Report on AUICK Associate Cities
Chennai, India

Reported by Mr. Murugesan Panneerselvam, Chief Engineer (Bridges & Buildings), Corporation of Chennai, India.

Background

Chennai (previously Madras) is situated in the northeast of Tamil Nadu, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Beginning as a settlement of the East India Company, Chennai is now India’s fourth largest city, and hosts excellent educational facilities and many diverse industries.

Administration and Revenue

The Corporation of Chennai is the oldest Municipal Institution in India, having been established in 1688. The Madras Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, (amended) provides the basic statutory authority for city administration. The revenue receipts for this fiscal period are US $133.34 million and planned expenditure is US $ 131.28 million.

Main Challenges Facing the City

Water Scarcity and Management:
Annual monsoons are necessary for the water supply; without them the city can suffer from water shortages. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board supplies about 70 litres per person a day, against the norm of 120 litres per day. The supply of this water is laborious, it is done mostly by water tankers, but schemes to bring water directly from rivers are nearing completion. Under the Chennai City River Conservation Project, action is being taken to clear the city waterways and canals by providing embankments and diverting sewerage for treatment.

Solid Waste Management:
The city generates 3,000 tonnes of garbage per day. Collection, transportation and disposal have become a major challenge. 400 collection vehicles and two landfill sites are used, but these sites are filling fast. To reduce the amount of garbage reaching the landfill sites, projects for waste segregation and for composting are being phased-in. Action is also being taken to build a central incinerator facility which will be used for the safe disposal of hospital and industrial waste.

Slums Expansion and Management:
Chennai has 1,300 slums occupied by 1.3 million people and these areas continue to expand. This expansion is eating into land that could be used for housing projects. Despite dangers from flooding, some people even inhabit lake and water collection-tank areas.Slum dwellers face unemployment, lack of education and lack of adequate health care.

Traffic:
Due to economic growth, the number of vehicles has increased dramatically and at present there are 1.8 million vehicles in the city. Traffic congestion is common, particularly on arterial and main roads.  Accidents, pollution and parking are related problems. Modes of public transport in Chennai include: buses, suburban railways and the Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS).

Role and Relationship with AUICK

Our sincere thanks to AUICK for including Chennai in the new AAC network. The efforts taken by AUICK to promote underdeveloped cities, to make them environment friendly, and to develop them in all areas is much appreciated. The new AAC network will assist each other through the exchange of information, ideas, and solutions to the various problems faced by the member cities. Chennai will be able to use this opportunity to improve the standard of living of its citizens.

Other Information

Several beautifying projects, such as new parks, traffic islands, and tree planting, are now being undertaken. Health care is also being targeted; laboratory facilities are being upgraded and the city is maintaining an adequate supply of resources for the eradication of Malaria, T.B and Polio.