Chennai: City Corporation has collected a fine of Rs 7,67,491 against private contractors for poor garden maintenance in 15 zones.
Contractors are asked difficult questions why guards are absent during working hours, lack of labor, lack of trimming and watering, among others associated with garden maintenance, official source said.
Learned that the Corporation Commissioner Chennai Greater Gagandeep Singh Bedion personally reviewed the inspection report provided by Zon officials on poor garden maintenance and interesting contractors.
While there are around 800 parks in the city, 542 parks have been outsourced to private contractors for maintenance.
From RS 7.67 lakh collected since August this year, Rs 2.5 Lakh (32.59%), collected from contractors aimed at maintaining a park in zone 4 (tondairpet), while the contractor in the 10 zone (Kodambakkam) was fined rs 1.25 lakh (16.2%).
From RS 67,800 a fine for labor shortages in December, Rs 40,680 (60%) was collected at the contractor in Tondaroad, while Rs 20,340 (30%) was collected at the Contractor in the Valsaravakkam zone.
Officials also found that in Tondarpet, the contractor responsible for the maintenance of five parks does not allow the number of staff needed according to tender conditions.
“We now impose a fine and ask for response from them.
If they continue poor maintenance and their guards are not present during working hours, we will stop their contract,” said an official.
A senior corporate official said data inspections and maintenance such were useful for the Civic body to request contractor accountability.
“Park is an important recreation room for the public and contractors must ensure quality maintenance,” the official said.
The official said that in some parks, even staff in the park were not present in days without communication and that they had started salary deductions for them.
The official added that one corporated zonal officials were appointed per parking for daily inspection and the drive would continue every day.