The Corporation Council meeting held on Thursday had members of different wards and zonal chairpersons requesting the authority to pass estimates and make budgetary sanctions for infrastructure development works in their wards.
Citing that the wards had been grouped into zones for better administration, Chairperson of Zone 1 K. Rajapandian called for de-centralisation of power to enable them to sanction works worth Rs.50,000 to Rs.5 lakh.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa and Deputy Commissioner K. Leela responded to many such queries by saying that a decision would be taken after consultation with the new Commissioner.
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Meanwhile, protesting a resolution, which was read out, condemning the stance of DMK president M. Karunanidhi on the Sri Lanka issue, DMK councillors created a ruckus and staged a walkout. When they returned to the Council Hall and demanded that they be allowed to take part in the discussion, they were asked to leave by the Mayor for disturbing the proceedings.
In response to numerous complaints about dust and mud settled on the roadside posing health hazards, the Council passed resolutions to procure two lorry-mounted sweeping machines at a cost of Rs.90 lakh. A resolution to procure four ‘skid steer robots’ – small vehicles for repair and maintenance of roads – one each for the four zones, at a cost of Rs.76 lakh, was passed at the meeting.
Water scarcity and other issues plaguing the newly-annexed areas to the Corporation were brought up at the meeting. Chairperson of Zone 4 P. Salaimathu said there was acute drinking water scarcity and councillor N. Shanmugapriya alleged that the schools lacked facilities such as toilets and basic infrastructure. Councillor S. Raja Srinivasan said Azhagu Sundaram Nagar needed better road connectivity.
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