Show-cause notice issued to Belgaum city corporation
The State government has listed out a series of violations of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act by the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC), and issued a show-cause notice to the civic body seeking to know why the council should not be dissolved.
The government, which is serious about dissolving the BCC for its anti-Kannada stand, has found serious lapses on part of the corporation, like not conducting the monthly council meetings regularly; misuse of power by the mayor; not utilising government grants properly; not electing the council leader and the Opposition leader, and not taking action against members who showed disrespect in the House to Jnanapith award winner Chandrashekara Kambara.
The mayor and deputy mayor had taken part in a ‘Black Day’ protest organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on Kannada Rajyotsava Day on November 1. Besides, the BCC council, in its meeting held on September 9, 2011, had shown disrespect to Kambara.
Addressing reporters on Friday, Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar said the BCC had hurt the sentiments of people of the State.
“Instead of being proud of a well-known writer from the State for winning such a prestigious award, the BCC Council has shown disrespect to the writer and opposed it.
Over and above, the BCC has blatantly violated the KMC Act. Hence, the government has issued the notice. The BCC has been given 15 days’ time to reply,” he said.
The six-page notice, a copy of which was released to the media, also mentions a report sent by the Divisional Commissioner, Belgaum, on the misuse of power by the mayor. The report said the mayor had been working with a group and not taking other members into confidence. It is said the mayor had misused the office by modifying the budget document in spite of stiff opposition.
‘Agnanapeetha award’
Strongly condemning Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's write-up in his party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ that called for withdrawal of the Jnanapith award to Kambara, Kumar said: “That person (Thackeray) deserves an ‘agnanapeetha’ award if there is one. The article instigates violence and we condemn it in the strongest words. Both the Centre and the Maharashtra government should take the issue seriously,” he said.
Govt to take serious step: CM
Dropping hints that the Belgaum City Corporation would be dissolved, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said the government had decided to take serious action against the civic body. “Already, a notice has been issued to the BCC. We will take a serious step after receiving the reply,” he said.
