JOIN USLaw will take its own course, says Mayor on IT office stone pelting
The issue of stone-pelting by Youth Congress activists at the Income Tax office rocked the Mangaluru City Corporation Council meeting on Thursday.
Following heated arguments between the members, the Opposition members got into the well of the Council and exchanged words with Mayor Kavitha Sanil, who refused to make any official statement at the Council as the matter lies before the court.
‘Shameful’
Opposition member Sudhir Kannur said that A C Vinay Raj, who is also the member of the MCC, has dented the reputation of the Council and also the image of other corporators, by pelting stones at the Income Tax Office building in Mangaluru, while leading a protest by the Youth Congress, opposing the IT raid conducted on the residence of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar.
Opposition leaders Roopa Bangera, Premananda Shetty and others condemned the act of the corporator and said that the act was shameful. The corporator should apologise to the Council and the mayor has to reprimand him for the heinous act, they demanded.
The issue lead to chaos involving the exchange of words between the ruling and opposition party members. The opposition members later got into the well of the house and argued with mayor. But, Kavitha Sanil clearly refused to speak on the matter and only said that there are other important matters of public interest to be discussed.
The Opposition leaders also raised the issue on the Draft of Zonal Regulations. MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer said that a meeting of officials was chaired by MLA J R Lobo in this regard recently. However, the draft notification was not finalised and consultations are going on at government-level.
Legal notice
The MCC members, without party barriers, discussed the problem caused by the poor performance and non-adherence to rules by the Antony Waste Management company. They said that the collection of waste and weed-cutting are not done properly. The staff of Antony Waste do not listen to the officials and, in a way, the officials too have failed to draw work from them and the lump-sum money to the tune of several crore paid to the waste management company by the MCC is a pure waste.
The mayor responded to the issue saying that many a complaint has been received on the non-management of waste by the company. She assured that the City Corporation will initiate legal action against the Antony Waste for violating the rules of contract. Sudden visits will be conducted in the wards to inspect the waste management.
She further said that 10 more health inspectors will be deployed to work from September 1. Till date, there were only four health inspectors.
Deputy Mayor Rajanish Kapikad, Standing Committee presidents Nagaveni, Abdul Ravoof, Sabitha Misquith and Appi were present during the meeting.