The Hindu 27.09.2009
Two advocates for Nagercoil municipality
Staff Reporter
Nagercoil: Two persons have been appointed as municipal advocates following an increase in the number of cases involving the municipality. The appointment, which was delayed for the last two months due to difference of opinion among the councillors, came to an end after N. Rajadurai and N. Chidambaram Pillai were appointed at a council meeting here on Friday.
Presiding over the meeting, Chairman Asokan Solomon said that it had been resolved to bring in tax revision for unoccupied properties from October 1 as per a Government order. As many as 289 resolutions were taken up for discussion during the meeting. Tax rate for vacant land has been fixed based on market value. For vacant land located in residential areas, the revised property tax would be 20 to 40 paise per square feet, while 30 to 50 paise would be levied for lands lying near arterial thoroughfares but without bus facilities. The tax for vacant land near arterial roads with bus facilities would be 40 to 60 paise.
Despite councillors belonging to AIADMK, MDMK and BJP objected to the tax revision, the chairman pointed out that it was an Government Order and expressed inability to reduce the tax.
Councillor Udayakumar showed adulterated water being distributed to residents of his ward following construction works being carried out without getting proper permission from the municipality resulting in impurities getting mixed with potable water.
He also demanded the municipality to remove unauthorised advertisement hoardings near bus shelters in the town. AIADMK councillor Seenu pointed out that the pedestrian subway constructed at a cost of Rs. 65 lakh connecting CPR Park and Anna bus stand to decongest traffic had become weak and posed a threat to the passengers after a few days of inauguration. When questioned about the quality of the work, the contractor had used reproachful comments on few councillors.
The councillors demanded the Chairman to take action against the contractor and make another assessment of the quality of subway.
The Chairman said that those councillors who were dissatisfied with the work must lodge complaints personally instead of raising it in the council meeting.
