Bengaluru: Congress leaders marched to the well of the BBMP Council on Monday after BJP councillor Umesh Shetty alleged that the mayor and other Congress leaders are involved in encroachment near Mantri Mall in Malleswaram.
Mr. Shetty said that a three-member committee constituted to look into the collapse of a part of a wall in the mall on January 16 had found several illegalities. "A government road was encroached for the mall. Also, the BBMP had ordered halting of work on an apartment complex by the same builder on a nearby plot, but work continues," he added.
Mr. Shetty alleged that a restaurant was being run in the parking area of the mall, which is against BBMP regulations.
When he alleged that these encroachments happened under the watch of the Congress, a war of words ensued between the two parties. Councillors from the Congress stood up in protest and walked to the well of the house seeking Mr. Shetty’s resignation. Order was restored only after the mayor promised to look into the allegations.
The BBMP withdrew the Occupancy Certificate for the mall after a portion of its wall collapsed on January 16.
Hookah bars under the scanner
Another question raised in the council was why even after 14 hookah bars were closed for not having licences, some continue to operate. BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said that on grounds of fairness, he asked zonal joint commissioners to inspect the hookah bars, give them notice of 48 hours and then decide to shut them down. "The Joint Commissioners will direct health inspectors in their zones to issue notices on Tuesday," said an official with the BBMP Public Health Standing Committee.
Stop bribery in death, pleads councillor
M.D. Dwarkanath, Shanthala Nagar councillor, made an impassioned plea for preventing bribery in cemeteries and crematoriums.
"Right from birth to death, a person has to pay a bribe. Right from birth, when the dad wants to see the baby, the nurse asks money. When a person dies, the ambulance charges Rs. 500 to Rs. 700 to carry the body. For digging a grave or using the crematorium, relatives are asked to pay thousands of rupees," alleged Mr. Dwarkanath.
He asked the civic commissioner to ensure that boards are put up outside crematoriums and cemeteries informing relatives of the deceased of the correct rates for various services. "Sometimes, as much as Rs. 7,000 is demanded for digging a grave," he said.
His suggestion was seconded by everyone in the council. Mr. Prasad said the suggestion would be implemented soon, adding, "Starting of online reservation for crematoriums will reduce difficulties faced by the relatives of deceased."
