Madikeri TMC chief receives 'threatening phone calls'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, AUG. 9. The President of the Madikeri Town Municipal Council, Mr. K.G.Harish, on Wednesday alleged that anonymous telephone callers were holding out a threat to his life asking him not to resume road widening work in the town.

He told presspersons here that the Municipal Council had served notices on over 30 shops and commercial establishments on College Road to make way for demolition to facilitate widening of the road within 15 days. Those shop owners had obtained stay orders from court against the demolition.

A majority of the shopkeepers had allowed space for road widening already. Obviously, irked at the notices served, one of them had made several telephone calls saying that Mr. Harish would be "shot dead" if he started work again.

Asked about this, Mr. Harish said he would lodge a police complaint shortly. He was concerned about the welfare of Madikeri town and was prepared to do his best to improve the civic amenities in the town. Once the time given to the shopkeepers ended, the Municipal Council would go ahead with the widening work in accordance with survey conducted by the Survey Department and the Public Works Department, he added.

Charges denied

Mr. Harish denied reports appearing in a section of the Press here that he was not attending to his job at the Municipal Council regularly and that irregularities were rampant in the Council administration. He said he was away in Kerala for sometime as he was advised rest by his doctor.

When reporters pointed out that Mr. Harish's name itself figured in a corruption list in the Municipal Council, he clarified that there was some confusion because of a row with one of his cousins (who is a contractor) at the Municipal Council office a few days ago over money relating to their family.

The charges of irregularities against the Municipal Council administration was nothing new. The Municipal Council owed several lakhs of rupees to contractors who had carried out various works. Even donations were raised for road works and beautifying Madikeri town last year. Citizens of Madikeri knew about the Municipal Council's concern to keep Madikeri tidy, he said.

He lamented that the revenue collection by the Municipal Council was poor and said re-introduction of octroi was the only alternative to augment resources of the municipal bodies. He appealed to the Press to bring to light if irregularities were noticed but not demoralise the administration by publishing reports far from truth.

The Municipal Council Vice-President, Mr. A.C.Devaiah, councillors, Mr. M.M.Liyaqat Ali and Mr. Muneer Ahmed, were present.

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