Rs 100 cr grant still eludes Corporation'

If the minister fails to respond, the mayor will be leading a delegation of the corporators to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Addressing media at his office here on Saturday, the mayor said a total of 141 works planned under Chief Minister’s Special Grant of ` 100 crore to the city corporation in the second stage, awaits approval.

The works include renovation of good old Devaraja Market, Vani Vilas Market, Mandi Market, bridge between Hardinge Circle and Nishad Bagh, arresting the flow of sewage into Karanji lake, besides developing of prominent roads that require urgent repair, to mention a few.

The afore said markets are already hit by crevice, calling for urgent measures, and the civic body will be held responsible for any untoward incidents, said fretted mayor.

The District In-charge Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Committee that has the final say over the intended works, is yet to convene the meeting to discuss about the projects. Though, the State Government had sent a missive to the city corporation on August 13, 2010, seeking proposals for the projects planned for 2011-12 for the special grant, the minister is yet to respond.

The irony here is the government is yet to release ` 30 crore of the total ` 100 crore announced in the first stage. As a result, the work related to aquarium on Lalitha Mahal Road has stopped midway, besides several others.

The mayor wanted to know whether the minister was averse to the works undertaken by the city corporation, for the very reason that Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress combine hold reins, or to bring disrepute to the government for the reasons best known to him.

He mocked at the minister who held a series of meetings at the city corporation, after assuming charge, only to lose interest later, without keeping a tab on the follow up action.