Mysuru: Congress leaders R Anantu, Ayub Khan, D Nagabhushan, T B Chikkanna staged a protest inside the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar Hall, Mysuru City Corporation during the council meeting held on Monday on the twin issues of water supply and the implemnentation of the State Government’s ‘Gruha Bhagya Yojana’ scheme.
The extended Council meeting of last month May 15, which adjourned after permission was granted for Nadavali work of water supply, , resumed under the leadership of Mayor R Lingappa, Deputy Mayor Mahadevamma and Commissioner C G Betsurmath.
However, instead of discussing the issue on the water board, R Anantu took up the topic on State Government’s ‘Gruha Bhagya Yojana’. The scheme is to provide free houses for poor people and nearly 426 application have been already taken and submitted to the government. State Government has provided Rs 4-5 crore for this scheme and the amount is kept in bank and is not used.
He said, “Mayor always gives a false statements when questioned. No work has been completed yet”. Opposing this Mayor R Lingappa urged not to speak without basis in the council meeting and the issue will be solved soon. But Former Mayor Ayub Khan and D Nagabhushan threw an open challenge to the Mayor saying ” You are unfit to sit on Mayor seat of MCC and none of the officials here listen to your words, You don’t have power”.
All the Congress members staged a protest in front of Mayor against JDS and BJP who form the ruling coalition in the MCC. In the midst of this ruckus, Mayor R Lingappa and Commissioner C G Betsurmath suspended the council meeting for 1 hour and left the meeting hall.
Gruha Bhagya Yojana is a scheme where poor people who live in slums are given houses by the Government. Eligible individuals have to apply for these through the corporation and till date, 426 application have been received. “Of the 426 applications, already 10 work cards have been issued for construction, but the commissioner has informed the Government that the land which has been allotted to construct these houses is in a revenue layout and there is no permission to construct on such land”. The discussion went for a long time. Later the meeting discussed the issue of the JUSCO water board contract – whether to give it to JUSCO, or the MCC itself will run the water supply or give it to and Independent Water Board.
