THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The agenda regarding renting a residence for Mayor Arya Rajendran stirred up a debate in the council meeting held here on Thursday. While UDF and BJP councillors welcomed the agenda to rent a home for the mayor, they questioned the delay in completing the project ‘Mayor’s Bhavan’ at Kunnukuzhy.
BJP councillors said that the project was almost two decades old and it was unfortunate that the LDF which ruled the council all these years could not get the project done till date. They alleged that it was the delay in the completion of the project which led to mayor having to rent out a residence.
LDF parliamentary party leader D R Anil responded that Mayor’s bhavan was never meant as a project to construct a residence for mayor but as a building that integrated various other components.
D R Anil also said it was local protests at Kunnukuzhy which had impeded the progress of the project. His remark provoked Kunnukuzhy councillor Mary Pushpam and she said that the LDF was forcing the project on the residents there. “The project site is in SC colony, Barton Hill. About 250 families will be affected. Besides there is a community hall, an anganwadi, a tailoring institute which are linked with the livelihood of the people. Why is it being forced upon them?” she asked.
Senior councillors Palayam Rajan and Gopakumar rebuked Mary Pushpam and said that her declared stand to oppose a project at any cost would not be encouraged. “LDF council has been more than humane in its approach so far. You cannot challenge anyone with such open declarations of protest,” said Palayam Rajan. P K Gopakumar went one step further and said that Mary Pushpam was acting under the influence of some people with vested interests and that she was denying the chance of development there.
The state government has given sanction to civic bodies to utilize their own fund to take buildings on rent to be used as official residence of the mayor. The government had issued an order based on a letter from Thiruvananthapuram city corporation secretary.
As per the order, the maximum permissible rent for the building shall be Rs 15,000 and onetime expense of Rs 1 lakh will be sanctioned for deposit, furnishing and maintenance expense. The furniture and other items being bought for the rented residence shall be treated as the corporation’s assets. Mayor will have to bear the cost of water and electricity.
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