Chennai: It’s been four years since the formation of Tambaram corporation. But, the basic civic grievances — water shortage, poor drain maintenance, lack of overhead tanks, encroachments, and stray dog menace — remain unresolved, councillors said at the corporation council meeting on Thursday.The first council meeting since the new state govt assumed office saw heated exchanges, with councillors across party lines faulting the administration for ignoring long-pending complaints. Officials rarely visit wards to inspect problems or meet residents, they said.Spread across 87 sqkm with five zones and 70 wards, Tambaram has seen rapid population growth, but civic infrastructure has not kept pace. Corporation requires 130 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water but receives only 90 MLD, officials said.Independent councillor (ward 35) V Sangeetha said residents receive water only on alternate days for just 15 minutes. “The water tank can store only 5,000 litres. We need a larger one,” she said, adding that the issue was raised repeatedly over several years.She said many residents in her zone have not received benefits under the state govt’s maternity benefit scheme, which provides ₹18,000 and nutrition kits to eligible pregnant women. City health officer Bhoopesh said many beneficiaries may not have completed their KYC process, and that the corporation would take steps to ensure disbursement.M Yacoob, DMK councillor of Ward 50, said the lack of a slaughterhouse had led to animals being killed at random locations. He also raised concerns about the corporation’s dialysis centre, where a generator placed outside the premises was being misused and exposed to rain. “It should be moved inside the UPHC,” he said.Stray dogs were another flashpoint. Corporation data puts the number at around 46,000 across five zones, with officials estimating the actual figure could be closer to 50,000. G Shankar, AIADMK councillor of Ward 65, said at least 10 aggressive strays roam every street. “When complaints are raised, officials take the dogs for treatment, but soon release them back in the same place,” he said. He also questioned the disparity in ward funds, noting that while some wards receive more than ₹2 crore annually, others get only ₹12 lakh.Corporation commissioner S Balachander said the civic body had laid more than 330 roads in two years and introduced a new solid waste management system in Zone 4. He said Tambaram is expected to receive 150 MLD from Perur desalination plant next year.
