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Opposition AIADMK councillors raised allegations of misuse of Smart City Mission funds during a Salem Municipal Corporation meeting and staged a walkout after heated exchanges with the ruling DMK members. They claimed that development works worth several crore rupees had not been properly implemented and that no new projects were initiated under the current administration. The opposition also questioned the decision to outsource tax collection to a private agency. The protest highlighted ongoing concerns over fund utilisation, project execution and accountability in Salem's urban development programmes.
A Salem Municipal Corporation council meeting saw sharp disagreement after AIADMK councillors accused the DMK-led civic administration of misusing funds allocated under the Smart City Mission. The issue was raised during discussions chaired by Mayor A. Ramachandran, with opposition leader N. Yadavamoorthy stating that projects worth several crore rupees had either been delayed or not executed as intended. Advertisement
The AIADMK members argued that most development works currently underway in Salem were sanctioned during the previous AIADMK government and that the present administration had failed to initiate fresh Smart City projects. They alleged that the funds meant for improving urban infrastructure were not being effectively utilised, leading to stalled or incomplete works across the city.
The opposition also objected to the civic body allowing a private company to handle tax collection, stating that this responsibility should remain with the municipal corporation. According to the councillors, the move raised concerns about transparency and financial control within the civic administration.
As the debate intensified between the ruling party and opposition members, the AIADMK councillors walked out of the meeting in protest. The walkout disrupted the proceedings and underscored deep political differences over governance and financial management in the corporation.
The allegations come amid broader scrutiny of Smart City projects in Salem, where questions have previously been raised about maintenance, execution quality and public use of completed assets. The opposition has consistently maintained that stronger oversight is required to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose.
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