THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Councillors cutting across party lines echoed public’s concerns regarding delay in getting services from corporation, during the council held on Wednesday. Hundreds visit the corporation main office and zonal offices in different parts of the city for birth or death certificates, building tax, occupation certificates etc. Their complaints regarding poor service found voice in the council session when the agenda to ratify the suspension of a junior health inspector in birth or death certificate was taken up.
The council was informed that the official, Shaj Subhash L S was suspended for dereliction of duty. An enquiry by the health officer found that the Shaj had delayed over 200 applications for birth certificate he had received over a period.
Councillors demanded stern action against officials who make people wait endlessly. “Public is not getting time-bound service from the corporation even after submitting the required documents. Worse, the submitted documents often go missing,” said BJP’s parliamentary party leader V Giri. Indian Union Muslim League leader Beemapally Rasheed demanded that the corporation keep a moving register to help councillors and public track the movement of these files. Attipra ward councillor Suni Chandran demanded that the zonal office should provide birth and death certificates instead of making people visit the main office. Responding to the complaints Mayor V K Prashant said it is the responsibility of officials to keep the files safe and action will be taken against those involved in malpractice.
Row over police station
Council rejected the state’s move to reserve almost 20 cents of land near Sreekaryam junction to construct a police station. The land belonged to Sreekaryam panchayat which is attached to the corporation. It was after a 30-year-long court battle with an encroacher that the corporation managed to get the right of land title. But later the land was allotted for constructing a permanent building for Sreekaryam police station. Mayor said it had received a proposal for setting up a mini civil station at Sreekaryam which was to accommodate a police station as well. The disputed land near the junction shall be used for the developmental activities of civic body.
BJP resolution rejected
Rest of the agendas mentioned by various standing committees were rushed through after BJP councillors began agitating when their demand for considering a resolution condemning the attack against its councillors was rejected. Despite the protest Mayor stuck to his stand that the request for resolution had come just before the start of session and it shall be allowed only after discussion on agendas were over.
The resolution, condemning attack against Manacaud ward councillor Simi Jyothish and filing of politically motivated cases on BJP councillors, was rejected by the Council. UDF councillors refrained from taking sides. Simi was attacked on October 13 during the BJP hartal at Sreevaraham.