The Hindu 13.11.2009
Deputy Mayor raises the banner of revolt
Staff Reporter
| Rs. 1,000 crores has been siphoned off in award of contract for waste disposal: Dora Babu |
Mayor P. Janardhana Rao seeks council’s approval for award of contract to ITC
Telugu Desam Party demands resignation of both the Mayor and his deputy
Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam 
War of words: Deputy Mayor K. Dora Babu levelling allegations at the GVMC council meeting on Thursday. (Right) Mayor P. Janardhana Rao leaving the meeting. —
VISAKHAPATNAM: Pandemonium prevailed at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) council meet on Thursday, as Deputy Mayor and ruling party leader K. Dorabbayi (Dora Babu) raised the banner of revolt alleging that Rs.1,000-crore was siphoned off in the award of contract for waste disposal to a private company.
Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao sought the approval of the council after saying that it was decided to award waste disposal contract to ITC. He said that the Floor leaders of all parties were shown a PowerPoint presentation on the project and they had appreciated the same.
At this point, corporator Sanapala Seetharamanjaneyulu interrupted him saying: “When four Floor leaders agree, will you ratify it just like that?” CPI(M) corporator Botta Eswaramma chipped in: “It needs ratification of all members and not just the Floor leaders”.
‘I have details’
The Deputy Mayor stood up and asked: “Wealth out of waste, for whom?”
“I have come with all the details and am ready to expose those who are involved in the Rs.1,000-crore scam,” he said. At this juncture, ruling party members objected to his outburst and entered into a war of words with him. Corporator Dadi Satyanarayana wanted him to first resign as Deputy Mayor and then talk on the issue.
Telugu Desam corporators were on their toes and demanded that the Mayor allow the Deputy Mayor to speak. The Mayor adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes and left the hall, as utter chaos prevailed in the council.
The Congress corporators and leaders utilised the time to counsel the Deputy Mayor. They accused him of bringing disrepute to the party by raking up the issue at the council meet instead of discussing it with them. “Even if the Mayor hasn’t listened to your advice, you could have taken us into confidence,” they were heard telling him.
When the house re-assembled after half-an-hour, pandemonium returned once again when the Mayor tried to justify the award of the contract. TDP corporator Lella Koteswara Rao interrupted him saying: “Allow the Deputy Mayor to first complete what he has to say.” TDP members Nalluri Bhaskara Rao, Kona Tata Rao and other joined him.
MLA s Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, M. Srinivasa Rao and Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu wanted the Mayor to allow the Deputy Mayor to complete what he had to say as he had made serious allegation. Congress MLA Malla Vijay Prasad said that the waste disposal project doesn’t involve any monetary commitment on the part of the GVMC. He appealed to the members to understand the scheme properly after which a debate could be taken up at a latter date.
Later, when Congress corporator Koppula Venkata Rao also tried to justify the project, the Opposition members objected. The TDP members demanded the resignation of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor owning moral responsibility for the scam.
As the ruling and Opposition members exchanged war of words, the Deputy Mayor sat silently all through.
The TDP members squatted in front of the Mayor’s podium and the ruling party members also rushed to the podium and had a word with the Mayor. Finally, the Mayor adjourned the meeting without any discussion on the allegation.
Later, TDP members squatted outside and raised slogans, demanding resignation of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor for ‘running away’ from the meeting without discussing the allegations.
