Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jun 22: Members of district BJP on Monday June 22 staged a protest against the stalling of Town Hall renovation work and the untimely transfer of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner, and also over the 'failure' of MCC administration in general.

Addressing the protest held in front of the MCC building here, Sudhir Shetty, opposition leader in MCC, said, "It is nearly 10 months since the work on Town Hall has stalled. This has put artistes to inconvenience as they have no other place to host cultural events. On September 19, 2014, Town Hall was closed for renovation and it was supposed to open in December 2014 on the occasion of its 50 years. Presently, the condition of Town Hall has become like a dumpyard due to the internal politics of Congress leaders."

He further said, "In just one year and three months of Congress administration in the city corporation, four commissioners have been transfered due to internal politics of Congress leaders. The sincere officer Hepshiba Rani Koralpati was transfered due to the internal politics.

"During BJP's tenure, in the second phase of work under CM's grant, Rs 71 crore out of Rs 100 crore is still remaining, but now no development work is going on," he claimed.

Former minister Krishna J Palemar, addressing the protest said, "Ever since Congress came to power in MCC, development work has completely come to a halt. People are facing various problems like scarcity of drinking water, drainage and so on. Though Rs 70 crore has been sanctioned, the tender process has not started still. Congress came to power in MCC by giving false assurances to people, and now they have put people to inconvenience."

He further said, "If you (Congress) cannot provide good administration, then just step down. If the ruling party does not mend its ways, we hold a district-level protest against the failure of administration in MCC."

Monappa Bhandary, former MLC said, "Congress leaders came to power by fooling the people. Congress increased the self-assessment tax and the Congress government has never provided any relaxation in 9/11 forms issue. Their leaders are spreading lies."

He also slammed senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary for his silence on the transfer of MCC commissioner Hebshiba Rani Koralpati. "Sincere Congress leaders like Janardhan Poojary should speak on this issue," he said.

He also urged the government to appoint a sincere commissioner to the Mangaluru City Corporation.

Bhandary also commented on mayor Jacintha Alfred for not holding a meeting to discuss precautionary steps prior to monsoons. "The mayor, and not the DC, should hold meetings with the minister concerned. This is the system followed in democracy and it is also the mayor's responsibility," he added.

He also termed the administration of the city corporation as being in a state of 'coma'.

Ravishankar Mijar also spoke on this occasion.

A memorandum was submitted to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner.