CHENNAI: Chennai corporation officials are flooded with photographs of waterlogged areas, uprooting of trees and faulty streetlights, literally. WhatsApp has made things easy for public to complain about civic issues to authorities during this monsoon season. But, officials are facing tough time checking the authenticity of the pictures and complaints since several of them have turned to be old. Another problem that officials face are complaints about the same issue from different WhatsApp numbers, which make it difficult. “WhatsApp numbers received good response, as many residents are using social media to complain about rain-related issues,” an official posted in the Corporation control room told Deccan Chronicle.
Officials exclusively designated to receive and forward complaints to divisions concerned are finding it difficult to organise WhatsApp complaints since there are several photos of an area affected badly by the floods. “Apart from this, more than one resident sending complaints regarding the same problem makes the job hard and quite confusing. Also, we are struggling to check their authenticity. It will be helpful if the residents stick to single photos,” the official added. Although officials are not sending the action taken reports to the complainant, they are making records of complaints and actions taken.
On the other hand, residents of rain battered city make use of the easiest and fastest mode of sending their grievances. Although the corporation has not been maintaining the exact figure of total complaints received from WhatsApp owing to replicas, it has received more grievances through the social media handle than telephones, according to a source. F. S. Mohan Eddy, a resident of Ritherdon Road, Vepery, who sent a complaint about waterlogging in his locality through WhatsApp, welcomed the move.
“Corporation’s initiative is very useful to address our problems as WhatsApp is easy to use and is fast. My complaint is partially rectified by the officials and I can see that work is underway,” he said. On Thursday, the control room continued to receive complaints through telephones and social media. Meanwhile, a press release from the corporation stated that it had cleared waterlogging in 101 spots of total 213 and removed 37 fallen trees from roads.
