Stalin inaugurates schemes

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI, AUG. 18. The term for local bodies ends in October and the Chennai Corporation has launched yet another spate of inauguration of development schemes which have been completed before the anticipated election notification is issued.

Following the usual Corporation style, a series of `ribbon- cutting functions' were held in various parts of Triplicane and Kodambakkam zones on Friday and Saturday.

The Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin, was led to the venues by a convoy of vehicles carrying partymen. Slogans such as ``Mayor Stalin vazhga'', `Thalapathi Stalin vazhga' and a string of bursting crackers welcomed the Mayor in many places, traffic snarls and blockades notwithstanding.

The current schedule drawn up recently has run into controversy with the TMC leader in the Council, Mr. P. Vetrivel, stating that the Mayor need not inaugurate a bridge in his ward (division 66) which was thrown open to traffic soon after its completion about three months ago. The Mayor is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge across a canal in Arumbakkam on August 25.

Mr. Vetrivel said the Mayor had not consulted him and had unilaterally fixed the date for the function. Moreover, a G.O. issued during the DMK period stated that any new project already in use need not be inaugurated afresh.

The scene on Friday was much sober with the usual glitter and the huge presence of partymen, a common feature in every Corporation function earlier, glaringly missing. But on Saturday, things were back to the pattern of a ``DMK show''. The maximum crowd was at Nesapakkam where the Mayor inaugurated new buildings for the Corporation Higher Secondary School. The local MLA, Mr. D. Napoleon, and the North Chennai MP, Mr. C. Kuppuswamy, accompanied the Mayor, along with the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. T. R. Baalu.

Commissioner absent

The absence of the Corporation Commissioner, Mr. J. T. Acharyulu, was brought up by the Mayor on Friday. Expressing his dissatisfaction he told mediapersons at the venue: ``He is the one to have invited all for the function and now he is absent.'' When asked if the Commissioner had mentioned any reason for the absence, he quipped ``That you should ask him.''

On a query relating to moving a motion of no confidence against the Commissioner, the Mayor said he had written to the Government about the occurrences in the Corporation. However, the Additional Commissioner of Corporation, Mr. P. R. Sampath, was present on both days.

In Triplicane, the works were completed at a total cost of Rs. 1.38 crores, while in Kodambakkam, the cost incurred was Rs. 44.72 lakhs.

The following projects were inaugurated: In Triplicane - additional classrooms for the ITI at Lloyds Colony; noon meal centre on Avvai Shanmugam Salai; kitchen for the community hall in Begum Sahib Street; computer centre at the Corporation school in Arunachalam Street; a noon meal centre, a library and a kindergarten school building inn Nagappan Street (all from MLA fund); and a community hall at Gajapathy Lala Street.

In Kodambakkam - a public toilet and an anganwadi at Seeranipuram, and a gymnasium in Ashok Nagar Second Avenue (from MLA fund); health post at Thangalkarai; new building for the Corporation Higher Secondary School at Nesapakkam (both from MP fund); and a building to house Corporation primary school on Mullai Street in Majid Nagar.

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