The Hindu : Front Page : Councillors' resistance delays opening of market

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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Councillors' resistance delays opening of market

S. Ganesan

Tiruchi Mayor to take up the issue with Minister

TIRUCHI: The new Subramaniapuram Market Complex, constructed over 10 months ago by the Tiruchi Corporation, is awaiting inauguration due to political wrangling and stiff resistance put up by a section of councillors.

The market complex was constructed at a cost of Rs.14 lakh on a prime land opposite to Circuit House at Sengulam Colony. The land was acquired by the then Golden Rock Municipality nearly four decades back, but had been under encroachments for long. Revenue officials reclaimed the land worth several lakhs of rupees last year and the Corporation, wary of the site being encroached again, took possession of it swiftly and constructed the market complex.

The Subramaniapuram market, currently functioning on the roadside off the Pudukottai highway, was to be shifted to the new complex. The market has 108 shops with separate enclosures for meat stalls.

List of traders

The civic body has also identified the list of traders who are to be allotted shops in the market.

However, a section of the councillors, including the Golden Rock zonal chairman, Sami Iyya (DMK) and the local ward councillor, Venkat Raj (Independent), have been raising objections ever since the Corporation took up the project, citing one reason or other.

Initially, the councillors had pointed out several shortcomings in the design and construction of the market. Subsequently, most of the demands put forward by them were met by the Corporation at an additional investment of about Rs.3.50 lakh.

Yet, the councillors continue to object to the opening of the market. The councillors forced the Mayor, Sarubala R. Tondaiman, to defer a decision on an official resolution, fixing the rentals for the shops, at a recent meeting of the Corporation Council.

Mrs. Tondaiman strongly pleaded with the councillors to allow the opening of the market but in vain.Top Corporation authorities see little in the demands of the councillors.

Many feel that there is more to it than meets the eye. Meanwhile, the Mayor is expected to take up the issue with the Local Administration Minister, M.K. Stalin, who is scheduled to review the Corporation works on June 21.

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