BJP win reflects tax-payers' frustration

The by-election results may not be of much significance to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC). However, the failure of the Congress to retain the seat coupled with the BJP's victory in Ward No.15, where by-elections took place on Friday, indicate the increasing disenchantment of the tax-payers over the deteriorating condition of the city in respect to civic amenities.

The seat was held by Congress candidate Manjula Manasa, whose appointment as chairman of the Karnataka State Women's Commission resulted in the by-election. In the result announced on Monday, BJP candidate Seema Prasad wrested the seat from Congress contestant Komala Ramesh by a comfortable margin of 788 votes.

Seema Prasad secured 2,295 votes while Komala Ramesh got 1,507 votes. Janatal Dal candidate Lakshmi R Ganesh turned out to be the spoiler for Congress. She got 1,060 votes.

Of late, the local dailies are often flooded with reports and complaints about the failure of MCC in meeting the needs of its rate-payers such as garbage clearance, bad roads and improper water supply.

There has also been much complaints on delayed projects like the Rajpath and other schemes, that reflects MCC officials' apathy towards public needs.

Taking up works and projects beyond its financial availability is said to be a reason for increased financial burden on MCC, which has led to corporation contractors resorting to strike suspending their works.

However, MCC Mayor R Lingappa and Commissioner C G Betsurmath on Tuesday defended the financial status of the civic body and said it had taken up a number of development works and also are executing urgent underground drainage and water supply works.

In a joint statement, they said MCC had mobilised Rs 97.75 crore till November-end. Its achievement in collection of house and building tax was 65 per cent.

Stern measures had been initiated to collect water rates and trade licence fee. Besides, it was receiving chief minister's special grant, 'Nagarothana' grant from the state government and state Finance Commission grant.

From the resources MCC had generated so far, it had spent Rs 94.89 crore on works like water supply and underground drainage and general fund.

In the past three months, it had paid Rs 8.48 crore to contractors towards their bills for works like street lights and cleanliness. It had also paid Rs 37.50 crore towards general fund, for underground drainage, for works related to water supply and for Dasara-related works.

In December so far, it had taken steps to settle contractors' bills of Rs 7.25 crore. Steps were being taken to settle the balance of Rs 115 crore in phases, they said.