The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Muster roll scam rocks Ooty municipality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Muster roll scam rocks Ooty municipality

By D. Radhakrishnan

UDHAGAMANDALAM, MAY 21. The Udhagamandalam municipality has been rocked by a muster roll scam.

It was stated that when J. Stanley Michael assumed charge as the Municipal Health Officer last month, he found that there was `something fishy' in a summer management scheme implemented by the health section of the municipality between April 8 and 22. The Municipal Commissioner, Pon Muniraj, claimed that under the scheme Rs. 1.87 lakhs was spent on cleaning various parts of the town, employing a number of casual workers. However, a preliminary verification by Dr. Michael showed that there was something wrong.

It was suspected that records were created with bogus names. Also, there was not sufficient evidence of the work having been carried out.

During a preliminary verification of the records early in May, there was a face-off between Mr. Muniraj and Dr. Michael. Dr. Michael lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Baal Nag Devi. Mr. Muniraj also preferred a complaint with the police, alleging that the health officer had without authorisation taken municipal records out of the office. Dr. Michael lodged a complaint also with the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Chennai. He informed the Municipal Chairperson, P. Lalithaa, that the Commissioner was preventing him from using his office.

Yesterday, an enquiry into "misappropriation of funds in the mass cleaning work under the summer management programme" was conducted by M. Rajakumar, Additional Director of Municipal Administration, Chennai.

Among those questioned, apart from the Commissioner and the Health Officer, were sanitary supervisors and sanitary inspectors.

M.P.S. Muthu, Regional Director, Municipal Administration, who was also present, when contacted by The Hindu , said the enquiry was "confidential."

Mr. Muniraj said it was too "premature" to comment.

Ms. Lalithaa said she knew nothing about the programme and that the police and anti-corruption authorities should get to the bottom of the matter. Thambi Ismail, Independent Councillor, said the scam seemed to be only the tip of the iceberg and a thorough verification of all cleaning campaigns done over the last 15 years should be taken up.

The Chairperson and all councillors said they would offer the fullest cooperation in unearthing all facts. Some of them said the probe should be used as an opportunity to "clean up the municipal administration in Ooty."

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