66 resolutions, AIADMK walkout at Salem Corporation Council Meeting

DMK and AIADMK councillors exchanging heated words during the Salem Corporation council meeting on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Salem Corporation Council meeting held on Thursday witnessed the passing of 66 resolutions, as well as a walkout by AIADMK councillors after a verbal clash with their DMK counterparts.

The meeting, held at the Corporation office, was presided over by Mayor A. Ramachandran.

Councillors from both the AIADMK and DMK highlighted issues regarding water supply for residents in the Corporation. DMK Councillor Panneerselvam stated that the Corporation claimed it was supplying 160 MLD of water to Salem Corporation each day, including 140 to 155 MLD of water through the Dedicated Water Supply Scheme and 12 MLD of water from the Mettur-Gangavalli water scheme. However, the Salem Corporation only requires 135 MLD of water daily. Despite receiving what should be adequate water, many areas are only receiving water supply once every ten days, he added. AIADMK councillors Vardharajan and Selvaraj and DMK councillor Saravanan also pointed out the issue.

Officials cited water pipeline damage at Saradha College Road and motor repair issues as reasons for the poor water supply and added that the issue would be sorted soon. The mayor also instructed the officials to sort out the issue without delay.

Referring to a tender worth ₹800 crore floated by the Corporation to supply drinking water 24/7, Ward 22 Councillor K.C. Selvaraj of the AIADMK came out against the privatisation of water supply, hinting at the possibility of water tariffs being raised, which would affect the public. “A committee constituted by the Corporation submitted a report a few years ago that if the Corporation spends ₹100 crore, on constructing ten overhead water tanks and replacing pipelines, drinking water could be supplied 24×7. Instead of that, the corporation has now decided to privatise this,” he said.

Opposition leader N. Yadhavamoorthy of the AIADMK highlighted that a trust in Ammapet had defrauded the public by accepting deposits worth several crores. The DMK responded that the matter was currently under police investigation. This led to a heated exchange between the DMK and AIADMK members, during which some DMK members attempted to grab the microphone from the Opposition leader. Subsequently, the AIADMK councillors staged a walkout from the meeting.