At a meeting nearly five months ago, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa warned errant councillors against corrupt practices and nexus with contractors.
With complaints regarding councillors assaulting corporation staff and threatening civic contractors for higher cuts doing the rounds in Ripon Buildings, the situation is back to square one.
According to corporation sources, contractors were prevented from bidding for tenders called for development projects such a restoration of roads, upgradation of gymnasium and corporation playgrounds, construction of new stormwater drains and laying of concrete roads in three zones — Valsaravakkam, Ambattur and Anna Nagar — on Friday.
The contractors alleged that former ruling party councillor Bhavani Shankar and some of his associates restrained contractors from participating in the tender.
But Mr Shankar claims: “Some unknown persons within the party are trying to malign me. I was not present at the venue where the bidding took place. In fact, I need contractors to carry out pending works in my ward.”
“One of the reasons for the poor auction is shortage of staff in the zonal offices. Despite allocation of funds for development projects, the staff fail to initiate the proposals.
Besides, I heard there weren’t too many bidders this time owing to skyrocketing prices of construction materials,” he added.