Chidambaram puts off meeting after Collectors skip it

Sivaganga (TN), Sep 13: A meeting convened by Home Minister P.Chidambaram to review centrally sponsored programmes was cancelled abruptly as the Collectors of Sivaganga and Pudukottai districts did not turn up.

As the respective District Collectors were not present at the District level Awareness and Monitoring Committee meeting in Sivaganga and Pudukottai districtson Monday, the Minister had to cancel it, officials said.

According to officials, the minister said it was not possible to hold the meeting with other officials of the districts.

The minister regretted that the collectors did not turn up though the arrangements had been made by the District Rural Development agency for review of centrally sponsored programmes.

Chidambaram said here on Monday that the meeting was fixed after knowing the convenience of the collector and getting the date. The Sivaganga Collector Rajaram had called his secretary last night and told him that he had work at Chennai.Though his Secretary told the collector to go after the meeting,the collector, without heeding the advice, had left for Chennai.

"This is regrettable.The meeting will be held at a convenient date later," he said.

The Minister was apparently upset at Pudukottai also as the Collector was not present. Congressmen accompanying the minister threatened to picket the Collectorate to protest the "collector''s attitude" but left after giving a warning,officials said.

PTI