Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 19: "The ruling Congress party in the MCC has discriminated in the allotment of grants under the 14th Finance Commission of the union government and the State Finance Commission (SFC) of the state government for the year 2015-2016. With interference of MLAs in the fund allotment, ruling Congress has allotted more funds to the wards of corporators representing the Congress party," alleged Sudhir Shetty Kannur, leader of Opposition in MCC.

Giving details at a press meet here on Friday February 19, Shetty said, "Rs 55 lac has been allotted to ward no 7 which is represented by Ashok, Rs 80.5 lac has been alloted to ward no 18 represented by corporator Deepak Poojary, Rs 175.5 lac allocated to ward no 37 represented Keshav, Rs 153.2 lac allocated to ward 39 represented by mayor Jacintha Alfred, Rs 71.30 lac allotted to ward no 40 represented by corporator AC Vinayaraj, Rs 75 lac alloted to ward no 48 represented by Asha D'Silva, Rs 75 lac to ward no 49 represented by Praveen Alva, and Rs 90 lac has been alloted to ward 53 represented by Summaiya. These corporators, all from Congress, have been alloted more than Rs 50 lac for various works."

Responding to MLA Mohiuddin Bava who had denied interference and injustice in the allotment of grants, he said, "Let MLA Mohiuddin Bava go through the list of distribution of these grants for the year 2015-2016. He will see that 30% of BJP corporators representing the wards have not been allotted any funds under the 14th Finance Commission and SFC."

He also said that this issue has been brought to the notice of deputy commissioner, who has asked for an inspection into the matter by superintendent engineers. "The mayor gave approval in advance for the works without approval from the council. This was informed to the DC and he assured that he would not give approval for the works until there is approval from the MCC council," he said.

He also claimed that MLA Mohiuddin Bava has sanctioned Rs 3 crore under the SFC grants for 58 works in his constituency. "There is a guideline that tender process should be done through e-procurement portal, but all the works have been given to Nirmithi Kendra without calling for e-tender and thus violating rules. The then MCC commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati had reported the faults in the implementation of the works and raise doubts over the quality of the works to the government, and also asked for a probe. After that she was transferred due to a conspiracy by the MLA," he said.

"Rs 28 lac has been spent on the entrance of Kadri Park by giving tender to Nirmithi Kendra without handing it over to the MCC, which raises suspicions," he added.

On this occasion corporators Premananda Shetty, Roopa D Bangera and Vijay Kumar Shetty were present.