Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Oct 28: The council meeting of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) was held at Mangala Auditorium on Tuesday, October 28. Mayor K Harinath chaired the meeting.

Addressing the chair, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo said, "Every year, Dasara is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in the city. Road repair works are conducted every year before Dasara so that it is convenient to pull the temple cart. But this year no such works were initiated by the MCC officials at both the important temple areas - Mangaladevi and Car Street. This is really disappointing. Despite repeated directions by the public representatives, officials have not done this work."

"Due to the irresponsible behaviour of these officials, we are unable to face general public. So I request you (Mayor) to form a committee and take strict disciplinary action against the guilty officials," added Lobo.

BJP corporator, Premananda Shetty, and many other corporators from both ruling as well as opposition parties endorsed the point raised by the MLA. Premanada Shetty, addressing the Mayor said, "Many officials have come on deputation and are not interested in working. Please transfer or suspend such officials who show a lax attitude. We have to answer the general public. The officials need to carry the work assigned to them."

The mayor formed a committee comprising standing committee chairman Lancelot Pinto, BJP corporator Premananda Shetty and new superintendent engineer Srinivas. He directed the committee to present a report after investigation. He also said that officers found guilty will be suspended.

Ruling party corporator Radhakrishna pointed that there have been a lot of inconsistencies in the working of the dumping yard. Bills have been generated even when the Hitachis and tippers in the yard were not functional. Mayor asked Radhakrishna to provide documents to support the accusation and assured him that an investigation will be conducted thence.

There was a heightened drama when the opposition corporator demanded that there should be an enquiry regardless of the documents. The former mayor suggested that the corporator provide the documents or that he writes to the Lokayukta.

The opposition BJP member made a remark that the present government has made Lokayukta ineffective. Countering that, the corporator Ashok D K commented, "Do not give the investigation to CBI, if done so, they might get acquitted just like Yeddyurappa."

This remark irked the opposition members who gathered on the council floor and demanded to record the statement. Mayor assured to record, and the council proceeded.

Prior to the meeting, a hearse (funeral vehicle) was flagged off by Mayor Harinath.

Speaking to media persons, Harinath said, "We have flagged off this funeral vehicle so that it helps poor people. The service is free of cost to carry the dead body from hospital to their house and the graveyard thence. People can avail the benefit of this service by dialling 2220306."