Revenue official's transfer echoes in MCC meeting

The Opposition members of Mangaluru City Corporation staged a protest by getting into the well of the House against the transfer of an honest revenue officer.

Opposing the move during the MCC council meeting on Thursday, Sudhir Shetty alleged that an honest revenue official was transferred from Mangaluru City Corporation for implementing the order to clear illegal hoardings.

The mayor should write to the government to revoke the transfer order of the official, he said.

There was an exchange of words between Mayor Bhaskar K and the Opposition members who later plunged into the well of the House and argued with the mayor saying that there have been instances where the transfer orders of officials were revoked.

They urged to re-transfer the official to MCC. The mayor assured them of discussing the issue with the minister concerned.

Corporator Deepak Poojary urged the city corporation to take stern measures to prevent the misuse of Ashraya houses, by the beneficiaries.

Opposition leader Premanand Shetty said that in some places, people have drilled two bore wells in the same establishment and action should be initiated against the violators.

Kavitha alleged that there have been misappropriations in the issue of trade licenses. The tariff to has been varying. Health, Education and Social Justice Standing Committee Chairman Navin R D’Souza demanded a special audit on the revenue generated through the issue of trade licenses.

Premanand Shetty and member Vijay Kumar Shetty urged the city corporation to provide temporary door numbers to financially less privileged who have built houses on government land.

Commissioner B A Muhammed Nazir said that the temporary door numbers will be provided to the eligible people after conducting spot inspections.

Member Appi congratulated the city corporation for naming the Town Hall after social reformer Kudmul Ranga Rao. She requested the MCC to observe the birth anniversary of Ranga Rao every year.

Abdul Ravoof requested to provide birth and death certificates on the same day of applying, as people from faraway places have been facing a lot of inconveniences due to delay in the issue of the certificates.

Mahabala Marla said that a lot of typographical errors have been found in the birth and death certificates and urged to address to the issue.

Appi, D K Ashok, Rathikala, Akhila Alva, Asha D’Silva, Surendra, Purushottam Chitrapur, Aziz and others complained regarding the non-functioning of LED street lights in their respective places and urged the commissioner to blacklist the contractors responsible for the poor functioning of street lights.

Harinath expressed concern over the fate of tourists from Mangaluru who visit spiritual places outside the district. He said that the Charmadi route is the only way to travel, as all other routes are affected by landslides.

“The mayor should request the concerned department to clear the Shiradi ghat road to make it fit for the plying of vehicles, as soon as possible.”

Responding to a question by Corporator Vinay Raj, Commissioner B A Nazir said that a tender worth Rs 1 crore has been passed towards installing VMS (Variable Message Sign) boards in the city. The work towards the same will be started within a week.

Deputy Mayor Muhammed K, Standing Committee chairpersons Pravinchandra Alva and Latha Salian were present.

Exchange of words

An exchange of words took place between former mayor Kavitha Sanil and Mayor Bhaskar.

Kavitha Sanil alleged that the MCC officials have demolished a house built by a financially less privileged family of an autorickshaw driver on a 1.5 cents land in her ward Pacchanadi.

The MCC officials have turned a blind eye to the malpractices of the people who have been selling houses built under Ashraya scheme, she said and urged the mayor to take steps to demolish such establishments along with clearing the illegal structures built on parking spaces and other illegal private establishments in the city.

Irked by her remarks, Mayor Bhaskar K asked what stern steps did Kavitha take to demolish illegal structures while she was the mayor. This led to a heated debate between Kavitha and Bhaskar. “I know whom you are supporting. I too have concern for the poor”, he said. Kavitha pointed out that the MCC has not followed the court order to demolish 52 illegal structures.

Abdul Ravoof tried to calm down the tense situation by saying that there is no use in levelling allegations against each other.

Former mayor Mahabala Marla felt for a need to adhere to the rules when it comes to illegal structures.

At the beginning of the meeting, homage was paid to former prime minister Vajpayee and flood victims of Kodagu.