Members concerned over MCC funds kept as FDs in banks

An amount of Rs 27 crore belonging to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and kept in various banks as fixed deposits (FD) by the MCC officials, raised doubts among the members during the corporation’s general body meeting, held at Mangala Auditorium here on Saturday.

MCC member Kavitha claimed that the money was kept illegally in different nationalised banks and co-operative societies without bringing it to the notice of the members.

The accountant officer said that premier FAR fund, enterprise fund, water supply fund, IT deduction and various grants were kept in the different bank accounts. He also claimed that money had been kept as FD with the permission of the commissioner. As the members became more suspicious, Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna clarified that though there was no provision to keep government fund as FDs in the banks, the former commissioners might have done it to get more benefit from the amount.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said that the process of forming a cremation ground at Nandigudda was still in the land identification stage.

MLA J R Lobo had written a letter to the deputy commissioner to consider the demand made by a community for the ground. The DC had forwarded the letter on October 28, 2014 to the MCC and directed to explain the actions taken, to the MLA. The revenue officials said that the file was with surveyor and further process was yet to be done.

Earlier, Opposition leader Sudhir Shetty objected to the earmarking of the land for the cremation ground at Nandigudda or Bengre without no objection certificate from the corporation. The commissioner should write to the government on this particular issue, he added.

Naveen D’Souza said that the MCC was losing its vacant land because of the officials. “If the assistant commissioner can give the MCC land with his own will, then what is the need for the house?” he asked.

Sudhir Shetty said that the MCC had failed to collect its revenue and only 50 per cent of the total revenue was being collected. The waste management work and weed-cutting works are not being done properly. The waste is not being collected from commercial complexes instead mud is collected by waste management firms, who are making money from it. If this mismanagement continues BJP will carry out protest, he said.

‘Mangalore One’ issue

Members once again raised the issue of ‘Mangalore One’ and alleged misappropriation by a company to the corporation. “Though the matter was raised in four meetings, why there is no action? The corporation has also rejected proposals submitted by six banks to develop software similar to the ‘Mangalore One’. Is there any benefit to a company or any individual or any group? What happened to the ruling passed on investigation over the issue,” Mahabala Marla asked.

The commissioner said that account had been transferred to Axis Bank. The company would transfer property tax of Rs 87 lakh and water cess of Rs 67 lakh to the account of the corporation within two days. The cheques should be written in the name of the commissioner, he said. However, the members demanded for an investigation into the issue.

The members also expressed concern about increasing illegal gambling centres in the city and demanded action against them at the earliest. The health department officials said that they had given licence only for 13 video game centres. On a query on delay in premium security re-tender, City Planning and Development Standing Committee president Deepak K Poojary said that the tender would be called within 15 days.

Replying to a query, Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna said that there was no administrative barrier to use Premier FAR fund for widening of roads and for drainage works. The corporation would inform the government in advance over the issue. Meanwhile, the corporation decided to evict roadside vendors in the city within 15 days.

The plan of dividing the city into three divisions was postponed. Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chithrapur, presidents of various standing committees were present.