BANGALORE: Ruling and Opposition party leaders in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have opposed Commissioner H Siddaiah’s move to hand over the investigation of the multi-crore scam to Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) without the Mayor’s consent. Mayor Sharadamma is out of Bangalore and has gone to attend ‘Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship: City Strategies Programme’, a global summit in New York from November 2 to November 4. She had left on October 31 after BBMP Council meeting on October 29.According to the official sources from BBMP, the Commissioner had received the files and other documents pertaining to irregularities in BBMP since 2008. The Commissioner had sufficient documents during the Council meeting which was held on October 29 but did not raise the issue during the meeting. He gave it to the BMTF only after the Mayor left Bangalore. “What was the need to take action in her absence,” a BBMP official asked.B R Nanjundappa, ruling party leader said that when there was no elected body, Commissioner is be the highest authority in the Council. But when there is an elected body, the Mayor is the head. He added that the Commissioner should not have taken action without consulting the elected representatives. “Mayor, who will be in town on Wednesday called me from New York to express her displeasure. As per her instruction, I have written a letter to the Commissioner. We will bring this to the Council and discuss it further” he said.Deputy Mayor S Harish said that these irregularities happened during administrative period. Commissioners at that time could have been involved as without their concern, a lower level official in BBMP cannot move a file. “Probe should be conducted against the IAS officers too. It was not right on behalf of the Commissioner to hand over the case to BMTF directly without Council’s consent,” he said.Senior Congress Councilor said that BMTF was formed in 1998 to help civic body like BBMP, BDA and BMRDA to protect its property. BMTF’s responsibility is to bring down unauthorized constructions. Their jurisdiction is not to investigate. “When that is a case, it is not the right move by the Commissioner to hand over the case to BMTF”, Councillor said.COMMISSIONER SPEAKSWhen asked about handing over the probe to BMTF, Commissioner H Siddiah said that it is an administration decision. “A Commissioner has all the right to do so,” he said.
Comments
0 comment