Pics by Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (EP)

Mangalore, Sep 30: The decision was taken at a Mangalore Corporation meeting to form an investigating team to look into the alleged cheating in Mangalore One outlets with regard to the non-remittance of tax they collect. The meeting was held on Monday September 29.

Mayor Mahabala Marla termed the matter serious and said he was suspicious of the transactions. He announced a team consisting of six members led by the accounts standing committee president Purushotham Chitrapur. He asked that a report be submitted within the next ten days.

Vijayakumar raised the subject and expressed his suspicion of a fraud amounting to Rs 2.5 crore. Navin D’ Souza of the ruling Congress party joined him. Members across party lines demanded that the scam should be unearthed.

The Mayor said that the committee should investigate into advertising hoardings also. He added that all the taxes will have to be paid through nationalized banks in future. “If the officials have participated in the Mangalore One fraud, action will be taken against them too,” he said.

There were discussions with regard to the absence of the Commissioner in the meeting. “There is confusion as there is no full time Commissioner. The Joint Commissioner is made to shoulder all the responsibilities. The Mayor should inform when the appointment of Commissioner will take place,” urged opposition leader Premananda Shetty. The Mayor assured that a Commissioner will be appointed before the next Corporation meeting.

Thilakraj and Sudhir Shetty said that the Corporation functions are being hindered due to the absence of a Commissioner. CPI (M) members went to the well of the house and protested terming it as a failure of the ruling party and demanded clear clarifications. To this, the members of the ruling party said that such incidences have occurred in the past too. MLA J R Lobo and MLC Ivan D’ Souza came to the rescue of the ruling party saying that the Joint Commissioner is performing well.

“We have urged for a full time Commissioner during the visit of chief minister. The chief minister has responded positively,” said the Mayor.

Lack of Cleanliness

The work concerning cleanliness and cutting of grass does not occur properly in the Corporation area. The contractors have gone missing. Meanwhile, the health officers who should get the work done also are missing. Nobody knows where the health inspectors are. They do not respond when telephoned, alleged the members of the ruling party.

Members of the ruling party and the opposition expressed outrage at the lack of cleanliness. Roopa Bangera alleged that the cleanliness work in the wards has been suspended for the last two months. “The environment engineer should get the work done in the absence of the health inspectors. They should intervene if the work is stopped for more than ten days,” she said. The Mayor suggested that the amount incurred for cleaning should be deducted from the amount payable to the contractor.

The Corporation consented to provide title deeds to those who are residing on government land. Commercial buildings should not come under this purview. Navin Chandra alleged that commercial buildings are coming up on some tracts of government land.

Deputy Mayor Kavita, standing committee president Ashok Shetty, Ashok Kumar D K, Purushotham Chitrapura, and commissioner-in-charge Gokuldas were present.