The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) in its last meeting on Saturday gave its nod for 590 files with a condition that the MCC Commissioner could approve the same depending on the urgency of work.
   As soon as the meeting began, Ms Mariamma Thomas (BJP) sought to know the details as to how can the Standing Committee on Town Planning cleared 590 files in a single meeting held on Wednesday. However, in her reply, the Mayor said that she was not aware of the same till she came for the meeting.
   On the contrary, former mayors K Ashraf and Shashidhar Hegde told the Council that if the BJP wanted to oppose the clearance of files, they should have raised objection in the Town Planning Standing Committee meeting itself, as there were 4 BJP members and only 2 Congress members in the meet held on Wednesday.
   At this juncture, Opposition Leader Shankar Bhat said that he was not opposing the clearance of files, but questioned the possibility of clearing 590 files in a single meeting? “Can any person go through 590 files in a day?”In her reply, the Mayor said that though the files have been cleared by the Town Planning Standing Committee, and subsequently by the MCC, the decision of approving the files will be left to the Commissioner. “He may undertake any development work depending on the urgency and importance of the work after inspection,” he said.
   At the same time, Mr Shankar Bhat has opposed the move of clearing files under Section 108. The works approved by the Standing Committee are said to be worth Rs 2.07 crore.
   It is also said to be the first time in the history of MCC that such a huge number of files were cleared at one go.
Rs 9.97 cr for road
   The meet also decided to write to the government seeking Rs 9.97 crore to concretise the additional two-lane road between Maryhill and Maravoor bridge.
   Deputy Mayor Abdul Saleem and Commissioner Krishnappa Poojary were present on the dais.
   Newly elected MLA U T Khader and MLA Yogish Bhat were present on the occasion.

JAMES CHANGES SEAT IN COUNCIL
   As the MCC meeting was going on, Mr James D’Souza who was suspended by the MCC a few months ago, stood up and told the Mayor that though the MCC has been trying not to allow him to sit in the place meant for the Congress corporators, he continued to sit in the same place.
   “Today, I voluntarily will go and sit with the BJP members,” he told the Council and sat next to BJP Opposition Leader Shankar Bhat.
   At this juncture, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde in a lighter vein requested the mayor to keep one seat for Mr D’Souza among the Congress members. “Who knows when will he come back,” he said. It may be recalled that Mr D’Souza was suspended for supporting Ms Kavitha Sanil as mayoral candidate despite the Congress members’ unanimous decision to field Ms Vijaya Arun as their official candidate. It may also be recalled that Mr D’Souza had joined the BJP in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa at Bengre duing the Ullal bypoll campaigning.

DC MCC ADMINISTRATOR
   As the term of the MCC came to an end at 5 pm on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao has taken over as the administrator for the MCC, informed MCC Commissioner Krishnappa Poojary.
   The DC will continue as the administrator till the elections to the MCC are held.