Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Councillor protests against "culture of privatisation"

Staff Reporter

"Corporation faces the risk of being at the mercy of private operators"

CHENNAI: The lone CPM councillor in the Chennai Corporation, B. Devi, walked out of the corporation council meeting on Monday, as a mark of protest against what she called the "culture of privatisation".

"You want to privatise garbage clearance, maintenance of parks and toilets. They why is there a Corporation? Are we here just for collecting taxes and paying the private operators?" the ward 59 councillor asked. She added that by privatising essential services, the Corporation faced the risk of being at the mercy of private operators at times of crises. "During the tsunami, none of the private agencies responded to the government's call. They don't treat it like a service. To them, it is a business." The Corporation Council had tabled a resolution pertaining to the privatisation of conservancy works in four of its 10 zones.

Responding to Ms. Devi's comments, Mayor M. Subramanian said the councillor was only reacting to her party's policy with regard to privatisation and added that the civic agency was only doing what was good for the public. "There are some within your party who appreciate the good work done by private agencies," he added. "I will not name them."

The council on Monday passed 110 resolutions, including one pertaining to the acquisition of 80 compactor machines for its solid waste management operations at a cost of Rs.20 crore. The machines would aid in the civic agency's operations in the non-privatised zones. The civic agency also passed a resolution to take over the open ground opposite the Secretariat for the development of a park at a cost of Rs.3.65 crore.

Mr. Subramanian also read out a resolution felicitating Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for completing 50 years as a legislator. Congress floorleader Saidai P. Ravi appealed to the Mayor to impress upon the State Government to permit the installation of a statue for Congress leader G.K. Moopanar.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Reprieve at last for a battered marshland?
Naresh Gupta promises free and fair Madurai by-election
How urbanisation watered down the natural wealth
This can go a long way in fighting climate change
State against privatising power distribution network
State records 98.23 per cent in Standard X CBSE examination
Marginal increase in rice prices
Surveillance of vector-borne diseases made comprehensive
Mobile operators unveil new schemes
Councillors want Corporation to be strict on leasing of lands
Bankers' credit plan for 2007-08
Councillor protests against "culture of privatisation"
Kite-flying in public places banned
Southern States to share information on diseases
Swamy slams reservation plan for minorities
Perumbakkam woman panchayat chief dies
No review of compulsory helmet rule
Held for helping gangster
What they say
Long queue
Correction
Around The City
In Chennai Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu