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We want more powers, not concessions: councillors

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

BANNER OF REVOLT: PMC members demanding more powers for local body representatives at the municipal council meeting in Puducherry on Wednesday.

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Municipality’s 16th council meeting on Wednesday ended with councillors demanding more powers than allowances, action on erring officials, speedy completion of pending civic works, streamlining garbage dumping works and stern action on illegal hoardings.

Minutes after it commenced, the meeting witnessed noisy scenes as councillors belonging to Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) demanded more powers for the local body representatives rather concessions and allowances.

Raising slogans against Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s recent announcement for cell phone allowance for councillors, monthly rental allowance for office building and increase in conveyance allowance, councillors of the PMC said the local body representatives required powers to carry out the works in their wards.

Chairperson of the municipality B. Sridevi reiterated the need for powers to serve the public and solve their grievances, even as councillors of the Congress said the Chief Minister had announced the concessions after a resolution for the same was passed in a council meeting.

“Two years ago, a committee was formed to come up with recommendations based on which powers were to be granted to the local bodies. But nothing has moved till date. The Chief Minister and all members seem to be against granting powers to the local bodies,” a DMK councillor said.

Issues including garbage clearance, dog and mosquito menace and delay in carrying out civic works were raised at the council meeting.

Charging the Health Department of not adhering to proper biomedical waste disposal methods, PMC councillors said disposed syringes were being taken to Cuddalore and suburban areas for re-use.

Congress councillor Baskaran said repeated petitions to the Municipality officials to stop garbage dumping at Thenkaithittu had not been looked into. Replying to this, Commissioner N. Sumathi said the sanitary inspector has been directed to look into the issue and steps would be taken to stop garbage dumping in the area.

Following complaints on erring officials in the Municipality, Ms. Sumathi said show cause notices would be issued and action would be taken. She also agreed to dismiss her personal assistant following complaints from the councillors that he was a union leader.

“Due to fund constraints, 151 works at an estimate of Rs. 133 lakh has been pending till date. Priority will be given to these works as the financial status of the Municipality has improved. New works are not being taken up now. The pending works will be carried out and the pending bills will be settled,” the Commissioner said.

The councillors sought the attention of the Commissioner to check the mushrooming of hoardings in the town. “A Collector-level committee has been formed to look into this. We can remove hoardings which are put up without permission,” Ms. Sumathi said.

Regarding Rs.3 crore dues to the Electricity Board, the Chairperson said they would meet the Chief Minister requesting to write-off the amount for the Municipality.

Besides these, the councillors demanded settlement of bills for snacks and food, inspection to Municipality workshop, payment of salary for self-help group members and identity cards for members.

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