With the Northeast Monsoon approaching, several DMK councillors in Chennai have opposed the Greater Chennai Corporation’s decision to prioritise monsoon-related works under the first instalment of their ward development funds.
The opposition surfaced at the GCC council meeting on Friday, 25 September 2026, a day after the Corporation released ₹30 lakh each to all 200 councillors and two nominated members with disabilities. The accompanying circular listed several monsoon-related works as eligible uses of the funds, including completing missing links in stormwater drains, constructing silt catch pits and laying Hume pipes in waterlogging-prone areas.
According to a report in The Hindu, councillors argued that ward development funds should instead be used for permanent public amenities and other visible works in their respective wards.
DMK councillor C Velu reportedly termed the allocation an eyewash, objecting to the conditions attached to the funds. Valasaravakkam zonal chairman V Rajan reportedly argued that monsoon preparedness was an emergency civic responsibility and should be financed from the Corporation’s general funds rather than councillors’ ward development allocations.
Several councillors reportedly maintained that ward funds were traditionally used for amenities such as community halls and other works requested by residents. Some also expressed a preference for projects that would remain visible in their wards and allow their contributions to be recognised, rather than monsoon-related works whose benefits would not be as publicly identifiable.
Velu reportedly warned that councillors would refuse the funds if the circular was not withdrawn. Some councillors also reportedly suggested that the council could be dissolved if they were not given greater discretion over the allocation of ward funds.
Mayor R Priya said only half of the annual ward development allocation had been released so far, following four months of efforts and repeated requests by GCC Commissioner G S Sameeran to the state government.
Sameeran said monsoon-related works had been prioritised under the allocation. However, he clarified that councillors could take up other works required by residents once the necessary monsoon preparedness works in their wards had been completed.
The Commissioner is expected to reconsider the categories of works that can be undertaken using the ward development funds and announce a decision within two days.
With strong El Nino conditions and the Northeast Monsoon just around two weeks away, monsoon preparedness should be the first priority in #Chennai. But these #DMK councillors are opposing the use of ward funds for essential monsoon related works and instead want to spend the… pic.twitter.com/YTlWZSdyI2
— Harish M (@chnmharish) September 26, 2026
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