The Hindu 30.05.2013
Municipality approves project proposals amid din
Kottayam Municipality chairman M.P. Santhosh Kumar granted approval to the project proposals for the financial year 2013-14 at a meeting held here on Wednesday. However, the meeting was marred by allegations levelled by the Opposition that the approval was granted without holding enough discussions in the council. The second round of the municipal council meetings was held on Wednesday after the council session held a day before was adjourned following questions were raised over the plan fund allocation.
With the District Planning Council (DPC) scheduled to meet on Thursday, the ruling front in the council was left with no other option than to gain approval for the proposals to submit them before the DPC. Soon after the commencement of proceedings on Wednesday, councillor B. Gopakumar of the ruling UDF front accused the chairman of not conducting the meeting in accordance with the prescribed norms. This was countered by other UDF councillors, V.K. Anil Kumar and M.A. Shaji, who came out in vociferous support of the chairman. As the councillors continued their exchanges, Mr. Kumar announced that the proposals have been approved and later staged a walkout saying that it was in protest against the uncooperative stance of the councillors.
The opposition members alleged that the arguments among the members of the ruling front were part of a pre-conceived script in order to avoid a discussion regarding the fund allocations. They went on to hold a sit-in in front of the chairman’s office. The protest meeting was inaugurated by councillor T.G. Prasannan.
Municipal meet was held in a hurry ahead of district planning council meet.
