SALEM: The monthly Salem City Municipal Corporation council meeting on Monday saw rare unanimity across party lines as both ruling and opposition councillors raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the collection of fees from street vendors.
The issue was first flagged by Ward 32 councillor K Boumika Thapsira, who drew attention to the situation in the Ammapet zone. She alleged that long-time local residents were being denied vending space in and around the local market, while vendors from other parts of the district were being allotted space through questionable means. She asked whether the fees were being collected by the corporation or by private individuals, and under whose authority the allocations were being made.
Echoing the concerns, Ward 14 councillor R Santhamoorthy alleged that certain officials were misusing the name of the corporation and the commissioner, causing reputational damage. He further claimed that several street vendors had not been issued official vendor identity cards and irregular practices were prevalent in the process.
Boumika alleged that a private individual, operating in the name of the corporation and allegedly with the support of officials, was collecting money from vendors. She also claimed that some vendors were being asked to pay extra amounts for the issuance of vending cards.
Responding to the allegations, Corporation Commissioner M Elangovan said 3,300 street vendor identity cards had been issued so far and clarified that the cards were valid only within the designated vending zones. "A vendor allotted a zone in Ammapet cannot set up shop in Suramangalam," he said.
Leader of the Opposition and Ward 36 councillor N Yadavamoorthy alleged widespread discrepancies and irregular practices in the collection of rents and user fees from street vendors across several zones. He said the lack of transparency had created confusion among vendors.
AIADMK Ward 22 councillor KC Selvaraj said the concerns raised by elected representatives during every council meeting should be formally recorded and acted upon.
When AIADMK councillors cited similar irregularities at the VOC Market, a heated exchange broke out in the council, following which the AIADMK members staged a walkout, alleging that their concerns were being ignored and that no concrete action had been taken by the corporation officials.