UGD, water supply projects unsustaibale without tax, says Coimbatore corporation
Coimbatore: Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran on Friday said the tax demand for underground drainage (UGD) and water supply projects was essential to secure loans from the World Bank and outline future developments.
At the council meeting on the day, most of the councillors, including those from the ruling party and the opposition, urged the civic body to cancel the previous resolution revising the deposit and monthly tariff for the UGD and water supply connections.
The corporation commissioner, however, told the councillors that the projects were unsustainable without tax demands. "These two projects were implemented by procuring a partial amount as a loan from the World Bank.
Maintenance of these projects will require funds. The tariff announced is common for all corporations across the state."
Accepting the objections from the councillors, mayor R Ranganayaki said the matter would be discussed at the next council meeting,
The AIADMK councillors, meanwhile, opposed the resolution to find contractors to maintain the 16 indoor stadiums in the city and fix a user fee of Rs75 per month. D Ramesh, councillor from ward 90, said, "To date, all these stadiums were maintained by the resident's welfare associations or other welfare boards in the locality. They are in good condition. If these get to the hands of contractors, they will end up like the parks and other infrastructure in the city without much maintenance.
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AIADMK councillors R Prabhakaran and Ramesh later staged a walkout, raising slogans against the DMK govt. The mayor subsequently suspended the two AIADMK councillors for the next two council meetings as a disciplinary action.
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