Chennai: The Madras high court has restrained the DMK party and 12 other political parties from conducting hartal/bandh/strike on September 27 at Coimbatore city, against enhancement of property tax and opposing the international contract entered with a foreign organisation by the Coimbatore City Municipal corporation.
A division bench comprising Justices M.Sathyanarayanan and N.Seshasayee also ordered notice to the state government, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation and 13 political parties, on a PIL filed by Coimbatore-based advocate C.Dinesh Kumar. The bench posted to October 23, further hearing of the case.
According to petitioner, as per the directions and guidelines issued by the high court, necessary steps were taken by all the local bodies to revise long pending property tax issue in accordance with the government orders and amendments. Accordingly, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation revised the property tax in complete compliance with the order of the high court. If any error or mistake were committed by the officials of the corporation, it was open to the individuals or affected parties to report the same to the municipal authorities by way of appeal and get it revised in accordance with annual rental value of the building, he added.
He said during the year 2008, the Municipal Council passed a resolution to appoint a consultant for the purpose of drinking water management effectively in Coimbatore city. After following due process, a consultant by name M/s Fitchner Consulting Engineering India was appointed as consultant. The same scheme itself was approved by the government headed by DMK party during the year 2008. Following the proposal of the previous government, without affecting the policy decision of the previous government, the present government implemented the same since it was viable and public friendly.
In order to implement the scheme as advised by the Central government as well as the state government, the Municipal Corporation entered into an agreement by name Suez Projects, for the purpose of implementing the drinking water scheme in Coimbatore city. When attempt was made by anti-social elements stating that the entire water scheme had been handed over to a foreign company and the entire Coimbatore city population will depend upon a foreign company for a drop of water, to remove such false and frivolous allegations and propaganda, the Municipal Corporation has issued pamphlets to clarify to the public that the allegations raised by the opposition parties were not only false and frivolous but misleading.
In order to put an end to the false propaganda, the Commissioner has rightly issued pamphlet clarifying the proposals and effect of the drinking water scheme.
In order to take political mileage, the opposition parties have not only started false propagation about property tax revision and international contract entered with Suez Projects, he added.
