Worked with Mayor for development: Congress

CHENNAI: Congress, which fought the Chennai Corporation Council elections unitedly with the DMK in October 2006 and wrested the position of the main opposition party in the absence of AIADMK members, claims to have played a very constructive role during the last five years.“We played the role of a constructive opposition at the Council meetings and whenever we got the chance to advice the DMK-led Council on policies and schemes, we did it for the sake of public as a true opposition,” Saidai P Ravi, Opposition Leader in the House, told Express.When asked to comment on the DMK’s five-year rule, Ravi said, “Barring a few unfinished jobs, Mayor M Subramanian and his Council performed well on various schemes that brought relief to Chennaiites.” Though DMK was an ally, Congress fought for the improvement of infrastructure of the city at the Council meetings and, at times, succeeded in forcing the Mayor to accommodate the concerns of the party for a long-lasting solutions on specific issues, Ravi said.It was his sustained effort that forced the DMK council and the Mayor to take a firm decision to pack off private conservancy operator Neel Metal Fanalca for its poor track records in gar bage removal in the city.“Ever since the selection of NMF for conservancy operations, I raised the issue of their inexperience in handling garbage clearance in every Council meeting and, finally, the DMK paid heed to my stand and we are now searching for a new private player for the work,” he said. Ravi was instrumental in highlighting the issue of OSR lands.