Development Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area

Development Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area (Submitted to the MoUD, GoI, under JnNURM) Appraisal Report
Based on Appraisal Report of ASCI submitted in May 2006, Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCo) submitted the Revised Development Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area in October 2006. The revised CDP incorporates some of the changes suggested in the ASCIs Appraisal Report. The revised CDP, however, did not address some of the more important suggestions proposed in the Appraisal Report. They are presented in this Appraisal Report for consideration of Chennai Municipal Corporation and other constituent local bodies covering the CDP area, TUFIDCo and Government of Tamil Nadu. 2. One of the prerequisites of JnNURM is preparation of a City Development Plan articulate the Vision for the future development of the city through a consultative process involving key stakeholders and civil society from all the constituents of the areas covered by the CDP. The revised CDP refers to consultative process undertaken as part of Sustainable Cities Programme jointly launched by UNCHS and UNEP in 1995 (pp.3-4). There is no discussion of the consultative process involving different stakeholders and civil society in Chennai and other local bodies, which form part of Chennai CDP area. This gives the impression that such a process did not precede preparation of CDP. This is a serious flaw and need to be explained and corrected. (Para 36)* 3. In the first Appraisal Report it was suggested that a clear demarcation of City of Chennai, Chennai Urban Agglomeration, Chennai Metropolitan Area, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, etc., need to be made by presenting constituent areas, population, area, etc., in one table. This has not been attempted. The area covered by these agencies and the overlap between these areas and the CDP area need to be discussed in the context of CDP being prepared covering a large number of local bodies both urban and rural. (Para 4) 4. In Chapter 1, Chennai Metropolitan Area comprising city of Chennai, 16 Municipalities, 20 Special Village Panchayats (or Town Panchayats as they are referred at different places in the CDP ?) and 214 Village Panchayats have been identified as City Development Plan area. A list of municipalities and town panchayats is given in Table 12.1 (page 147), but the list of village panchayats has not been given. This needs to be given in the Annexure. Similarly, the analysis of data in several chapters covers only Chennai and municipalities and no reference is made to panchayats. This needs to be clarified. (Para 4) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* Figure in the bracket refers to the para number in the ASCIs Appraisal Report of May, 2006.

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Development Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area

5. In the revised CDP the number of village panchayats is given as 214, where as in the earlier CDP, the number was given as 213. Correct figure need to be given. (Para 4) 6. The first Appraisal Report suggested a detailed discussion on governance and institutional framework impacting the growth and development and service delivery in the metropolitan area and the reform process. The institutional aspects are covered in part, in Table 1.1 without any analysis (pp. 4 5). But the revised CDP does not have a chapter on governance and reforms. This should be included. Similarly, the public-private partnerships in development also need to be covered. 7. Aspects of governance like implementation of different provisions of 74th CAA like devolution of functions, constitution and working of wards committees, DPCs and MPCs and other reforms initiated to strengthen governance in Chennai and other local bodies need to be discussed. (Paras 7-9). 8. The first Appraisal Report suggested that as Chennai Metropolitan Area falls in three districts, some description of the same needs to be given. The revised CDP gives the names of the districts but details are not given in terms of governance implications and coordination issues and challenges and how convergence is being achieved or proposed to be achieved (Para 6). 9. The financial status of the governing institutions, issues of convergence and coordination have also not been adequately covered. They need to be discussed along with institutional responsibilities as per Tables 18 & 19 of the Tool Kit. (Para 9) 10. Population projections were made for Chennai city and CMA areas. But basis of projections was not discussed and no analysis of the population growth projections made. This is critical to decide on investments for infrastructure development and other related aspects. The data in Table 5.6, which is more detailed, may be presented with modifications in Table 2.9. (Para 12). 11. Composition of population is given but the percentages and shares are not provided. Migration details were discussed in Table 2.5 and 2.6, but components of natural growth and jurisdictional change should also be discussed as per the Table 2 of the Tool Kit (Para 10). 12. Sex ratio and literacy levels appear to be lower than urban Tamil Nadu both in Chennai city as well as in CMA area. This is an area of concern and strategies and plans have to be articulated (Para 11).

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Development Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area

13. Data on occupational structure is presented without calculating the shares and without any discussion. The discussion and analysis on growth drivers needs to be strengthened. Analysis of economy of Chennai city is given at page 20, but not that of CMA area. This is important for planning and investment decisions and need to be presented. (Para 14). 14. Analysis of current land use pattern was given, but no analysis of future land use is made. Land supply details also needs to be discussed as per Table 15 of Tool Kit. (Para 15). 15. Tariff structure, rainwater harvesting and conservation of water bodies have not been discussed. That needs to be added. 16. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board covers Chennai and a few adjacent local bodies and bulk supplies to some other local bodies. But the institutional responsibility for all areas covered in the CDP area has not been clarified, though touched at Para 5.2. (Para 18). This needs to be added. 17. Total number of households and the number of households with domestic water connection, and cost recovery aspects has not been covered and need to be discussed in detail (Paras 22-23). 18. The revised CDP, as in the earlier one refers to 1231 slums as developed and 242 as undeveloped (p.116). The criteria for classifying the slums as developed has not been given even in the revised CDP. From the analysis presented (pp. 116118), it appears that 71% slum population purchase water, 620 persons share a public water tank or tap, more than 20% defecate in the open, 60% do not have storm water drains and two-third population throw solid wastes in the open places, drains, etc. But still a large number of slums were classified as developed. This aspect raised in the earlier Appraisal Report has not been adequately addressed and details given. The chapter on basic services to the poor needs to be strengthened. (Para 46). 19. Allocations being made every year in the budgets of the respective local bodies for poverty alleviation have not been presented and this needs to be added. (Para 52) 20. The CDP proposes to provide 150 lpcd, cover the entire Chennai city with network and meter the domestic connections at a cost of Rs.350 crores. If that were so, why not provide continuous water supply? This needs to be examined. 21. It is desirable to summarise current status and key challenges at the end of each chapter. This brings clarity to analysis and facilitates articulation of Vision and projects.

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Analysis of finances including the city investment plan needs to be strengthened.

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