Congress councillors seek explanation over alleged corruption in Coimbatore Semmozhi Poonga project
Congress councillors in Coimbatore demanded an investigation into alleged financial irregularities and inflated costs within the Semmozhi Poonga project. The council meeting descended into chaos, resulting in the suspension of a councillor and protests from opposition parties.
Why it matters
This reflects ongoing tensions regarding municipal governance, transparency in public infrastructure projects, and political friction between ruling and opposition parties.
The Coimbatore Corporation Council meeting on Friday witnessed heated exchanges after Congress councillors sought an explanation from the civic administration over allegations of irregularities in the execution of the Semmozhi Poonga project.
A. Alagu Jayabalan, Congress floor leader in the Council, and councillor R. Gayathri raised the issue, referring to a representation submitted by the Southern Regional Contractors’ Association (SRCA) to the State government. The association alleged that the Semmozhi Poonga project, originally tendered at around ₹45 crore, was subsequently revised through additional estimates exceeding ₹40 crore, taking the total expenditure to around ₹80 crore. It further alleged that inflated data rates and non-schedule items were adopted in the revised estimates and that fake bills worth more than ₹40 crore had allegedly been raised, resulting in a purported loss to the Corporation.
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