Local bodies without council continue to run show ignoring infrastructure projects

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK government and the state election commission have reasons to admit before the Madras high court on delaying the local body polls, but on the flip side, local bodies without council members have not initiated any new bridge or flyover projects in tier 1 cities including Greater Chennai.

According to sources with department of municipal administration and water supply, the local bodies are now under stringent monitoring as the local bodies are now government by special officers.

During this period, the resolutions will be mostly related to the administrative issues and there will be a financial constraint for big projects like flyovers and beautification schemes.

In the absence of an elected council the governing powers are vested with the special officers, but under these circumstances major projects are usually avoided. Further now the state highways take up the bridge and flyover works, sources said.

"It's a fact that the overall development of the state will be adversely affected if there is no elected council", said Saidapet MLA and former Chennai mayor M Subramanian.

For the past two years no steps were taken to address traffic snarls. No new bridgework has been taken up in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, he noted.

Meanwhile the Chennai Corporation has adopted 61 resolutions for the months of July — August, mostly related to the administrative reforms and dismantling of old vehicles.

Promotions to field assistants and better operations of corporation run schools using funds through parents teachers association were also cleared by the council.