The AIADMK-dominated Salem Corporation has asked the local DMK unit to remove a statue of former Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam as it has been installed without permission.
A six feet bronze statue of the former minister was to be unveiled by party treasurer M.K. Stalin here on Saturday.
Corporation Commissioner M. Ashokan issued the order stating that prior permission had to be sought from the government and the Corporation for installing statues in public and private places. Since such a permission was not obtained it should be removed, stated the order, which was handed over to the party’s district in charge S.R. Sivalingam at his residence on Tuesday night.
Mr. Sivalingam told The Hindu on Wednesday that he had brought the issue to the notice of his party bosses.
Arumugham’s statue was installed at the entrance of the party office building facing the Omalur Main Road, a State Highway. Hence, a no objection certificate (NOC) had to be obtained from the City Police, the Corporation and the Highways Department.
The application had to be submitted to the District Collector who, in turn, would ask the District Revenue Officer to inspect the site and submit a report. Based on the report, the Collector would forward the application to the Commissionerate of Revenue Administration (CRA) for obtaining permission. The CRA would seek opinion from the Secretaries of Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Revenue Department and the Law Department.
Finally, the application would be sent to the Revenue Minister and the Secretary, Revenue Department would issue an order permitting the installation of the statue.
