The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Municipal council gets a plush hall

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Municipal council gets a plush hall

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI. July 31. Notwithstanding the pathetic conditions prevailing in many of its wards, the Tirupati Municipal Council on Saturday got a plush meeting hall done up at an estimated cost of Rs. 21 lakhs.

The air-conditioned conference hall is fitted with sleek-looking mikes with wooden wall panels, wall-to-wall carpet and granite flooring besides an array of cushion chairs and an ornamental chair for the Chairman.

The Congress leaders, who participated in the inauguration of the hall, did not miss the opportunity to take a dig at their rival's extravaganza.

They, however, said there was nothing wrong in spending a fortune on making the council hall look impeccable so long as the municipality took care to make its roads and drains look clean and dry.

Bonhomie prevails

There prevailed a new sense of bonhomie between the Congress and the TDP leaders who participated in the opening ceremony and the inaugural meet of the council.

The council with the Chairman, K. Sankar Reddy (TDP), presiding resolved unanimously to erect a statue for Rajiv Gandhi at the junction in front of the Municipal Office. It was decided to make use of a `ready-made' bronze statue already available in the town.

Skirmishes

The meeting had its usual dose of skirmishes between the TDP and the Congress councillors, though on a mellowed note.

While the TDP councillors levelled certain serious allegations against the municipality's Town Project Officer, Reddi Kumari vis-a-vis the release of subsidy to the local Mahila Sanghams, the Congress councillors wanted a probe into all other complaints levelled against other schemes as well.

Mr. Sankar Reddy not only agreed to order a probe into the episode but also said that the council would not mind either `surrendering' her post to the Government or suspending her if the charges were proved.

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Andhra Pradesh