The Hindu              22.05.2013

Mayor passes resolutions without debate

The Coimbatore Corporation Council headed by Mayor S.M.
Velusamy of the AIADMK on Tuesday passed many resolutions even without a
semblance of debate in 15 minutes flat.

The
Council cleared subjects that related to managing street dogs, poultry
and vegetable wastes, debris, handing over a few roads to the State
Highways Department, starting subsidised canteens (Amma Unavagam),
preparing detailed project report for providing underground drainage
facility for added areas among others.

The Mayor
arrived at 11.30 a.m., administered the untouchability pledge to
councillors and officials, read out the gist of the 13 subjects that
were tabled for discussion and said that the subjects were passed and
completed the exercise in 15 minutes.

There were only
two interruptions – one from DMK councillor S.M. Samy, who wanted to
raise a point regarding transfer of land to the Highways Department and
another from CPM councillor V. Ramamoorthy. But the Mayor cut short the
interruptions.

And by the time the Mayor had declared
over the Council meeting, many councillors had not even signed the
register to claim their sitting fee. The snacks distribution was also in
full swing.

This prompted Deputy Commissioner S.
Sivarasu to alert the councillors that they sign the register before
leaving the Council hall.

The way the Mayor conducted
the Tuesday’s meeting and several others in the past had invited
criticism. A few members of the ruling AIADMK, on condition of
anonymity, said that Mr. Velusamy’s method of conducting Council
meetings would only help the officials because he was not in the habit
of allowing discussion on any subject. This would not bring in
accountability into the system but only cover up wrongdoings on the part
of officials. In the past, there were occasions when issues raised by
even Independent councillors had promoted the then mayors to put on hold
subjects for discussions. The then mayors would call for all party
meetings or meetings with leaders of political parties to thrash out
differences.

None of those had happened ever since
Mr. Velusamy assumed office as the Mayor. Take for example the decision
to construct a transit station near the sewage treatment plant in
Ondipudur. There was no debate on the topic.

And there was none, either, on the April 25 fire accident that killed four persons.

Mr.
Samy said that given the manner the Mayor conducted Council meetings,
there would be no necessity for councillors to be present at the hall.

He
only passed on information for which circulars were enough. Why invite
councillors, give them sitting fee and also snacks. The Corporation
could save money on the front as well.

By preventing
councillors from raising issues, the Mayor deprived them of their
opportunity to represent the public issues at the Council hall. There
was no other avenue for them to do so.

Referring to
the subject on purchasing vehicles for stray dogs, Mr. Samy said that
there had been occasions when the Council proceedings had come to a
standstill on the very subject. Councillors would fiercely debate issues
and that made news the next day. But now, sadly, the Mayor allowed
subjects to be passed without debate and that reflected the way he
conducted the Corporation business.

Mr. Velusamy was not available for comment when
The Hindu
tried to reach him.