Pics:Umesh Marpalli 

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Nov 22: MLA from local constituency, Raghupathi Bhat, had called for holding a progress review meeting comprising officials of the city municipality here and also the newly elected municipal councillors, for the first time three months after the election to the local bodies was held. The meeting was held on Thursday November 22 morning at the municipality.

But the deputy commissioner (DC) of the district on Wednesday November 21 night, issued instructions, barring holding of meeting in the municipality as councillors are yet to be administered oath of office. This decision was conveyed by municipal commissioner and engineer of the municipality to the MLA the same night.

As the concerned were conveyed instructions to attend the meeting from the office of the MLA, several attended the meeting, but the absence of municipal commissioner and engineer came as a surprise for those who were present.

Raghupathi Bhat sought to question the decision of the deputy commissioner, seeking to know whether the municipal councillors are untouchables. He wanted to know what is the harm in calling the elected people's representatives and getting their suggestions and advice on the problems afflicting the city. He noted that election of president and vice president of the local bodies is getting postponed since the last three months because of objections relating to reservation issue. He said that people have been bringing pressure on and expressing anger at the newly elected representatives on the fact that all development works have come to a standstill in the city.

He said that being a legislator, no one can bar him from holding discussions with municipal councillors. "I am aware that under the current complex situation, we cannot take any decisions. In all likelihood, election of president and vice president will be delayed further. As the MLA, I want to know the problems faced by the people. Who will answer the people? The municipal commissioner should clarify this point," he insisted.

The order issued by the deputy commissioner against holding the first ever meeting of the councillors apparently came as a dampener for the participants. The meeting however was continued with the hope that officials and municipal commissioner would participate in it.

Officials of national highway, Mescom, and Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environmental Management Project were present at the meeting since 10.30 am. As there were no officials to respond to the problems faced inside the municipal limits as and when raised by the councillors, the councillors had to be contented with just completing the formality of explaining problems faced in their respctive wards.

The MLA, it is felt, asserted his position by holding the first meeting of the councillors in violation of the deputy commissioner's order. Discussions were held with officials of some departments who were present, between 10.30 and 12 pm.

Meeting of municipal council officials and elected representatives held

A meeting of municipal council elected representatives and officials was held in council auditorium and chaired by MLA Raghupathi Bhat later. As many as 34 people were given permission for construction of houses under Vajpayee housing project. Discussions on street lights, Varahi project, pipe water, disposal of waste, patch work, Udupi national highways and acquisition of land were held.

The MLA took the commissioner who came at 1.30 pm to task. The MLA gave details of department wise work to the ward members and assured that he will work with ward members.