Corporators rush to the mayor’s podium to oppose the action plan prepared constituency-wise to utilise Rs 127.50 crore fund, at the HDMC general body meeting in Hubballi on Tuesday.
Credit: DH Photo
Hubballi: Amidst uproar by corporators, Mayor Ramappa Badiger, during the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) general body meeting on Tuesday, ruled to demand that the state government sanction additional fund of Rs 87 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojane (MGNVY) to take up ward development works.
Ruling to seek Rs 1 crore to each corporator (total Rs 87 crore) for the developmental works from the state government came during the discussion on MGNVY 2.0 at the meeting. Corporators raised objections regarding the submission of an action plan for government approval for using Rs 127.50 crore in assembly constituency-wise. The corporators reiterated their demand to allocate Rs 1 crore to each ward and then allocate the remaining funds to the assembly constituencies.
In the previous general meeting, the same topic was discussed, and a decision was made to submit a proposal to the government for approval of the prepared action plan. On Tuesday, the general meeting discussed the approval of the action plan prepared under an additional Rs 25 crore grant (discretionary amount of the MP) allocated under the same project.
Typing error?
BJP members Radhabai Safare and Umeshgouda Koujageri questioned the mention in the previous meeting’s decision that the proposal would be submitted to the government without waiting for confirmation. They insisted that there might be a typing error in the meeting’s proceedings records and urged for it to be corrected.
BJP corporator Iresh Anchatageri stated that in the previous meeting, it was discussed to allocate Rs 1 crore to each corporator (ward), including five nominated members, under the MGNVY scheme and prepare an action plan. But, a proposal has been submitted to the government to approve the action plan prepared constituency-wise.
It was also discussed that the powers to call tenders under this scheme should be given to the corporation. If the Directorate of Municipal Administration calls the tenders, bringing this matter for the corporation’s approval would be a mere formality, he said.
‘Changes can’t be made’
Tippanna Majjagi questioned whether it is possible for us (BJP) or you (Congress) to oppose the action plan prepared according to the list of works given by the MLAs. Is it possible to make changes once approval is granted?
When Mayor Ramappa Badiger sought advice from legal officers, the legal officer informed the meeting that a decision taken in the corporation’s general meeting cannot be amended or canceled within three months.
Later the Mayor ruled that there will be no changes to the previous meeting’s decision. A proposal will be submitted to the government to approve the action plan prepared with the additional allocation of Rs 25 crore under the MGNVY scheme. In addition, Rs 87 crore (Rs 1 crore to each ward) grant will be demanded from the state government.
GB adjourned
After the lunch hours, HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali left the meeting hall to take part in a meeting with District In-charge Minister Santosh Lad. A couple of officers also left the meeting hall with the commissioner. Hence the corporators questioned the commissioner’s absence and demanded to adjourn the meeting.
The Mayor adjourned the GB meeting and ruled to continue the zero hours and other discussions in the next meeting.