The move to rename the South Street in Tiruvarur after the late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi has been kept in abeyance at the behest of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Municipal Administration Minister K. N. Nehru, said on Saturday.
The Tiruvarur Municipal Council had adopted a resolution last month renaming the street in the town after the former Chief Minister. The BJP had strongly opposed the move with its State president K. Annamalai leading a protest in the town on Thursday. “The Chief Minister has instructed that the resolution be kept in abeyance and the existing name of the street remains. The BJP is looking for some issue or other to stage protest,” Mr.Nehru told reporters here.
Responding to a query on Mr.Annamalai’s reported statement that the BJP would launch a dharna in front of the District Collectorate and paralyse the district administration if the authorities went ahead with the renaming of the street, Mr .Nehru retorted: “Can an individual prevent the functioning of a government or a government official? If they do so, they will be liable to face legal action.”
Defending the move to hike the property tax annually, Mr. Nehru said it was aimed at increasing the revenue of the civic bodies so that they were able to provide necessary amenities with their own funds. The move was intended to ensure a gradual increase rather than steep hike at one go and the decision has been taken in the interests of the people, he said.
Property tax revision has been made mandatory to receive 15th Finance Commission funds from 2022-23. Property tax has not been revised for several years and the previous AIADMK had proposed a very steep hike. But the Chief Minister had substantially reduced the quantum of hike, he maintained.
Answering a query on regularisation of unapproved layouts / buildings, Mr. Nehru said the issue has been taken to the notice of the Chief Minister for a decision.
