Ward Members Resign En Masse

By Express News Service

Published: 06th May 2015

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  Collector R Nanthagopal reading the resignation letter handed over by ward members, at the collectorate, in Vellore, on Tuesday | S Dinesh

VELLORE: Eight of the nine ward members of Chennasamuthiram panchayat in Walajapet Taluk handed in their resignations to the Collector R Nanthagopal.

They were irked that development works and essential civic works were not implemented the last seven months.

The panchayat’s civic and other development works stalled seven months ago after the government removed the cheque issuing power of panchayat president E Parasuraman for irregularities.

There are over 2000 families in Melamottu, Chennasamuthiram and Kanniga Samuthiram villages in the panchayat. 

“After the panchayat president’s cheque issuing power was removed, he said no one should approach him for panchayat-related work and should not ask him to provide basic amenities. He also stopped coming to the gram sabha or any other panchayat council meet since,” said R Ranjini, a panchayat ward member.

 He along with seven ward members, including two women councillors, submitted their resignation letter to the Collector on Monday at the public grievance day meet.

“We have repeatedly approached the block development office and collector for the last couple of months urging them to take up essential civic works, including repair of pipes and replacing street lights. But there has been no response from either the Collector or the BDO officials,” he said.

The councillors said they had spent from their pockets on works such as restoring water pipes.

“We have been facing the wrath of the people for the last seven months,” said M Babu, councillor of 8th ward.

He criticised officials’ lethargy in looking into common man’s problems. 

Most of the street lights were not working.

It  plunged the streets in three villages into darkness and village women were scared to step out of their home at night.

Responding to the councillors’ mass resignation, district officials said they would look into the issues and try to sort them soon.