SALEM: The monthly council meeting of the Salem City Municipal Corporation (SCMC) on Friday saw heated exchanges, with AIADMK councillors walking out in protest against what they alleged were irregularities in tender processes and the city corporation's failure to implement a resolution to reduce property tax.
The meeting, chaired by Mayor A Ramachandran in the presence of Commissioner of SCMC M Elangovan and Deputy Mayor M Saratha Devi, began with councillors raising a range of civic concerns, including road quality, market maintenance, and flood prevention works. During the session, councillors raised complaints about road works being carried out during the monsoon season, poor stormwater drain maintenance, and the loss of revenue in the VOC market. AIADMK councillor Selvaraj said the corporation had suffered revenue loss due to irregularities in market tenders, while several DMK councillors urged stricter supervision of contractors executing civic projects.
DMK councillor Gunasekaran raised concerns over road works being carried out during the monsoon season, stating that complaints to contractors were often ignored. He urged the corporation to monitor areas where substandard work was being done and take strict action against those responsible.
Opposition leader and AIADMK councillor N Yadhavamoorthy accused the administration of ignoring the council's earlier decision to reduce property tax and other levies. "The resolution to cut taxes has been passed, but no action has been taken," he said, demanding immediate implementation.
In response, Mayor Ramachandran said the proposal had been sent to the Chennai headquarters for review and was still under consideration. However, unsatisfied with the response, AIADMK councillors staged a walkout, alleging the corporation was indifferent to public grievances.
After the meeting, Yadhavamoorthy told reporters that large-scale corruption was taking place under the guise of civic development. "The ruling party has turned major market tenders into a source of personal gain," he alleged, adding that the corporation was also showing false accounts for road repairs.
Despite the walkout, the remaining resolutions were passed in the meeting, which concluded without further disruption.
