The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Municipality works out of a shed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 16, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Municipality works out of a shed

J. Malarvizhi

Dispute with officials holds up civic body's shift to new building

CHENNAI: Although a new building for the local body has been constructed, the Ambattur municipal office continues to function from a makeshift shed.

Six months ago, the old building was demolished to make way for a new 26,000 square feet building.

However, due to a dispute between officials and the elected body, the municipality office has not yet shifted to the new building. This is also slowing down the tasks of local governance, allege local residents.

The council chairman, K. Rukmangathan, said the `interiors' and the lawns of the new building have not yet been completed. So the revenue and computer sections, now functioning in the old building, cannot be shifted.

In the last week of February, a report stating that the building was complete and had been occupied was filed for seeking a date from the Chief Minister for inauguration. However, the election dates were announced subsequently, and this held up the formal function.

The Department of Municipal Administration, meanwhile, asked the commissioner to move into the new premises.

On Friday, Municipal Commissioner K. Jayaraman sought to move some of the material from the shed to the new premises. There were reports that the official was locked up in the building, which Mr. Rukmangathan denied.

Due to the stand-off between the official and the chairman, the municipality office has been functioning from a shed less than 1,000 sq.ft. since September.

The Regional Director, Municipal Administration has directed the local body to complete the remaining work after discussions with the chairman and the Commissioner. However, no formal decision has been taken about occupation of the new building.

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