Sinha reinstated despite protests

When standing committee chairman Natu Soma Patel read out resolution No 10, seeking Dr Sinha8217;s reinstatement, Solanki demanded justification for the reinstatement. However, his protest was not registered, and the resolution was passed with a voice vote.

Solanki did his utmost to register his protest; he even went to the dias to snatch the mike from the mayor8217;s table.

But even as he was arguing with mayor Bhikabhai Bhogra, the 30-point agenda was hurriedly endorsed by the house.

Asked why Solanki was not allowed to speak on Dr Sinha, the mayor said 8220;he should have protested the moment the standing committee chairman read out the resolution. But he protested after the house had approved even resolution No 11 8221;.

Later speaking to Express Newsline, Solanki alleged that the BJP was doing its level best to reinstate Dr Sinha because he is an RSS functionary. If they can reinstate Dr Sinha who is facing an Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry, then why do they not reinstate 75 other employees who were placed under suspension for minor irregularities, he asked.

Earlier, speaking at the general board, the Congress councillor asked municipal commissioner Guru Prasad Mohapatra to take stern action against all those builders whose cheques towards the Vikas Fund had bounced. Solanki also wanted to know why the drive against illegal construction has suddenly stopped. 8220;Is it something to do with the elections,8221; he asked.

A councillor from north zone, Dheeru Mangrolia, said the civic chief should take stern action against former Katargam in-charge C J Gamit, executive engineer Nitin Viadya and the builder who was developing Kansanagar lake in which six boys drowned last month.

Though the commissioner has transferred Gamit and Vaidya, it is not punishment, he said. Criminal proceedings should be initiated against the two officials, including the contractor who should be immediately blacklisted, Mangrolia said.

Independent Councillor Prakash Desai and BJP councillors J P Shah and Madansinh Atodaria congratulated the municipal commissioner for intensifying the cleanliness drive. Shah, however, regretted that civic employees were not doing their job effectively.

On his part, Atodaria expressed concern over the fact that four months after the Surat Municipal Corporation earmarked Rs 280 crores for capital works in its budget, no capital work has started in right earnest.

The Independent councillor demanded an inquiry against corrupt officials in the Town Planning office and health department. Recently, the civic body had sealed 27 hotels for reasons of hygiene. They reopened within two days after bribing certain civic officials, Desai alleged.