In its maiden meeting otherwise marred by chaos, senior BJP member Katte Satyanarayana raised the issue saying that with the admission for schools and colleges in progress, people were finding it difficult to pay the property tax. He appealed to extend the rebate period at least by one month. Mayor S K Natraj replied that he has already directed the Commissioner to extend the deadline by one month.
However, leader of the Opposition Nagraj sought to extend the last date by two months. “We will see the response of the people for the next month. If needed, we will try to extend the time of rebate,” a reluctant Mayor replied.
Later Satyanaryana moved the House for transferring the Health relief fund of Rs 50 lakh from the Administrator to the Mayor, which was the first and only resolution that was passed unopposed.
The first business of the Council began at 10.20 am with the leader of the Opposition objecting to printing of bi-monthly Palike budget document in English.
The Mayor promised that all documents will be in Kannada henceforth.
The meeting however, was adjourned sine die as Congress members stormed into well of the House protesting the water crisis in the City.
They demanded that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chairman Ramamurthy should be summoned to the Council to answer their queries
Mayor gives up new ‘gaadi’ plan
Following criticism from the Opposition parties, Mayor S K Natraj on Friday announced that he has dropped his plans to buy a brand new Honda CRV car for official use. He also declared that he will not go on foreign tours during his tenure.
“I will manage with the old Ambassador car. I will also not go on foreign tours,” the Mayor told reporters. He met Transport Minister R Ashok in his chambers in Vidhana Soudha. The minister said the Government was planning to give some executive powers to the Mayor in the proposed separate legislation to govern the BBMP area. But he did not divulge as to what are those powers.
The State government will ensure that the long-pending Sakrama legislation is enacted in the the next session of the State Legislature scheduled to be held from June 10.
Appointed
Senior BJP Corporator V S Satyanarayana has been appointed as the leader of the ruling party in the BBMP council, BJP City President B N Vijayakumar said.
He also said the number of standing committees will be increased from the present eight to 12.