CHENNAI: Minister D Jayakumar on Monday refuted the allegations of irregularities in awarding road maintenance contracts in Krishnagiri, Ramanathapuram and Thiruvallur districts. In a statement, he said that the performance-based maintenance contracts (PBMC) for maintaining roads and carrying out repair works are being awarded to technically qualified contractors for a period of five years. The maintenance works involve widening of existing roads, building culverts, removal of bushes, and construction of minor bridges and pavements. “The government has not spent `2,083 crore as reported by a section of media,” said the minister.
Through the PBMC in Pollachi district for road maintenance, the state government had saved upto `16.47 crore, the minister said, adding that a similar contract system would also be introduced in Ramanthapuram and Virudhunagar districts so as to reduce the additional expenditure.Stalin meets Guv, seeks probe into corruptionAlleging that ‘Himalayan corruption’ and ‘gross misappropriation’ of funds were committed in awarding contracts in the State Highways department, DMK working president MK Stalin on Monday urged Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take urgent steps to probe the corruption charges against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Cabinet colleagues.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, he said, “I request the Governor to take urgent action to probe the corruption charges against Edappadi K Palaniswami and also the persons connected with him for the misappropriation of public funds to the tune of `3,120 crore under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.” Stalin charged that the CM’s misconduct and collusion with relatives and associates had led to a ‘Himalayan corruption’ and ‘gross misappropriation’ of funds.