CPI(M) party functionaries on Thursday staged a protest against the various irregularities in Madurai Corporation. They demanded the cancellation of the contract with ‘Ourland’, a private company, which has taken up works for solid waste management.

Hundreds of CPI(M) party functionaries opposed the privatisation of operations and sought a thorough inquiry into the property tax scam in Madurai Corporation and corruption in the implementation of Smart City projects. Strict action should be taken against those who were involved in the scam, they said.

Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan and others participated in the protest. CPI(M) party functionaries said outsourcing the work to private companies was detrimental to public welfare and workers rights. They accused ‘Ourland’ for exploiting the workers, paying them very low wages and dismissing the workers without giving them an opportunity of being heard.

Madurai was ranked as one of the dirtiest cities in India. The Corporation should directly take up sanitation work by appointing permanent staff, based on eligibility, and provide appropriate wages and job security, they said.

They emphasised that the essential services such as sanitation and drinking water supply should not be handed over to private companies and the Corporation itself should carry out these tasks using permanent employees.

MP Su. Venkatesan said CPI(M) has been consistently exposing the irregularities and the fraudulent practices of ‘Ourland’ regarding the sanitation operations. Sanitary workers affiliated with the CITU and the VCK trade unions have been continuously protesting against ‘Ourland’ who have neglected the workers, he said.

Published - July 09, 2026 11:19 pm IST