Taking a tough stand against the officials facing the charge of corruption in the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, Mayor Ashwini T. Majjagi announced disciplinary action against the Assistant Director of Town Planning V.N. Terdal and Junior Engineer V.L. Rathod.
At the corporation general body meeting here on Thursday, Ms. Majjagi ordered sending Mr. Terdal back to his parent department and Mr. Rathod on two months of compulsory leave. The action was taken following a demand by the council members.
Raising the issue in the house, Congress member Prakash V. Kyarakatti said that the town planning office had become a pool of corruption. For every work, the public has to approach the agents, who in turn swindle the people, he said.
Citing an instance, his own bad experience, Mr. Kyarakatti said while his application seeking building permission was pending for the last four months despite fulfilling all statutory obligations, the permission to construct a multi-storeyed building in the same locality was given within eight days, even as the ownership dispute of that land was in the court.
Supporting him, other members of the Congress, the BJP and the JD(S) also complained against the officials and demanded action.
HDMC Commissioner C.M. Noor Mansoor said that corrective measures would be initiated to streamline the Town Planning Department. But the members insisted on action against the erring officials. When the members cutting across party lines mounted pressure, the Mayor announced action against the erring officials.
