MCC standing committee accused of violating rules to allot office to ex-MLA J R Lobo

Mangaluru, Aug 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is the opposition party in Mangaluru City Corporation has accused a civic body committee of brazenly flouting rules and approving an office to J R Lobo, Congress leader and former MLA of Mangaluru City South, in the corporation’s commercial complex at Mallikatta.

Premananda Shetty, Leader of the Opposition in the MCC, said the Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance and Appeals in its meeting on July 31 made the allocation to Mr. Lobo on his request. A 500 sq. ft. space fully furnished office was approved for a deposit of Rs. 5.53 lakh and a monthly rental of Rs 7,237 for three years.

The space should have been allocated through public auction. But in this case, it has been allocated to a former MLA illegally, he alleged.

The Opposition leader said in case of public interest, the corporation’s committee could allot the space in the building to any government office on request or for any genuine reason having public interest. Now it has been allotted for political reasons, he alleged.

Mr. Shetty said the seven-member committee had two councillors from the BJP who opposed the decision of the committee. Notwithstanding this, the committee has decided to allot the space. Now the committee should cancel it or else the BJP would fight against it legally. It would also raise the matter in the monthly meeting of the council later this month.

The Opposition leader said the file pertaining to the proposal of sanctioning the office space has been moved from a first division clerk in the corporation directly to the commissioner of the civic body by bypassing the procedures. Actually, it should have been moved through the Assistant Revenue Officer, Revenue Officer and Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) before tabling it before the commissioner.

The corporation should take disciplinary action against those who are responsible for bypassing the procedures.

Now the committee and the commissioner should clarify the basis on which the rentals have been fixed and the deposit amount was decided.

Mr. Shetty said the BJP saw conspiracy in the decision of the committee. Any agenda for the committee’s meeting should be sent to its members at least three days in advance.

But in this case, the agenda pertaining to allotting office space was tabled in the meeting as a supplementary agenda on the day of meeting without sending it in advance.

The committee has held its meeting after the monthly meeting of the council on July 30 to avoid the matter coming to the notice of the council, he alleged.