Unruly scenes at general body meeting

** TDP and YSRCP corporators indulge in verbal duel over budget allocations
** Corporators urge corporation officials to resolve water crisis and stop demolition of illegal structures
** Chittoor MLA Satyaprabha calls for developing city with financial assistance from the Centre

Chittoor: Unruly scenes were witnessed in the general body meeting of the Chittoor Municipal Corporation (CMC) held at Nagaiah Kalakshetram here on Saturday. Mayor in-charge R Subramanyam has presided over the meeting in which Chittoor MLA D K Satyaprabha has attended the meeting as an ex-officio member.

Speaking on the occasion, Subramanyam said that the meeting was convened to approve the CMC annual budget for the financial year 2016-17. He made an appeal to the members only to raise the questions relating to the budget allocations. However, corporators have demanded the Mayor incharge to resolve drinking water shortage in the city prior to initiating debate on the budget proposals.

Corporator R G Krupanandam, who is representing 30th division, said that no funds were spent in his division for taking up development works. He flayed corporation officials for making false claims in budget proposals that funds were spent in his division. While 45th division corporator C M Vijaya slammed the town planning officials for demolishing structures in the Church Street on the pretext of encroachments. She said residents are expressing anger over town planning officials for showing over enthusiasm in taking up demolition drive.

Corporator P Venkata Ramana has expressed his displeasure for ignoring SC, ST, BC and minorities while making budget allocations. He demanded corporation officials to present revised budget in the next meeting. Venkata Ramana said he was surprised to find annual budget without making allocations for Dalits. But, the ruling TDP corporators vehemently opposed presentation of revised budget.

YSRCP corporator Purushottam Reddy said that budget allocations in the budget were made in an unscientific way. The YSRCP corporators demanded the corporation officials to present the revised budget while the TDP members opposed which led to heated arguments between corporators. At this juncture, Satyaprabha has pacified corporators and brought situation under control. She stressed on the need for developing the city by getting more funds from the Central government. Municipal Commissioner Suresh, Health Officer Srinivasulu and other officials were present.