Patiala MC shuts grievance-redressal app
The Patiala municipal corporation (MC) has closed down the recently-launched mobile-based grievance-redressal application, saying it did not get adequate response.
The Patiala municipal corporation (MC) has closed down the recently-launched mobile-based grievance-redressal application, saying it did not get adequate response.
The civic body plans to replace it with another application to be launched under a pilot project referred by the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Corporation.
The application called Municipal Corporation Citizens Reporting and Mapping Tool (MC CRAMAT) was launched on May 18 in the presence of deputy commissioner Ramvir Singh and mayor Amarinder Singh Bajaj with tall claims that it will work as a bridge between the residents and the civic body to resolve complaints for broken roads, defunct street lights, low water supply, sewerage blockage etc.
However, MC Commissioner Parminder Singh Gill said the service did not run well. “Our officials are not getting any complaints through mobile app. With no back-end system being set up in MC, we are totally ignorant of its working,” he claimed
The application was developed by a Ludhiana-based company, whose owner Jaskirat Walia, however, claimed that more than 1,000 local residents downloaded their app since its launch and half of them posted their complaints, most of which were successfully resolved.
“MC’s sanitation wing and other authorities acted on complaints of defunct street lights and garbage forwarded by us. I don’t want to comment on MC’s judgment, but the system has done well in Patiala,” he said
Gill, on the other hand, said they will introduce a new mobile complaint app as the city has been selected for a pilot project for this service by Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Corporation.
“A Pune-based company will set up proper back-end system and hopefully, we will be able to build a direct connect between residents and the civic body,” he said
RESIDENTS CONFUSED, SLAM MC FOR FREQUENT CHANGES
Sudarshan Singh, a resident of SST Nagar, said the frequent changes in its complaint system reflects how serious is the civic body in resolving our grievances on the ground. “A defunct street light in front of his house was repaired within 48 hours after posting of the complaint on CRAMAT. Now MC wants us to use another app, which will only lead to confusion and distrust,” he added
Sources said the new service is no different from the already launched version. For instance, it will also pick up the location of the complainant through GPS system as done by CRAMAT.
