About Corporation of Chennai
Brief Note on Corporation Of Chennai
The Corporation of Chennai (previously Madras) is the Oldest Municipal Institution in India established on the 29th September 1688. A charter was issued on the 30th December, 1607 by East Indian Company constituting the "Town of Fort St. George" and all the territories thereunto belonging, not exceeding the distance of ten miles from the Fort, into a Corporation. The Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave the Corporation power to levy Municipal Taxes in the City. The Municipal administration properly commenced from the Parliamentary Act, 1792 making provision for the good order and administration of the city. The Municipal Act has been amended introducing from time to time major changes in the constitution and powers of the Corporation. The Madras Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 (as amended) provides the basic Statutory authority for the administration now.
The city has been growing in size and population. The number of territorial Divisions have grown from 30 in 1919 to 155. Now the population of the city has gone up from 5 lakhs in 1921 to approximately 42 lakhs now. Likewise the area has increased from 27.6 sq.miles in 1921 to 174 sq.kms.
The city of Chennai has been described as "The City Beautiful". The Marina with its long stretch of sandy beach, the famous temples with the High towers noted for architectural attraction and the many popular resorts have always been the pride of the city. The Corporation, has been taking earnest efforts to solve the multi-faced problems which has accompanied the rapid growth and expansion of the city.
Administrative Set-Up
The Commissioner of the Corporation is the Chief Executive. He has his office in the Ripon Buildings. The Commissioner is assisted by Three Joint Commissioner, one Deputy Commissioners from Indian Administrative Service, Two Chief Engineers and Seven Superintending Engineers.
The actual work of rendering civic service is taken care of by field staff. For the sake of administrative convenience the Corporation area is divided into 10 Zones and each Zone is headed by a Zonal Officer. |
