Date:01/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010158140300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Council meeting marred by walkout

Staff Reporter

Meeting postponed to next month

PUDUKOTTAI: A walkout marred the proceedings of the Municipal Council here on Wednesday, forcing Municipal Chairperson Ramathilagam Udaiyappan to postpone the meeting to next month.

The councillors, including DMK members, held the protest against what they called “misadministration” of municipality and “laxity on the part of municipal authorities” in fulfilling the civic needs of the town.

“Against lethargy”

Vice-Chairman Naina Mohamad was the first to walk out, protesting the municipality’s lethargic attitude in providing amenities.

Congress Councillor G. Arumugam, AIADMK councillors led by M. Rajendran and independent councillors, Karunakaran and Natarajan, besides Pazhaniappan (CPI) followed suit.

With only a few councillors seated at the meeting hall, the Chairperson announced the postponement of the meeting.

Flood relief demanded in Aranthangi

At the council meeting held in Aranthangi on Wednesday, a cross-section of councillors pleaded for “fair disbursement” of flood relief to all those affected in the torrential showers in November. The councillors wanted disbursement of relief in slum areas in the town.

Chairman P. Mariappan, who presided over the meeting, assured that he would look into the complaint. He clarified that the beneficiaries were identified after a survey by Revenue and Municipal officials.