Mayor C. Jayan Babu said here on Wednesday that the Corporation would proceed against officials who violated municipal laws and abetted construction of unauthorised buildings in the city.
Addressing the Council, Mr. Jayan Babu said although the civic body had taken a clear stand against unauthorised constructions, it was not possible to take action against officials without proper inquiry and completion of proceedings.
The issue of unauthorised structures came up at the council on Wednesday after Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash presented an agenda regarding the denial of licence to run a lodge at a private building in the Vellar ward.
Kuriyathi ward councillor Sasi alleged that the Corporation was sanctioning permit to buildings without proper assessment.
Responding to the allegation, Mr. Jayaprakash said that a team of officials in the Corporation’s Town Planning section had been assigned to assess illegal structures in the city.
Opposition councillors pointed out that delay in resurfacing roads that were cut for laying drinking water pipes under various externally funded projects was causing hindrance to traffic in many parts of the city.
Mr.Jayan Babu said that shortage of technical staff was a reason for the delay in repairs. He also informed the council that the Corporation would conduct interviews next week to appoint five assistant executive engineers and five overseers on a temporary basis.
Heated exchanges
The council witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition benches after councillor Beemapally Rasheed said that cleaning and sanitation activities had come to a standstill in the Beemapally ward since the communal clashes in May.
He said there was a threat of disease outbreak in the ward due to accumulation of garbage over the last four months.
Refuting the allegations, Corporation Health Standing Committee chairman G.R. Anil accused Mr. Rasheed of trying to mislead the council.
The council approved the agenda sanctioning Rs.45,150 for servicing the autorickshaw used by Kudumbashree workers to collect garbage from the Beemapally ward which was damaged during the communal clashes. An additional amount of Rs.30, 800 was also approved to buy plastic trays for collecting garbage.
