Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Funtimes exposes chinks

VIJAYAWADA: Lack of coordination among various wings of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) was clearly evident at the general body meeting on Friday.

The officials mumbled words, when ninth division corporator Koneru Ramadevi (TDP) sought to know the bylaws, the mode of functioning and other details of Funtimes Club located in her division.

Though the VMC leased out its land near RTC Colony to local residents to set up Funtimes Club in 1994 and Municipal Commissioner continues to be its ex-officio honorary president, officials of the Town Planning, Revenue, Horticulture and Engineering wings drew a blank face when asked for information about the club.

“Our (town planning) role ended after preparing the bylaws and handing over the site to the Funtimes Club management. Revenue wing should be able to throw some light on the club’s revenues, auditing and the like,” said City Planner P. Timma Reddy .

Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) B. Nagendra Kumar, was, however, quick to clarify that his wing was not handling any files pertaining to the club.

Additional Commissioner (General) G.P. Neelakantham, Chief Engineer T. Anjaneyulu, Additional Director (Horticulture) P.V.S. Ravi Kumar chose to remain silent, though Mayor Mallika Begum asked: “Which officer and department is looking into this subject?”

After a heated discussion, Ms. Begum assured the meeting that a committee comprising Additional Commissioner (General), Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), City Planner, local corporator and ward committee member would be constituted to look into the functioning of the club, and irregularities, if any.

Earlier, Ms. Rama Devi expressed reservations over the proper management of the club.

Stating that the club owned property worth crores of rupees, she sought to know whether its management was following the laid down procedures such as auditing. Pointing out that the club was collecting thousands of rupees towards membership fee and renting out the premises for high amounts to various people, she said: “There seems to be no proper accounts for all these activities.”

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