CEAN appeals for more transparency in preventing corruption in local bodies in the Nilgiris

The Confederation of Environment Associations of Nilgiris (CEAN) has appealed to the government to institute more checks and balances to prevent corruption in municipalities and local bodies in the Nilgiris.

The appeals were made to the Collector by retired IAS officer, Surjit K. Chaudhary, Chairperson and Coordinator of CEAN, following the recent arrest of the Coonoor Municipality Commissioner, M.Ilamparithi, by the DVAC police.

“There were many public complaints of corruption and misdoings in Coonoor and Kotagiri municipalities, for allowing unauthorised buildings under his leadership. It was informally brought to the notice of the superior authorities also… A similar incident had happened earlier with Gomathi, then Tahsildar of Kotagiri. It has been repeatedly, formally and informally, brought to the notice of the district administration that many Municipal Commissioners, Executive Officers of the Town Panchayats, Secretaries of the Panchayats are indulging in corruption by knowingly allowing unauthorised construction of buildings without the orders of the Collector and AAA Committee.” CEAN said in their letter to the Collector that was shared with the press.

He said that village, town and municipality-level committees must be constituted under the leadership of designated revenue officials to monitor unauthorised constructions on a day-to-day basis, with clearly defined members at each administrative level. These committees must be tasked with reporting violations immediately, while a district-level monitoring committee headed by the Collector should conduct weekly reviews to ensure effective oversight. Any deviations from these instructions or public complaints not identified by the committees should be taken seriously, with deterrent disciplinary action initiated to curb such violations. To support efficient reporting and monitoring, a suitable online system should be developed for easy and timely submission of information, he said.