The Opposition councillors stormed out of the Corporation council meet here on Thursday alleging corruption charges in the allocation of permits for displaying advertisements on lamp posts. The Opposition cited a loss of revenue to the tune of Rs 60 lakh owing to the deal.
The issue was raised by the Opposition councillors in the last few council meetings, alleging that a private company was given the permit for displaying advertisements on the lamp posts in the city without even obtaining an agreement. The said company, whose agreement had expired in March 2011, did not renew the contract or pay the monthly tax in the last six months. But they kept the permit by paying an advance of `10 lakh. The councillors alleged that the irregularity has caused the cash-strapped corporation a loss to the tune of `60 lakh.
In his reply to the allegations raised at the council, the Mayor had said that a hearing would be held in the presence of the Deputy Mayor in October. Claiming that the reply was not acceptable, the Opposition leaders raised protests and slogans, stalling the council meet.
At the protest held before the corporation, Opposition leader K J Jacob said that the Mayor’s reply was unsatisfactory.
“The Mayor should have called for a Vigilance inquiry into the issue. But in spite of the issue being raised repeatedly, the reaction of the Mayor is highly unsatisfactory. The council has been following the same route in similar cases,” the Opposition leader said.
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