The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : DMK, AIADMK clash over road conditions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 01, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

DMK, AIADMK clash over road conditions

Special Correspondent

BJP member's poser on improvements triggers charges, counter-charges

COLLISION COURSE: AIADMK and DMK councillors clash at the Corporation Council in the city on Thursday. - PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

COIMBATORE: Councillors belonging to the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) clashed with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) members at the Corporation Council meeting on Thursday over the poor condition of roads in the city.

The BJP's A.T. Rajan pointed out to Deputy Mayor (also Mayor in-charge) K. Raghupathy that very little effort was taken to make the roads safer. "You must explain to the Council whether any action has been taken at all."

Regularisation fee

The Deputy Mayor said that after the DMK Government assumed charge, an all-party team met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi requesting regularisation of unapproved layouts.

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin announced a scheme with an affordable regularisation fee.

Mr. Rajan intervened to say: "What I asked is different. What have you done to improve the roads all over the city?" Mr. Raghupathy and the councillors of the DMK and Congress said a number of works were already taken up after the new Government took charge.

Mr. Rajan contended that road repairs had not been taken up over the last two years, not even after the Government took over.

Angered by this remark, the DMK members reeled off a list of wards where works were in progress.

Slogans raised

The AIADMK members joined the BJP councillors, alleging lack of repairs and this led to the DMK members rushing towards the Deputy Mayor. Both sides raised slogans against each other.

The DMK asked how the AIADMK members were qualified to accuse the present Government of not doing road works. When poor road condition persisted for two years, the AIADMK was in power, they pointed out.

"Many works have been taken up in the last 100 days after our (DMK) Government took over," they said.

Works on

City Engineer V. Raju said 65 road repair works at a cost of Rs. 9 crore would be taken up soon. Works costing Rs. 3.5 crore were already on.

The MDMK's M. Krishnaswamy wanted the Corporation to tell the people of its efforts to improve roads.

"We have only 40 to 50 days left (before the local body elections). We have to be an open book. There is no point in merely passing resolutions (in the Council)."

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