The Hindu       20.01.2011

Council nod for carrying out road works

Voicing out: The councillors complaining of malpractice spotted in the attendance register during the corporation council meeting in Tuticorin on Wednesday. — Photo: N. Rajesh

Mayor of Tuticorin Corporation R. Kasthuri Thangam expressed her gratitude to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for having sanctioned a sum of Rs. 5 crore to develop road infrastructure under corporation limits.

Presiding over emergency meeting convened here on Wednesday, the Mayor gave her nod for carrying out road works.

New roads will be laid over an extent of 15 km.

Sixteen such works will be taken up at different places.

Moreover, the corporation has also received funds to the tune of Rs. 82. 66 lakh for remitting towards the Electricity Board in the first phase under the thirteenth finance scheme.

Malpractice in attendence

Meanwhile a group of councillors raised objections over the malpractice figured in the attendance register for councillors being maintained by the corporation administration.

The agitating councillors claimed that a mark of attendance was registered for a councillor, who was absent from the meeting. Veerabahu, the 27th ward AIADMK councillor failed to attend the meeting but a present mark was found in the register.

They also demanded action against those involved in such activities.

The Mayor assured that it would not occur in the future.

S. Madasamy, 37th ward DMK councillor, demanded steps to eradicate the stray dogs menace.

Appropriate measures would be taken to wipe out the stray dog menace, the Mayor said.

D. Raja, 46th ward CPI (M) councillor said that funds allotted to the corporation were confined to certain wards alone.

Works could be executed only if funds were earmarked accordingly for all wards, he added.

But the Mayor denied the allegation.

M. Seeni Ajmal Khan, Commissioner of Corporation, S.A. Rajagopalan, Executive Engineer and A.D. Bosco Raja, Health Officer were present.

The Hindu           19.01.2011

Wordy duel mars Corpn. Council meeting

Exchanges between a Coimbatore Corporation officer and a councillor marred the Council meeting on Tuesday.

Prior to the start of the Council meeting, Councillor, Ward 45, K.A. Adhinarayanan raised the issue of the civic body placing a garbage bin in front of a grocery store on Pankaja Mill Road in Ward 22 with Commissioner, East Zone, Loganathan.

The civic body had placed the bin after the owner of the premises where the store functioned failed to pay tax due to the Corporation.

The officer's reply was reportedly not to Mr. Adhinarayanan's liking and the two exchanged abuses. They almost came to blows, said councillors who were present at the spot.

AIADMK leader in the Council P. Rajkumar said Mr. Adhinarayanan's intention was not to question the collection of tax dues but the way the civic body went about recovering it.

Soon after the Council meeting, AIADMK, CPI, CPM and MDMK Councillors met the Commissioner Anshul Mishra and lodged a protest.

Complaint

Mr. Mishra said he had not received a written complaint from the Councillors but promised to look into the issue. Meanwhile, Mr. Adhinarayanan lodged a complaint with the Ukkadam police seeking action against the officer for abusing him using ‘unparliamentary' words.

Commissioner Mr. Mishra said he had received a complaint from Mr. Loganathan on the Councillor's behaviour.

Ward 26 Councillor R. Amutha had submitted her resignation saying she had secured a teaching job in a local college.