AIADMK councillors stage walkout over property tax and neglected wards in Erode

Condemning the Erode Corporation for failing to reduce property tax despite passing a special resolution, The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) councillors staged a walkout from the council meeting here on Wednesday (December 31, 2025). They also highlighted delays in the completion of the dedicated drinking water supply scheme and in repair works for solid waste management vehicles, which have affected garbage collection and transportation.

The meeting, chaired by Mayor S. Nagarathinam, was held in the presence of Corporation Commissioner Arpit Jain and Deputy Mayor V. Selvaraj. Both Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and AIADMK councillors pointed out that repair works for solid waste management vehicles had been pending for over three months. They further noted that batteries in the vehicles had not been replaced, forcing conservancy workers to manually drag the vehicles.

Leader of the Opposition and Ward 11 councillor M.D. Thangamuthu said the property tax fixed by the Corporation was 100% higher than in other Corporations, and a resolution to reduce it had been passed. “Even after many months, the tax has not been reduced,” he said. He also noted that drinking water is yet to be supplied to all wards, even after four years.

Responding, an official said the civic body would soon take over maintenance of sumps and pipelines from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, for which a proposal of ₹8.35 crore has been submitted to the government. AIADMK councillors also questioned the expenditure of ₹12 lakh for an eye screening camp and several lakh for other special camps, despite the civic body facing a significant shortfall of funds.

City Health Officer M. Karthikeyan said 19 specialists had screened 1,500 beneficiaries during the camp, and the expenditure covered laboratory setup, food, and other expenses. He added that fogging using Mosquito Larvicidal Oil is being carried out at disease-prone areas to control mosquito breeding.

When the issue of a bus terminal near Kanirowther Kulam was raised, Mr. Jain said the land acquisition process for the project is under way. He also mentioned that a trial run to provide food in tiffin boxes to conservancy workers is being conducted in Zone one, and will be extended to all zones after a formal inauguration by the Chief Minister next week.

Claiming that no works had been carried out in their wards, AIADMK councillors staged a walkout.