Congress councillors of the Chennai Corporation Council on Monday demanded the State government to conduct a study about the civic issues caused by delay in implementation of work proposed by councillors and assess the impact of the repeal of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act and the reduced powers of ward committees under Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules. 

At a meeting of the Congress councillors in Ripon Buildings on Monday, GCC Congress leader Samuel Thiraviyam said: “We have demanded more powers for the Ward Committees. Many of the proposals by the Councillors have not been implemented by the Greater Chennai Corporation in the past four years. The Congress wants all work to be expedited in the next few months.”

Pointing to the unique nature and civic issues faced by Chennai residents after the repeal of the CCMC Act, Mr. Thiraviyam said many employees of GCC, who have specialised knowledge about civic issues, have been transferred to other cities, leading to problems in disaster preparedness in some areas. “The CCMC Act was unique. The common act and rules for the State may improve other urban areas. But Chennai has lost its character. We demand a proper study of the impact of the new statutory provisions.” 

The Congress councillors also demanded separate seating arrangements for them in the Council ahead of the meeting on June 24. The Councillors stressed the need for participation of all the six ministers and MLAs who have been elected to the Assembly for Chennai. “The previous DMK government reduced the powers of the Ward Committee and the Councillors. The State government should restore the powers of the Ward Committees and the Councillors,” said Mr. Thiraviyam.