Mangaluru: Coporators from the opposition staged a protest in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) here, on February 16.
The protestors chanted anti-Congress slogans and submitted a memorandum to the Mayor against the improper usage of funds meant for the development of the city. BJP Corporator Sudhir Shetty said, “The financial condition of the MCC under the Congress is worrisome. In the previous budget Rs 30 lakh was allotted for regional development but the reports now show that only Rs 15 lakh, has been utilized. When we sought a reply from the authorities regarding the rest of the funds, they replied saying that the rest of the funds were only remnant and were not utilized. This attitude of the authorities has welcomed a backlash from the public when a lot of developmental work is pending at the ward level.”
He further said, “A report on the proposed development of the city was sought from the MCC for release of funds under the State Government’s SFC funds and the Central Government’s 14th financial planning in June last year. The MCC can get funds up to Rs 22 crores under SFC for the developmental work. Although the proposals submitted by the members of the corporation, were not included in the budgetary estimate by the MCC authority. Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred is acting like a puppet in the hands of MLA Mohiuddin Bava and MLA JR Lobo.”
Shetty said that certain developmental works done by the MCC were allotted funds from the corporation’s general fund and corporation member’s regional development fund. “However the funds are utilized for works that have not benefitted the common man in any way. Instead the funds have only been spent on works that have helped rich entrepreneurs and builders,” he added.
“Bills submitted by Antony Waste Management for the garbage collection are pending from the past 7-8 months. Due to this delay, the contractor is reluctant to get into an agreement with the MCC again. Such delays are a staggering blow to the development of the city and if this situation continues then the entire tax amount collected from the citizens will have to be utilized for waste management and will prove as a black mark to Mangaluru, which is gearing up to be a ‘Smart City’. We urge the Mayor to go through these issues and not just be a spectator and allow the corporation to function efficiently,” Shetty said.
Corporator Azeez Kudroli said, “Mayor is just acting mute and deaf to the pleas. We will protest till our demands are met and if the Mayor can’t meet our demands, then she should submit her resignation and step down from her post.”
Corporators, Roopa Bangera, Vijay Kumar, Gunakar Shetty, Poornima, Sumithra, Ganesh Hosabettu and others were also present.
