Chennai: Several field engineers of Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metrowater have earned the wrath of civic activists and public as they no longer conduct regular field inspections. In the case of senior engineers, the situation is worse, admit corporation councillors and social activists.
According to corporation insiders, a ward level engineer has to undertake periodic visits, something similar to the the police patrol. Such visits will reduce roadside encroachments, improve waste management and prevent mushrooming of illegal buildings, but of late the engineers are often glued to their seats. In case of VVIP constituencies like Kolathur and R K Nagar and in posh residential areas, the engineers are active, but in congested areas and slum pockets the local engineers are often missing in the field.
“In ward 131 and ward 138, engineers of civic departments or the public health department are hardly seen. The roads are battered, encroachments are there and we want the officials to periodically visit our streets,” said RTI activist V. Goplakrishnan, a resident of K K Nagar.
Gone are the days when you could find both the Metrowater and Corporation engineers attending a road cut issue or snapping an illegal sewer line draining in to storm water drain, alleged a social activist D. Mani. “Metrowater field staff hardly take tests of chlorine samples from residences and health workers no longer inspect overhead water tanks to prevent mosquito breeding”, he added.
Responding to the issue, a senior Corporation official said specific complaints are always attended to and encouraged. There may be one or stray cases, but in general, field engineers are monitored and are always instructed over mobiles to attend complaints by visiting the spot. Hundreds of complaints are received by the Corporation helpline on a weekly basis and in all these cases the engineers are directed to visit the locality, submit a report after attending the issue, the official said. Senior Metrowater officials were unavailable for comment.
