High drama at BBMP council meet, 20 decisions taken

BJP and JD(S) members protested demanding all 32,000 contract Pourakarmikas to be regularised. Deputy Mayor Anand descended from his chair and participated in the protest. Amidst all the chaos and confusion over 20 decisions were presented and passed. The BBMP Commisisoner Manjunatha Prasad has clarified that GST does not apply to solid waste disposal. All teachers serving at various BBMP schools and colleges will get a salary hike of Rs2000.

High drama prevailed at the BBMP Council meet when BJP and JD(S) members protested demanding all 32,000 contract Pourakarmikas to be regularised. The ruling and the Opposition Parties engaged in allegations and counter allegations, reported Kannada Prabha.

Deputy Mayor Anand descended from his chair and participated in the protest. However, amidst all the chaos and confusion over 20 decisions were presented and passed. Mayor G Padmavathi said presenting and passing decisions at BBMP Council meeting should be done when the council is in proper form. BJP members have forgotten the decorum. Hence it was inevitable to pass the decisions amidst chaos.

Soon after the meeting started Opposition leader BJP’s Padmanabha Reddy said there are 32,000 contract Pourakarmikas working in BBMP. The State Government has regularised the appointment of only 10,000. What is the fate of others, he asked.

Responding to that BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad explained the Department of Munipality has issued the order asa pplying to all municipalities, corporations and Town Municipalities. According to the order 4000 Pourakarmikas to be appointed on permanent basis.  BBMP has provision for 8000 permanent appointment of which 2500 are already appointed.  Of the remaining 5500, as per the GO 4000 will be appointed now, based on seniority.

Not satisfied with the answer, the BJP members insisted on knowing the fate of 22,000 contract Pourakarmikas.  Mayor Padmavathi said the rest of them will be regularised in a phased manner and taunted “What you could not do, we have accomplished.” The BJP members got angry by this and started protesting demanding regularisation of all 32,000 at one go.

Immediately JD(S) members supported BJP and joined the protest. JD(S) Deputy Mayor Anand came down from his chair and joined the protesters. Allegations and counter allegations followed and amidst the chaos the Mayor postponed the meeting to the afternoon.  In the afternoon again when the meeting resumed the BJP and JD(S) members continued the protest.

At one point the Mayor got angry and retorted not to protest for publicity sake. What you (NJP) could not do we (Congress) has done. Pourakarmikas are served hot meals. Rs 5000 wage increase announced at one go. BJP did not regularise the appointment of One Pourakarmika in its 5 year’s term, did not increase the wage by Rs 100 even. Now, all of a sudden BJP is pretending concern over Pourakarmikas.  Actually BJP is intolaent that Congress regularised the appointment of 10,000 contract Pourakarmikas at one go and is resorting to disgusting politics.

Congress member Venkatesh said Padmanabha Reddy was resorting to gimmick with an intention of getting ticket for next election. Member Velu Naiker said Amit Shah has instructed BJP members to initiate protest even if there is nothing to protest.

Amidst all the chaos the decisions were read out by ruling party leader Mohammad Rizwan and all Congress members made a circle around him to prevent BJP members snatching the papers.

Former Mayor Katte Satyanarayana and BJP member Manjunatha Raju complained that all 7 waste processing unist were not working to capacity. Responding to this, BBMP Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad said it is a false allegation. 5 units are working to full capacity. The garbage clearance issue has been sorted out after meeting with the contractors and garbage is being cleared, he said.

The BBMP Commisisoner Manjunatha Prasad has clarified that GST does not apply to solid waste disposal. Answering a query from members regarding the confusion over GST for waste disposal the Commissioner said GST does not apply to solid waste disposal and the Central Government has clarified in this regard.  Public Health, Solid waste management, Sewage, water supply does not attract GST. Only materials used for civil works like steel, iron and other materials attract GST, he said.  

Some of the major decisions passed at the council meeting are naming of roads and parks. The park next to Navrang theatre will be called Dr Parvathamma Rajkumar and Dr Rajkumar Park. The old airport road from Domlur to Ejipura inner ring road will be called H D Deve Gowda Road.

All teachers serving at various BBMP schools and colleges will get a salary hike of Rs 2000.