DMK councillors question GCC Commissioner over tax revision, monsoon preparedness

CHENNAI: Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran faced sharp criticism from DMK councillors on Friday (August 28) over the handling of the property tax revision and northeast monsoon preparedness.

DMK councillor C Velu questioned him for announcing the tax revision without consulting Mayor Priya, Deputy Mayor Magesh Kumar or ward councillors.

He added: “The sudden announcement triggered public opposition. Is the city run by elected representatives or officials?”

Sameeran defended the move, saying it was not a tax hike but a reassessment based on actual land values.

He said that the public had been allowed to file objections and that the revision was later halted following public demand.

He also said the decision was purely administrative and that he took personal responsibility for it.

Velu cautioned Sameeran that even administrative decisions should be communicated to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and asked him not to repeat the mistake.

The issue spilled into the discussion on northeast monsoon preparedness, with Mayor Priya alleging that she and the Deputy Mayor had not been invited to government-level meetings on the issue.

Sameeran told the council that several meetings with ministers and senior officials had already been held and that Rs 100 crore had been sanctioned for precautionary works.

“Mayor and Deputy Mayor had not been invited to the meetings convened by the government in the Secretariat on monsoon preparedness,” Priya said.

Velu questioned why elected Corporation representatives were not being consulted on monsoon works and ward-level allocations.