DMK, AIADMK councillors lock horns over various issues in Salem Corporation council meeting

DMK and AIADMK councillors clash over various issues at Salem Corporation meeting, including pending construction projects and water charges.

The DMK and AIADMK councillors locked horns over various issues at the monthly council meeting of the Salem Corporation on Thursday.

The council meeting was held at the Corporation office and Mayor A. Ramachandran presided over the meeting in which 99 resolutions were passed.

At the meeting, ward 44 councillor (VCK) J.M. Imayavarman said the councillors completed 36 months in their five-year tenure and had 24 months more. But for the past one and a half years, the construction of a primary health centre in the ward was not completed. In the Corporation, eight urban wellness centres were waiting for its opening for the past one year and the centre had become a den of anti-social elements. Similarly, the construction of the crematorium in the ward that started in 2020 was still going on. The corporation was to complete these works soon, the councillor said.

While ward 60 councillor (AIADMK) S.A. Varadharaj questioned the works pending in his wards, some DMK members asked him to sit down. It created a verbal duel between the DMK and AIADMK councillors and some DMK councillors had a heated argument with Opposition leader (AIADMK) N. Yadhavamoorthy. Later, the Mayor pacified them.

Ward 37 councillor (DMK) M. Thirugnanam asked the officials to complete the renovation works at Kumaragiri Lake soon as the water in the lake had started to dry and praised the efforts of the Mayor in addressing the drinking water supply issue and claimed people in the ward were receiving drinking water seven days once from 10 days once.

Ward 22 councillor K.C. Selvaraj (AIADMK) charged that the Salem Corporation brought a resolution to install meters for drinking water and planned to hike the water charges and its deposit amount. While the Corporation was struggling for funds, it constructed a room for the Mayor at ₹40 lakh, he said. This created a war of words between the DMK and AIADMK councillors. The Mayor clarified that the room was constructed for administrative reasons.

Corporation Commissioner M. Elangovan said the by-law for fixing meter for drinking water was a State wide subject and it was sent for all Corporations. After getting a nod from the Corporations, the government would give time to give suggestions and then only the rules would be implemented.