Condemning the Tiruchengode municipality’s refusal to utilise the MP Development Fund of Rs. 11 lakh and returning it to the government, DMK councillors staged a walkout from the council meeting held here on Friday. When the meeting began, DMK councillor Suresh Babu of ward 23 said that the former Union Minister S. Gandhiselvan had allotted Rs. 11 lakh from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) for carrying out works in the municipality. The funds were allotted for installing biomass lights at a cost of Rs. 3 lakh near Periyar Statue, Rs. 2 lakh for drinking water purpose in ward 30, Rs. 3 lakh for road and drainage works in Ward 23. However, the funds allotted in 2014 were not utilised and instead were sent back, he added. Chairman Pon Saraswathi said that no contractor has come forward to carry out the above said works and hence the funds could not be utilised. The councillor said that the municipality is not providing funds for any development works in their wards. Hence they were forced to depend on MPLADs. But the funds were not utilised, he added. Hence he along with two other DMK councillors staged walkout.
