Oppn. walks out of council meet

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 7. The Opposition members in the Corporation council today staged a walkout over a resolution by the Health standing committee to set aside the Ombudsman's direction to implement the ban on spitting and littering of public places in the city.

The resolution which was included in the agenda by the Health standing committee said the Ombudsman's direction to implement the ban in two month's time was impractical. It sought the council's approval to extend the time frame to the next financial year.

The meeting witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling Left Democratic Front members and the Opposition after the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Maheswaran Nair, alleged that the Mayor had declared the resolution adopted before it was moved by the standing committee chairman. Maintaining that the motion had been read out, the LDF councillors challenged the Opposition. The Opposition members then staged a walkout in protest.

Later, Mr. Nair alleged that the LDF leadership had not paid due consideration to the Ombudsman's order. Opposing the resolution, he termed it as an affront to the Ombudsman.

The trouble started earlier when the Opposition benches stoutly opposed the attempt to move resolutions which had not been included in the day's agenda. These included, appropriation of funds for various projects under the People's Plan Campaign. Mr. Maheswaran Nair alleged that the move was aimed at pushing the resolutions through the council without democratic debate.

The Mayor, Ms. J. Chandra, who was in the Chair explained that the urgent nature of many works necessitated the council's clearance without inclusion in the agenda. This failed to convince the Opposition members who objected loudly.

Later on, the Opposition resorted to another round of protest against a resolution moved by the Health committee to provide advance payment for the purchase of 20 covered lorries and three excavators for garbage collection. Mr. Nair said the Corporation had incurred a huge loss in the past by acquiring equipment without expert technical assessment. He cited the example of the pot-hole patching machine which was lying idle. Mr. Nair said the decision on advance payment should be deferred till the vehicles were certified by technical experts.

The council adopted a resolution urging the Government to transfer the land records and ownership of roads, puramboke lands and other public places in various villages to the Corporation. The resolution observed that in the absence of ownership documents, the Corporation could not approach funding agencies for loans to take up development projects in several wards. It appealed to the Government to issue an order transferring the lands to the Corporation.

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