In Valparai, councilors participated in a dharna during the monthly city council meeting led by Chairman Alagu Sundaram Valli and Deputy Chairman Senthilkumar, demanding transparency in monthly expenses and the appointment of a permanent commissioner.
Coimbatore: The Valparai municipal meeting, chaired by Alagu Sundaram Valli and deputy chairman Senthilkumar on February 27, 2024, witnessed an unusual protest by its councilors. The meeting, attended by 21 ward councilors and presided over by municipal engineer Venkatesan, saw a peaceful dharna initiated by the ninth ward member Magudishwaran. He sat on the floor, demanding the display of monthly expense accounts and the appointment of a permanent commissioner for Valparai Municipality.
This act of protest quickly gained momentum as other councilors joined in, echoing the demands for transparency and better administrative efficiency. They raised concerns over the delay in development works in Valparai, criticizing the current arrangement where commissioners from Pollachi and Udumalpet visit only twice a week, leading to stalled projects.
The dharna highlighted several issues, including the need for street lights in areas frequented by wild elephants, timely payment of salaries to sanitation workers, and provision of safety equipment. Councilors Manikandan (17th ward), Veeramani (3rd ward), and Anbarasan (12th ward) led the chants, bringing attention to the urgent needs of their wards.
The protest stirred up considerable noise, prompting the deployment of police to the municipality premises to maintain order. After a brief period of negotiation, government officials and the municipal chairperson managed to calm the situation, promising to address the grievances.
The chairman announced the adjournment of the meeting, stating it would reconvene at a later date when the issues raised could be more thoroughly discussed. This incident has spotlighted the growing demand for transparency and accountability in municipal governance, alongside the call for immediate action to address the developmental delays in Valparai.
This act of protest quickly gained momentum as other councilors joined in, echoing the demands for transparency and better administrative efficiency. They raised concerns over the delay in development works in Valparai, criticizing the current arrangement where commissioners from Pollachi and Udumalpet visit only twice a week, leading to stalled projects.
The dharna highlighted several issues, including the need for street lights in areas frequented by wild elephants, timely payment of salaries to sanitation workers, and provision of safety equipment. Councilors Manikandan (17th ward), Veeramani (3rd ward), and Anbarasan (12th ward) led the chants, bringing attention to the urgent needs of their wards.
The protest stirred up considerable noise, prompting the deployment of police to the municipality premises to maintain order. After a brief period of negotiation, government officials and the municipal chairperson managed to calm the situation, promising to address the grievances.
The chairman announced the adjournment of the meeting, stating it would reconvene at a later date when the issues raised could be more thoroughly discussed. This incident has spotlighted the growing demand for transparency and accountability in municipal governance, alongside the call for immediate action to address the developmental delays in Valparai.