Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Officials coming in the way of works: Alandur councillors

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI FEB. 26. Pressing issues took a backseat when councillors of the Alandur Municipality, including those belonging to the AIADMK, decided to postpone the council meeting indefinitely protesting the attitude of municipal officials, whom they accused of coming in the way of executing welfare works. The officials, however, refuted the charges.

What would have been yet another routine meeting this morning, turned out be a very brief session, lasting just a few minutes. The problem started when a resident stormed into the council hall and asked officials why they were unable to ensure proper supply of water.

The members took exception to an `outsider' entering the hall and wondered why the officials were unable to prevent even such unsavoury incidents.

More councillors joined the chorus and charged that despite work orders being handed over to contractors, several projects were yet to commence. The members alleged that the officials demanded a "percentage of the project cost" from the contractors. The contractors, who were hesitant to part with the sum, were not given the work orders, they said.

The Chairman, R. S. Bharathi, and the Vice-Chairman, J. Baktavatsalam, joined the councillors and said the officials had no respect for the elected representatives. The Chairman, however, gave a clean chit to the Commissioner, K. Jayaraman, when he declared that "today's meeting is being indefinitely postponed to condemn the attitude of the officials except the Commissioner." However, officials termed the charges as "baseless". As on date, the orders had been issued to all the contractors and works were on. If at all works had been stalled, it was only due to paucity of funds and other technical reasons, they said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Pattabiram-Tiruvallur fourth line sanctioned
• Officials coming in the way of works: Alandur councillors
• Technology, a boon to hearing impaired: Governor
• T.Nagar robbery: special teams to trace culprits
• HC allows DMK member to attend Corpn. council meet

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu