Selvam (name changed), a Weavers’ Colony resident, applied more than a month ago to the Coimbatore Corporation for drinking water connection. He was one of the first applicants in the East Zone after the civic body decided to re-issue water connections. But, he is yet to get sanction. All that he had received is only an acknowledgement from the civic body for submitting the application. And, he is clueless as to what to do next. “I am lost. I do not know whom to call.”
He is one among the several applicants in the city who have submitted application for water connection but are yet to get it.
Persons who work on contract for the Coimbatore Corporation, doing masonry, electrical, plumbing or other works are equally affected, as their bills have been kept pending. A source familiar with the working says that with Deepavali only a fortnight away, the contractors are running from one officer to another to get their bills cleared as they will have to pay their suppliers and workers.
According to sources, one of the reasons for the delay is that several officials have taken charge recently in Coimbatore Corporation, including the City Engineer, Deputy Commissioner, and Commissioner. The officers need to ensure that the works for the bills that are presented have been executed and that too as per specification to clear the bills, the sources say.
Another front where the civic body is found wanting is in execution of pending projects, says S.M. Samy, a DMK Councillor and former Chairman, East Zone. Roads where the underground drainage project has been executed are yet to be levelled so as to make them motorable and the drains are yet to be cleaned of silt to ensure free flow of sewage or rainwater.
His party colleague and Councillor Meena Loganathan says that in many of the wards in the old corporation limits, the civic body is yet to complete the JNNURM projects - underground drainage and storm water drain. There is not one ward where 100 per cent work has been completed to the best of her knowledge. The corporation could have completed the pending works in the last few months but it has not.
Sources say that after the mayoral elections were called for, the civic body officials were busy conducting election. Then there was counting followed by the swearing in of the new Mayor.
Then the ruling party’s focus was more on the issue of the sentencing of their party leader Jayalalithaa by a Bangalore special court.
As for the officials, the long festive holiday has given them the much needed break. And, in another two weeks there is Deepavali. The developments have raised the question - when is the next Council meeting as important subjects will have to be cleared, the sources say.
AIADMK Councillors contend that regular work like solid waste management has been going on and that the pace of work will pick up in the next few weeks.
Mayor P. Rajkumar says that he has given instructions to officials to clear pending bills at the earliest but after verification. He has also instructed them to ensure the continuance of daily work while also focusing on development works.
