The last zilla panchayat (ZP) general body meeting of Vijayapura ZP was a pandemonium, with members cutting across party lines passing a resolution urging the government to transfer the chief executive officer (CEO), Hephsiba Rani Korlapati.
The members alleged that the CEO was not taking them into confidence and was taking unilateral decisions without even consulting the president of the ZP. The present tenure of the ZP ends in March next year.
Umesh Kolkur, the president of the ZP, accused Ms. Korlapati of getting her official house renovated at a cost of Rs. 23 lakh without calling for tender.
He said that as per the norm, tenders should be called for any work costing Rs. 5 lakh and above. He said the house did not even belong to the ZP and comes under the Public Works Department.
Questioning her decision to issue show-cause notice to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction on deputing officials of the Education Department to other departments, Mr. Kolkur said she took that decision without even bringing the matter to his notice.
The two-hour long meeting was lost in acrimony, and discussion was done on any development aspect. Many members were speaking simultaneously and loudly, making it difficult even to hear who was saying what. Some of the members demanded that the CEO replies, but began shouting even before she took to the microphone to speak.
After a prolonged uproar, Ms. Korlapati managed to speak. She asserted that she had not violated any rule. She said after taking charge as the CEO on June 25 this year, she had ensured that the district was in the 15th position in clearing wages of labourers working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, from its previous 28th position.
“I have taken an oath in the name of the Indian Constitution and I am doing work according to the rules. I have not done anything wrong, nor will I allow any one to violate the norms,” she said.
Not satisfied with her reply, the members staged a walkout.
