Chennai’s Northeast monsoon preparedness has exposed a communication gap between the Greater Chennai Corporation and elected representatives, with Mayor R. Priya saying she was not informed of the timing of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s inspection at Ripon Buildings.
Speaking at the Chennai Corporation Council meeting on Thursday, October 29, Priya said she could not be expected to remain at Ripon Buildings from morning until night without being told when the Chief Minister would arrive. She said timely information would have enabled her to attend the inspection.
“I can come if I am told the time of his visit, but that information is not given,” Priya said, according to The Hindu. She also questioned whether officials had been instructed not to inform elected representatives and criticised the exclusion of councillors from important civic events.
The issue arose after social media claims suggested that the Mayor had deliberately stayed away from Vijay’s visit to review preparations for the Northeast monsoon. Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar referred to the advance protocol followed during visits by the Prime Minister, when the State government is informed in advance, and urged officials to ensure that information is communicated on time.
The discussion extended beyond the Chief Minister’s inspection. Ambattur Ward Committee chairperson B.K. Murthy said councillors were not being notified about events held in their zones. Royapuram councillor Rajeshwari Sridhar and ward committee chairpersons Nethaji U. Ganesan of Tondiarpet and P. Sriramulu of Royapuram also said they had not been informed about inaugurations or inspections involving TVK legislators and Ministers.
Kumaar said the councillor of Saidapet had similarly not been informed when an MLA was invited to an inauguration. Priya said she had faced comparable problems and questioned why elected representatives should be excluded from civic events in their areas.
Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran told the Council that a circular required all elected representatives to be invited to Greater Chennai Corporation events in advance. Instructions had been issued through Public Relations Officers and Assistant Public Relations Officers, while 15 additional-duty PROs had been deployed for stormwater drain and flood-prevention works.
Sameeran said surprise inspections were exempt from the advance-notification requirement. Planned events, however, required prior information to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, councillors, ward committee chairpersons, MLAs and Ministers. He added that event timings had to accommodate the senior-most representative attending.
The Commissioner also said inauguration plaques had to follow approved protocol and include the names of representatives even when they were absent. He promised to meet public relations officials if lapses continued.
During the meeting, Sholinganallur councillor K. Vimala raised the absence of inauguration plaques. Priya directed Greater Chennai Corporation and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board officials to install them when projects were launched. She said the plaques would record who had brought projects to fruition.
The Mayor also alleged that TVK members were distributing food packets prepared by the Corporation during the rains while presenting them as their own contributions. The Deputy Mayor asked officials to examine the allegation. The Council’s discussion ended with the Commissioner reiterating the notification protocol for planned civic events and promising further administrative intervention if communication failures persisted.
