The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Council meet put off to protest absence of Commissioner

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Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Council meet put off to protest absence of Commissioner

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JULY 22. The ongoing cold war between officials and elected representatives of the Madurai Corporation reached a flashpoint today with the Mayor, C. Ramachandran, putting off the council meeting without transacting any business, protesting the absence of the Commissioner, A. Karthik.

Stating that the Commissioner submitted his leave letter to him only at 5.35 p.m. yesterday, the Mayor said he would have postponed the meeting to some other day, had he been informed of the leave well in advance.

The Commissioner was away in Chennai to participate in an official meeting to discuss the National River Conservation Project.

After the council passed a condolence resolution on the Kumbakonam tragedy, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam councillor, Dharmalingam, interrupted the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, S.D. Jeyabalan, and demanded an explanation for the Commissioner's absence at the meeting.

He was supported by members of various parties, including M. Saravanan of the Communist Party of India (CPI), S. Mahalingam of the Communist Party of India (CPI-M), I. Siluvai of the Congress and an independent candidate, M.R. Manickam.

Recalling that the Commissioner was absent at the last council meeting as he was on a long leave, the members alleged that various resolutions passed at that meeting were yet to be implemented.

Except for the CPI (M) and the AIADMK, all other parties demanded adjournment of the meeting, following which the Mayor declared that the meeting would be held on July 29.

Later, talking to presspersons, the Mayor alleged that the Commissioner had not taken steps to fill six posts of class one officials, including four Assistant Commissioners and two Executive Engineers, "paralysing the development works."

Stating that the Commissioner had "deliberately ignored" the council meeting, Mr. Ramachandran, said, "he (the Commissioner) could have sent any other official" for the NRCP meeting.

The Mayor complained that the Commissioner, after returning to work on July 19, had not met him and discussed any development work of the local body.

A lot of important files, including the one on streamlining drinking water supply and the resolution adopted on levy of vacant land tax, were pending, he said.

"In his absence, the officials would only say (to all questions raised by the councillors) that they would reply after discussing with the Commissioner. Thereby, no decision could be taken at the meeting," Mr. Ramachandran said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jeyabalan said the Commissioner was only on an official visit to Chennai and blamed the Mayor for attempting to bring "disrepute to the AIADMK Government."

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