Probe into tax scam will be revived: Kaveramma

CMC President Kaveramma Somanna said that the tax scam in the CMC will not be allowed to be buried. The administration is committed to revive the probe into the scam and punish the guilty.

She was speaking at an interaction with the CMC members organised at the Press Club on Saturday.

"I have already discussed the issue of the scam with the CMC commissioner. The commissioner has sought time to verify the previous report and documents. The scam will have a logical end," she said.

Earlier, SDPI member Amin Mohisin said, "There was a misappropriation of the tax amount paid by the public. The CMC money is being looted. In spite of raising the issue in the CMC meeting, it was not considered serious. The report on the scam is before the deputy commissioner. All attempts are being made to bury the scam," he alleged.

Further, he said, auditing is mandatory to prove that administration is transparent. "No auditing was taken up in the CMC for the last four years. Authorities are citing the reason of shortage of staff. The deputy commissioner should intervene and write to the state government. A special team should be invited for the auditing in the CMC," he said.

Reacting to Mohisin's comment, BJP member K S Ramesh alleged that Amin Mohisin is supporting the ruling party. He has only made an allegation.

CMC President Kaveramma said, "It was a long pending demand to construct a private bus stand in Madikeri. About 75% of the works have been completed. In the backdrop of the code of conduct, the market and bus stand was inaugurated. The buses will operate from the private bus stand within a month. The market will be ready by June. The two works were taken up during my tenure by getting additional funds from the government."

However, BJP member Ramesh claimed that the private bus stand is the contribution of the BJP. When P D Ponnappa was the president, a sum of Rs 2 crore was earmarked for the bus stand, he stated.

Madikeri Urban Development Authority President Chummi Devaiah said that there is a problem of paisari land in new layouts in Madikeri.

The MUDA had planned to purchase 10 acres of land on the outskirts for the creation of layouts.

Unfortunately, the land is not available. Private individuals are laying layouts at Makkandooru and Katakeri. However, they have not availed permission from the authority. The public should be cautious while purchasing the sites, he said.