Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042053560300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Pandemonium at Ponnur council meeting

Staff Reporter

Chairperson at the centre of storm

Chairperson denies charge saying tenders
were finalised by e-procurement
Heated altercation witnessed between
councillors and Chairperson

PONNUR (GUNTUR DT.): Unsavoury incidents marred the general body meeting of the Ponnur Municipal Council held on Saturday.

Municipal Chairperson Nallamothu Ruth Rani adjourned the House amid uproarious scenes with councillors of the Telugu Desam Party alleging that she had insulted local MLA Dhullipalla Narendra Kumar by flinging the calling bell at him.

Trouble started in the council meeting when councillors belonging to the TDP pressed for a discussion on finalisation of tenders relating to the Tungabhadra drain works at a cost of Rs.28 lakhs. The local MLA alleged that the Chairperson received kickbacks from the contractor and pressed for a voting on the subject. The Chairperson took strong objection to the remarks made by the MLA and said that tenders were finalised for the drain works by e-procurement.

An embarrassment

A heated altercation took place between the councillors and, in the heat of the moment, the Chairperson flung the calling bell, which fell near the MLA. She then adjourned the meeting and left the hall.

The proceedings were later conducted by vice-chairperson M. Nalini Devi.

By adjourning the meeting, the Chairperson saved herself from an embarrassing situation as the numbers were against her. As against the total strength of 27 members, the TDP had 10 and the rival group in the Congress had six members.

The council had earlier witnessed unruly scenes when 5th ward councillor Chand Basha raised his objections over the laying of a CC road from the N.G. Ranga statue. He said that the work was supposed to have been taken up by the R& B Department.

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone, Ms. Ruth Rani clarified that the works relating to laying of a cement ‘chapta’ over the debris was ratified in the council in 2006 and the road works were expedited during the scheduled visit of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The stretch of road had been in a bad condition for a long time and had been a breeding ground for mosquitoes, she added.