons, took away the powers of Mayors. The things that can be done with the powers vested with the Mayor are being properly carried out now.

Since we are in a coalition with the ruling DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and have allies in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India, the development of the city will not be affected at any moment.

Definitely not. The expectations of people [on development] are high and so we are in a position to rise to the occasion.

It is the need of the hour to revise the water charges. It may create a sense of anti-people policy. But for the effective implementation of the schemes, it is essential. Whatever the measures we resolve in the council, it is the concerted effort of the councillors.

Our city is a Mission City under JNNURM scheme. I always have a dream to see our city as a ‘model city’ with all infrastructure facilities. After the successful implementation of JNNURM schemes, the entire appearance of Coimbatore city will change.

Schemes like the bus rapid transit system, expressways and over bridges, multi-level parking facilities, a new bus stand on Mettupalayam Road and houses for the poor are in the pipeline under the JNNURM. We have already given space for a Regional Passport Office, which is a long-pending demand in the city.

It will come up in a Corporation building and the civic body is to spend Rs.75 lakh on it.

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