A resident of Mylapore received calls from members of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after he complained about encroachment in Arundale Street through the Namma Chennai app administered by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
A temple under construction at the intersection of Arundel Street, Paripoorna Vinayagar Koil, and Nachiappan Street in Mylapore has encroached upon a significant portion of the area. The temple’s expansion, undertaken without proper authorization from the Greater Chennai Corporation, has led to a complaint filed via the Namma Chennai app in December 2023. Despite initial inaction from the Corporation, a notice was issued on 22 January 2024, stating the lack of planning permission. The complainant, R Ramesh, a civic activist, revealed that the temple claimed to have invested over ₹20 lakh in construction and requested the withdrawal of the complaint. Privacy concerns arose when the complainant’s number was disclosed after filing the complaint. The encroachment aggravates congestion in the area, causing traffic disruptions and hindering essential services like ambulance and metro water lorries, particularly during increased commuter traffic due to metro works.
#Chennai resident files complaint on @chennaicorp’s Namma Chennai App on an encroaching temple in Mylapore’s Arundale Street. He soon gets a call from local #DMK functionary to withdraw the complaint. The functionary in the call to the resident said it was @chennaicorp officials… pic.twitter.com/L7Rc3Y9Lhz
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinTOI) February 3, 2024
On 24 December 2023, R Ramesh, residing in Mylapore, filed a complaint against a temple in Ward 125 located on Arundale Street, Mylapore. His complaint on the app stated that the temple had erected scaffolding that extended into the road.
Despite Ramesh repeatedly reopening the complaint, it was closed without any action being taken. Subsequently, the corporation issued a notice to the temple, requesting planning permission or a permit for the deviation by 22 January. They warned of strict measures if the required documents were not provided.
Following the notice, Dass, a local ward representative of the DMK, contacted the resident. According to call recordings shared by the resident, Dass threatened him to withdraw the complaint, stating that the local GCC official had instructed him to convey that they would overlook the notice if the complaint was withdrawn. In response, Ramesh questioned Dass about his interest in the temple and the reason for calling from a nearby ward.
Dass, a DMK member, explained to TOI that he called to clarify that there was an upcoming event at the temple, assuring that it wouldn’t cause any inconvenience. MLA D Velu confirmed that Dass was associated with the DMK and mentioned that the scaffolding was erected for an upcoming event. He added that if the scaffolding obstructed the road, it would be removed.
This isn’t the first time sensitive information has been disclosed. In March 2023, R Ramesh, who had previously complained on the Namma Chennai app about a chicken stall selling ‘decayed meat,’ was summoned by the police. In his earlier complaint, he had called for immediate action against Anburaj Chicken Stall for violating food safety rules. Following this, Mylapore inspector M Ravi contacted Ramesh, referring to a complaint from the chicken stall owner regarding the mental distress caused by Ramesh. Another individual, Kumar, claiming to be associated with the stall owner, invited Ramesh to resolve the issue. Ramesh raised concerns about the revelation of his identity to the vendor and questioned the officials’ decision to share his details.
A user re-posted the news, expressing concern said, “The frequent intimidation we residents of Chennai face while using the Namma Chennai app is terrible. It’s not just an ‘app’; it’s a ‘trap’.”
This is such a horrible intimidation that we residents of Chennai are frequently facing if we use the Namma Chennai app. It's not an "app" it's a "trap" https://t.co/rsdMqLwzGI
— Dr. Preethi Ramadoss (@RamadossPreethi) February 3, 2024
Another Chennai resident stepped forward to disclose their details and share their experience. He commented “I am willing to provide insights into my encounter with GCC’s Namma Chennai App, wherein my family and I faced threats from both local politicians and the offenders themselves after filing an encroachment complaint.”
Hi @omjasvinTOI
I am open to share details of my experience with @chennaicorp ’s NammaChennai App in which my family members and I got threatened by local politicians and the Offenders themselves for raising an encroachment complaint.
— Mohamed Rafeek (@MohamedRaffN) February 3, 2024
Another netizen sarcastically remarked, “It’s not “Namma Chennai” App, it’s “Namma Chennai” cleat (Aapu)!! In a direct transaction between the government and the citizen, The Dravidian model is using the politician to withdraw the complaint. The New York Times should write a pun on this.”
அது "நம்ம சென்னை" App இல்லை, "நம்ம சென்னை" ஆப்பு!!
அரசுக்கும் குடிமகனுக்கும் இடையிலான நேரடி பரிவர்த்தனையில் அரசியல்வாதியை பயன்படுத்தி புகாரை வாபஸ் வாங்க வைப்பதுதான் திராவிட மாடல். நியூயார்க் டைம்ஸ் பத்திரிக்கை இதை சிலாகித்து எழுதினால் நல்லது.
— Sivakumar (tn2point0.com) (@tn2point0) February 4, 2024
(With inputs from TOI)
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