HUBLI
Former mayors were among the senior corporators of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to level allegations of officials demanding bribe to attend to complaints from the public at the general body meeting of the civic body. These allegations come on the back of contractors from Bengaluru levelling similar charges against the authorities of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Corporators in the opposition benches said that similar complaints were being heard about officials in the HDMC.
Senior BJP corporator Veeranna Savadi alleged that corruption was rampant, owing to which very little work was being done. Work is not taking off without bribes being paid, he said.
Former mayor Shivu Hiremath said that zonal offices had turned into dens of corruption. Even in Dharwad, agents have their tables near the HDMC offices, he said.
Satish Hangal, Santosh Chavan were among the BJP corporators who levelled charges of corruption against the officials, while opposition leader Doreraj Manikuntala, along with party colleagues Niranjan Hiremath, Arif Bhadrapur, Navalur Imran Yaligar, added their voice to reiterate the rampancy of corruption in the civic body. However, Suvarna Kalakuntla pointed out that the HDMC also boasted officials going about their work efficiently, without indulging in corruption.
Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of HDMC Anand Kallolikar, who tried to defend the officials, faced flak from the corporators. Cutting across party lines, corporators demanded an inquiry against him. They sought to know the number of files that were pending clearance in his office.
HDMC commissioner B Gopalkrishna, meanwhile, enumerated the things he had done in the six months since he took charge. I have realised that there are issues that need to be resolved, and I have also taken note of the charge of corruption. We will not tolerate corruption in the HDMC. Should any evidence be produced against any official, we will be merciless in acting against the said person, he said.
After listening to the arguments, Hubli-Dharwad mayor Eresh Anchatageri ordered that an inquiry be conducted against Kallolikar within 15 days. He said that action had to be initiated against the official should he be found guilty. The mayor also directed officials to take corrective steps to rid HDMC offices of corruption, and work to create an atmosphere conducive to the people.
