AIADMK Councillors argue with Mayor G. Ramakrishnan during the council meeting held in Tirunelveli on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGMENT
Tirunelveli Corporation, which put on hold its decision to effect a steep hike in drinking water and underground drainage connection deposits before the Assembly election fearing a backlash from voters, has decided to implement the upwardly revised deposit structure now.The Corporation Council meeting held here on Thursday decided to fix the revised deposit amount, without any debate on the issue, based on the plinth area of residences and commercial buildings. It also decided to effect 3% increase of the deposit and the monthly tax every year. Those who have paid the deposit for getting the underground sewage connection should pay the difference in the deposit.Deposits for commercial buildings, industries, educational institutions and non-residence structures have been increased from ₹15,000 to ₹80,000. For getting drinking water or sewage connection, the applicant should first apply for fixation of tax by Corporation officials, and the building owner should then submit the application with all relevant documents.For drinking water connection, the building owner or tenant should bear the cost of the meter, installation of the meter and bear the maintenance cost. Motors fitted for drinking water connections would be seized and the connection disconnected. Apart from paying a fine of ₹10,000, the violator will have to pay other penalties. If the domestic drinking water connection is used for commercial purposes, the commercial tariff will be fixed, a proposal tabled in the meeting said.After a hasty ending of the meeting, a group of councillors submitted a petition to Commissioner Monika Rana in her chamber urging her to put on hold the decision to hike the deposit and the monthly tax based on plinth area of properties. Led by K.S. Rasool Maideen of Ward 50 in Melapalayam Zone, 25 of the 55 councillors submitted the petition.“This arbitrary decision to exorbitantly revise the underground drainage and drinking water connection deposits should be withdrawn. Hence, we have submitted the petition with the Commissioner,” said Mr. Rasool Maideen.Meanwhile, AIADMK Councillors engaged in a heated argument with Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, demanding installation of the portrait of their party general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the council hall.After the Mayor, who has installed the photo of DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin behind the chair in the council hall, warned them of severe action, including suspension from attending the meeting, they returned to their seats silently. Published - July 16, 2026 07:53 pm IST
