Alleging that the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation is yet to take steps to repair the damaged roads, councillors of the main Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam staged a walk out from the Council on Friday.
Stating that the recent rain had caused extensive damage to the city’s roads, including important thoroughfares, the protesting councillors said that the motorists had been finding it difficult to negotiate on these roads.
Deep potholes had formed on many roads, making driving on these roads a nightmare. Sheets of water concealed the potholes and two-wheeler riders, who fail to spot them, faced injury risk.
Raising the issue, T. Muthu Selvam, DMK member, said the corporation, which was supposed to take proactive steps, had not bothered to carry out any tangible work to make the roads better. He was soon joined by many of the DMK members.
However, the ruling AIADMK members, including J. Srinivasan, Ariyamangalam zone chairman, objected to the criticism. They said that it was unfair to criticise the corporation when rains lashed the city. Soon, the DMK members walked out of the council.
Earlier, the council witnessed heated exchanges between the members of the AIADMK and the DMK over a remark made by Mr. Muthu Selvam. He criticised the functioning of Heath Department.
He said that although Mayor A. Jaya had made many promises in the past, she had failed to fulfil them. The AIADMK members, who came to her defence, said she was making earnest efforts to solve the civic problems.
Ms. Jaya said the members should exercise restraint. It was unfair to criticise her and the health officials as she had visited various materiality wards. The corporation had conducted several health camps to create awareness among the people.
S. Mariappan, Corporation Health Officer, said three maternal deaths were reported in the city limits this year as against six in 2013. Similarly, the infant deaths had been brought down to 22 from 30 last year.
As far as dengue fever was concerned, 18 cases had been reported as against 60 last year. This result was possible only because of steps taken by the corporation health authorities, he added.
