The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Voter list issue rocks Madurai Corpn. Council

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Voter list issue rocks Madurai Corpn. Council

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, MAY 28. The deletion of names from the voter list for the 14th Lok Sabha elections dominated the Corporation Council meeting, which was convened after a gap of three months due to Parliamentary elections, here today.

There were heated exchanges between the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam councillors over fixing the responsibility for the deletion.

After a brief commotion, the council resolved to request the Election Commission to prepare a new voter list incorporating all deleted names and also new voters.

The leader of the AIADMK, S. D. Jeyabalan, referred to the existing vacancies in the corporation schools and feared that the backlog would reflect on the quality of education, as the schools were doing extremely well in the public examinations.

The Commissioner, A. Kathik, replied that reallocation of teachers would solve the problem.

The City Educational Officer, Rajeswari, also suggested closure of primary schools where there was no sufficient student strength and transfer the teachers to fill the vacancies where the student strength was more. The corporation also appointed part time teachers on consolidated pay in schools with financial assistance from the Parents Teachers Association, Mr. Karthik said.

S. Mahalingam of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) urged the council to seek Rs.50 crores from the State Government for the Vaigai drinking water scheme to ensure supply in north Madurai. He also asked the council to persuade the Government to bear the Rs.80.99-crore debts.

He wanted the civic body to take up the second phase of the ring road project and expedite the construction of the rail overbridges at Periyar Bus Stand-Ellis Nagar, Thathaneri, Koodal Nagar and Subramaniapuram.

I. Siluvai of the Congress recalled a High Court order on distribution of uniforms and gloves to sanitary workers, which had not been done yet for the corporation sanitary staff, and cautioned that any further delay would amount to the contempt of court.

He also brought to the notice of the council the overstaying of some of the retired sanitary staff in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board quarters. The Commissioner promised immediate action.

The Congress member alleged that the water in the swimming pool was dirty and posed a health hazard for the public. The Mayor asked the officials to drain the water.

Responding to a query by the member, Mr. Karthik said a Rs 24 crore proposal for desilting all channels in the city had been sent for Government approval. S. Ramalingam of the Bharatiya Janata Party urged the authorities to start kindergarten classes in corporation schools.

M. Saravanan of the Communist Party of India cautioned the council about the spread of cholera, which had already affected 16 persons within the corporation limits and more than 190 in the suburban areas and asked for explanation from health officials.

He said that in some parts drinking water got mixed with sewage and cited this as one of the reasons for the outbreak. He pointed out the lack of proper monitoring at the Anna Nagar pumping station which resulted in over pressure caused damages to the pipe lines and there was every chance of sewage water getting mixed with the drinking water there, he added.

He also sought valid reasons for not opening the tenders called for auction of shops in the central market, to which the Mr. Karthik said that a stay had been obtained in the tender admission stage itself, hence the delay. The Mayor intervened and asked the Commissioner why the corporation lawyer had not taken further action in this regard.

And the council resolved to ask the Commissioner to change the corporation pleader in the High Court.

V. K. Gurusamy of the DMK cited the council resolution that no cycle stand should be set up within 500 metres of the corporation cycle stand inside the Mattuthavani Bus Stand and brought to the notice of the council that private cycle stands had been established within 100 metres and demanded immediate action against them.

Earlier, the council greeted the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, his Cabinet colleagues and Members of Parliament on behalf of the people of Madurai.

The council also thanked the UPA Government for including their demand to declare Tamil as a classical language in the common minimum programme.

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