Published Sep 15, 2026 | 9:42 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 15, 2026 | 9:42 PM
Balachander told a private television channel that the Ashoka Pillar statue had been constructed entirely using CSR funds.
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu Government transferred Tambaram City Municipal Corporation Commissioner S Balachander, IAS, to the waiting list on Tuesday after Arappor Iyakkam complained of irregularities in two tenders worth ₹45.9 lakh. The NGO alleged that officials completed both works before publishing the tenders and awarded them to predetermined contractors.
The Tamil Nadu Government on Tuesday, 15 September, transferred Tambaram City Municipal Corporation Commissioner S Balachander, IAS, to the waiting list following a complaint by NGO Arappor Iyakkam alleging irregularities in the tender process for two civic works worth a combined ₹45.9 lakh.
R Saranya, Commissioner of Avadi City Municipal Corporation, has been given additional charge as Tambaram Corporation Commissioner until further orders.
Arappor Iyakkam had submitted a complaint to the Tamil Nadu Government and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) earlier on Tuesday, alleging that the two works had been pre-fixed and executed before the completion of the tender process.
The NGO alleged that the works were awarded to predetermined contractors in violation of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act. It sought action against the officials concerned, including suspension of the Corporation Commissioner, a departmental inquiry and criminal proceedings by the DVAC.
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One of the tenders, valued at ₹27.3 lakh, was for installing an Ashoka Pillar statue and carrying out landscaping and beautification works at the Perungalathur Bridge Roundana.
The tender was published on 6 August, and bids were scheduled to be opened on 24 August. However, Arappor Iyakkam alleged that the work had already been completed and inaugurated on 29 July, eight days before the tender was published.
The second tender, worth ₹18.6 lakh, was for installing a Save Water concept statue and carrying out landscaping and beautification works at the Chitlapakkam Roundana. The tender was published on 6 August, while the NGO alleged that the work had been completed and inaugurated on 10 August.
Arappor Iyakkam also alleged that the tender portal continued to show both tenders as “To be opened” even after the scheduled date for opening the bids, raising questions over the transparency of the process.
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Balachander told a private television channel that the Ashoka Pillar statue had been constructed entirely using CSR funds. He said the tender issued for the work had already been cancelled.
He also maintained that the tender status was not updated online because the by-election had been announced and the corresponding online update was left pending.
