Row over unpaid bills

The BBMP Council meeting on Wednesday was marked by uproarious scenes, as the Congress corporators stormed the well of the house over uncleared bills to silt and tractor contractors, leading to adjournment.

In the absence of quorum, the meeting was convened an hour and a half late. Even as the meeting began, Congress corporators demanded that bills to the contractors be cleared at once.

The contractors have not been paid for the past two years, they added.

Noting that most of the uncleared bills were from the Palike’s South Zone, Siddapura Corporator M Udayashankar alleged the Palike's apathetic attitude in clearing dues had led to suicide of one of the contractors.

He added the average silt-and-tractor bill in each of the wards amounted to Rs one lakh per month.
Seconding Udayshankar’s argument, Hanumanthanagar Corporator M Chandrasekhar said many corporators have incurred heavy loss in their work due to uncleared bills.

He urged the BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah to consider the plea of contractors and lift the ban on releasing dues to them.

Taking the argument a little further, Congress corporators entered the well of the house. Even as they we were made to return to their seats, they again rushed to the well of the house, questioning BJP Corporator from Yediyur N R Ramesh’s authority in levelling baseless allegations against senior Congress leaders over the issue of HMT land at Jalahalli.

The Mayor adjourned the House, when the Congress corporators raised slogans against the BJP.