Former AIADMK Minister Sellur Raju submitted a petition to the Madurai District Collector regarding various development issues in the district. Speaking to the media afterward, he launched a strong critique of the DMK governmentโs outreach program, stating that โUngaludan Stalinโ (With You, Stalin) is nothing but a political stunt and a sweet treat (like “halwa”) offered to the public.
He pointed out that desilting work has not been carried out in 16 water bodies across Madurai, even though the monsoon season is about to begin. He also highlighted the pollution in the Vaigai River, the poor condition of roads, and the general negligence in infrastructure work, urging the government to take immediate action.
Raju criticized the construction of a flyover, which has allegedly damaged the Panaiyur canal path, affecting the inflow of water into the Mariamman Teppakulam, a historical and culturally significant tank that is said to be one of a kind in Asia.
Referring to the Mullaperiyar Joint Drinking Water Project, valued at โน1,296 crore, he stated that the project is still incomplete. He noted that only 88 overhead tanks have been tested so far, and that alone is insufficient. He added, โOnly now has a pipeline been laid to my houseโand even that doesnโt work properly!โ
Sellur Raju strongly condemned the polluted state of the Vaigai River, where garbage is dumped freely. He stressed that the government must take steps to clean and preserve the river. He criticized the practice of cleaning up aquatic weeds like water hyacinth in the river only during the Chithirai Festival, leaving it filthy the rest of the year.
He also stated that if the Tamil Nadu government lacks funds, it should approach the central government for assistance to carry out cleanup and restoration projects for the river.
Raju expressed disappointment over Madurai Municipal Corporation being ranked 40th among Indian city corporations, citing it as a failure in administration. He accused the local administration of widespread corruption, revealing that 200 marriage halls had been improperly assessed under residential tax, and 19 people have been arrested in connection with this.
However, he praised Commissioner Chitra Vijayan for taking action against these irregularities.
Sellur Raju also questioned what happened to the petitions Stalin collected from the public during his time as Opposition Leader. โNow, four and a half years into power, the government is again collecting petitions with promises of resolving issues in 45 days. What happened to the earlier promises?โ he asked.
He criticized the handling of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Scheme (Women’s Entitlement Scheme) as well, saying that rejected applicants are being asked to reapply, and questioned how already rejected women would ever receive the promised aid.
Key Demands:
- Clean up the Vaigai River and prevent waste dumping
- Complete the Mullaperiyar drinking water project
- Repair damaged infrastructure and roads
- Ensure transparency and fairness in tax assessments
- Seek central funding if state finances fall short
- Fulfill promises made during election campaigns
