Concrete road asphalted in Somwarpet; locals call it election gimmick, misuse of funds
Somwarpet: The work of asphalting a concrete road in town as a part of the Nagarothana project is drawing criticism from the locals.
The people, who witnessed a round of asphalting of the concrete road leading to the Someshwara Temple on Sunday, questioned the need for it, as the road is in excellent condition.
“Farmers have been struggling for two decades to use the pothole-filled roads in villages. Thus far, those in power did not grant funds to improve the state of the roads,” the citizens pointed out.
They added further, “Now, however, just as the rural voters decide to boycott the elections for this very reason, we find that a concrete road situated in an urban area being asphalted.”
The locals also said that Rs 2.26 crore was released under the Nagarothana project four months ago, for the works of the Town Panchayat. “Work under the project, however, is being undertaken only at the threshold of elections. The asphalting work is nothing but an election gimmick,” they said.
“A decade ago, several roads in town were concreted using Rs 5 crore. A concrete road, after all, is long-lasting and will not wear out for about 10 years. Following the asphalting work, however, the tax payer will have to provide the funds once in two years to close the potholes,” the people said.
Nachappa, chief officer of the Town Panchayat, who spoke on the matter, stated that the concrete road had worn out. “The concrete road was not in good condition. The residents in various wards of the town approached and requested us to get the stretch asphalted. The work has made it easier for the people to use it,” he added.
HA Nagaraju, president of the Niveshana Rahitara Horata Samiti, said that any sort of developmental work should be undertaken wherever needed, and not randomly.
Citing examples, the president said, “Houses in some wards do not have compound walls and are in bad shape. A house in Ward 7, belonging to families from financially weaker sections, has the problem of leakage,” and added, “The funds granted should be utilized to provide solutions in such cases. It is shameful that a concrete road is being asphalted.”
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Stalin accuses Centre of trying to use women's quota as 'weapon,' slams EPS over delimitation
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population.
"The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview.
"Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delimitation issue.
Recalling efforts made by the DMK to raise the issue of population-based delimitation, he said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
"We urged the union government that states which successfully implemented population control programmes must not be punished," he added.
The party came up with "Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu vellum" (Tamil Nadu will struggle, Tamil Nadu will win) and this is DMK's stand, he said.
"However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu."
