Uproar in Corporation meet over lamp post issue

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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KOCHI:The Kochi Corporation Council meeting held on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes as the Opposition councillors raised corrupti..

KOCHI:The Kochi Corporation Council meeting held on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes as the Opposition councillors raised corruption charges against the standing committee that allotted the interim tender to display advertisements on lamp posts to an agency.
The Opposition councillors unanimously sought a Vigilance probe into the decision of the Town Planning and Finance Standing Committee to give the contract to a private agency to use the lamp posts for one month. However, Mayor Tony Chammany refuted the Opposition's demand for a Vigilance probe into the issue.

Expressing disappointment over the reply, the Opposition councillors rushed to the centre of the Council Hall raising slogans forcing the Mayor to declare that all the items on the agenda of the Council meeting have been passed.

Anilkumar alleged that the interim tender was floated without the consent of the Council. "The agreement with the agency, Screenery Media, which was given the contract for the display of advertisements and the maintenance of street lamps was terminated owing to breach of contract in December 2010.

Then the Council decided to issue separate tenders for maintenance and display of advertisements. Another agency, Resource, was awarded the contract in March without discussing the matter in the Council. The agency is suspected to be a binami of Screenery," Anilkumar alleged.

The Deputy Mayor said that the tender was allotted after discussing it at the Finance Standing Committee meeting.

Following the Mayor's reply Opposition leader K J Jacob said that they were not ready to accept the decision.