Conduct of area sabhas, ward fund allocation cause recurring friction between Chennai Corporation councillors and officials

Since the new TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu took over, councillors at the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have found themselves fighting not just for civic works, but also for answers from officials. During the council meeting held recently on October 29, 2026 at the Ripon Buildings, the issues were flagged again, this time the flashpoint being who gets to preside area sabhas and how ward funds can be spent.The discussion on area sabhas followed concerns that meetings were being conducted under the leadership of Assistant Engineers (AEs) and Junior Engineers, rather than councillors. Valasaravakkam Ward Committee Chairperson V. Rajan questioned the procedure, asking whether councillors must head the meetings or merely participate in them. Several councillors including Nethaji U. Ganesan of the DMK, Congress councillor M. Samuel Diraviam and DMK floor leader N. Ramalingam seconded this. Mayor R. Priya said area sabha must be held in coordination with the officials, not headed by them.Circular on officials presiding area sabhas incorrect: CommissionerGreater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran clarified that the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette published on June 24, 2022, clearly laid down the roles of ward committees and area sabhas. He acknowledged that a subsequent circular stating that the meetings should be conducted under the leadership of AEs and Junior Engineers was incorrect. The people of that area can participate.“The circular will be revised and sent again. Area sabha meetings will be held under the leadership of councillors, while officials will function only as member-secretaries,” Commissioner said.The clarification followed an incident in which Tiruvottiyur DMK councillor Kavi Ganesan allegedly snatched documents containing details from officials. The Commissioner condemned the action, saying councillors would be provided the necessary information and there was no need to snatch documents.Public Health Standing Committee Chairperson flagged the issue of councillors not being invited to the DISHA meeting recently held at the Amma Maaligai headed by Central Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran. Commissioner and Deputy Mayor clarified that the meeting is for members of DISHA only and that this comes under the purview of the Collectorate, not the GCC.Ward development fundsOn ward development funds, Mr. Rajan raised concerns about the lack of adequate allocations for councillors and committee chairpersons. He asked GCC to allow limited tenders and prior allocation of funds for works, towards the Ward Development Fund.The Commissioner defended restrictions on new capital works, saying the Chennai Corporation had introduced financial discipline measures to manage its deficit and prevent funds from being spent unnecessarily by splitting projects into smaller works at zonal or ward levels. He said proposals seeking administrative sanction should, however, be cleared quickly and should not face prolonged delays.The Mayor said the GCC can allow councillors to avail unused ward funds from the previous financial year. Commissioner replied stating the feasibility of the suggestion would be checked.Non-responseThe issue of officials not responding to councillors’ repeated requests was also raised by Works Standing Committee chairperson N. Chitrarasu. He said residents’ associations in Anna Nagar had repeatedly complained about inadequate desilting of stormwater drains, despite the ward councillor raising the issue at ward committee meetings and before senior officials.He alleged that the lack of action had led to residents staging protest against the councillor and that a police case had been registered against the councillor N. Adhiyaman after he put up posters criticising the failure to desilt the drains. Mr. Chitrarasu urged the Commissioner and zonal officials to explain why the work had not been completed.Later, the meeting also saw T. Nagar BJP councillor Uma Anandan question the State government’s claims on monsoon preparedness, saying civic works had been carried out for over four years by the previous government and the council. She also questioned the government’s claim of shortage of funds for ward development and maintenance while providing Innova cars to MLAs, and sought details of vacancies in the civic body.Civic infra issuesDeputy Mayor, Education Standing Committee Chairperson D. Vishwanath, Ms. Shanthakumari and many councillors also flagged issues in conservancy work of the private companies Urbaser Sumeet and Ramky Enviro, claiming workers are not provided proper bins, also complaining that household collection of waste is not done properly and requires scrutiny. They also pointed out that biomining must be expedited in the dumpyards by the firms that are still dragging legs in clearing the legacy waste.Adyar DMK councillor V. Anandham demanded a permanent solution to the recurring problem of waterlogging in A.G.S. Colony. He said rainwater from several neighbourhoods flowed through the colony and along a four-foot-wide drain on private land before reaching Veerangal Odai. He sought the acquisition of the land and widening of the drain to 20 feet to address the problem.Kodambakkam DMK councillor M. Krishnamoorthy sought an explanation for the suspension of construction of an auditorium at Chennai Boys’ (Maanthoppu) Higher Secondary School in Saidapet. The ₹5.25-crore project is being implemented under the Ungal Thoguthiyil Mudhalamaichar scheme. He asked whether the GCC intended to convert the auditorium into classrooms or continue with the original plan.AIAMDK councillor of Perungudi Zone K.P.K. Sathish Kumar asked for relaying 11 damaged roads in Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Kandanchavadi, comprising the main road and streets 1 to 10 with bitumen on priority.Several councillors raised issues on public toilet maintenance across the city. Egmore DMK councillor Parithi Ilam Suruthi said the old toilet at Pullapuram, Sasthiri Nagar, had been demolished about three months ago, but work on a replacement had not begun despite the Commissioner’s assurance two months earlier. Adyar councillor K.R. Kathirmurugan said construction of a replacement toilet on Ponniamman Koil Street had started but was stopped midway, causing hardship to residents, particularly women and senior citizens. Mayor R. Priya said the works, previously handled by the Special Projects Department, would now be executed by zonal offices and directed officials to expedite them.Mayor R. Priya said the Corporation had decided to execute the works through zonal offices instead of the Special Projects Department and directed officials to complete them quickly. She also said schools awaiting inauguration would be opened in the first week of November.