PUDUCHERRY ; Even as battle for the throne in Tamil Nadu continues, in Puducherry the Lieutenant Governor, Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy continue to lock horns in a never-ending tussle.
This time it is over a meeting convened by the Lt Governor with traders in Raj Nivas on Sunday for creating greater awareness among traders against disposing of garbage into drains and canals and
to have their own dustbins and ensure that the government’s precious funds are not wasted in desilting.
The meeting may be a non-starter as a diktat reportedly from the ruling party directs traders not to attend the meeting on the grounds that the meeting has been organised without the knowledge of the elected government and bypasses the concerned minister and Chief minister.
“We want to attend it as it is for a good cause. At the same time we do not want to go against the wishes of the Chief minister,” said a traders’ association office bearer on the condition of anonymity. “We want both (the CM and the LG)to work together for good governance,” he said.
“The meeting can be cancelled and a fresh one convened at a public place with the participation of the Lt governor, Chief minister and local administration officials”, he said.
Encouraged by several letters of appreciation after successfully dealing with issues relating to clogged drains due to dumping of meat waste and waste from fast food shops into drains and also in stopping open defecation in Velrampet Lake, Bedi decided to meet with traders from a larger cross section.
The LG maintains that her dealing with such matters is well within her ambit.
“We must not convert money into garbage. In Puducherry, we are spending a lot of our money and even borrowed money for desilting drains choked by plastic and garbage,” she told Express.
“To stop this trend I called for a meeting and have asked them to cooperate with municipal services and take responsibility as citizens. This will ensure a cleaner Puducherry for all while saving precious revenues,” said Bedi. “Once the traders agree to certain measures, the pressure on scarce resources of Municipalities will reduce.
There will be greater public support. So what is the problem? We all want a better Puducherry a prosperous Puducherry. Do we not?” she said “As far as Raj Nivas is concerned we shall continue to take appropriate initiatives and intervene as and when necessary for the good of Puducherry and its people. Raj Nivas is not a post office. It is a close observer and a responsible intervener as per the demands of the situation and within laid down rules and responsibilities”, she said.
The ruling party’s main grouse against Bedi is that she continues to sidestep the elected government.
“The ministers are not in the loop,” said a Congressman.
“Any issue can be addressed in consultation with the concerned minister or referred to the minister for redressal. What is preventing her from doing so?” he asked. Some observers feel, it is Narayanasamay’s way of keeping Bedi’s activities confined only to 14 areas as defined in the Rules of Business under the Union Territories Act , 1963. He does not wish she meddle in other aspects of governance. Others feels elected representatives do not want to lose their connection with the people.