Ads on street lamps: Opposition relaxes stand

KOCHI: The all-party meeting convened by the Mayor on Tuesday to discuss the issue of the allotment of interim tender for the display of advertisements on street lamps ended up as a farce. The opposition, who strongly demanded a Vigilance inquiry into the issue, is learned to have relaxed its stand and has reportedly given the nod for the Mayor’s decision for a departmental level inquiry on the issue.Everything that happened on the day of the meeting was like a planned drama. The meeting, which was to be held by 10 am, began by around 11.30 am. The media was not allowed entry and the ruling front councillor Leno Jacob told reporters that there will be a briefing by the Mayor after the meeting. After an-hour-long discussion, Mayor Tony Chammany and Deputy Mayor Bhadra Sathish left the office without meeting the press. Earlier, Corporation sources said that the Mayor told the opposition members that the LSGD Secretary would look into the allegations raised by the opposition against the Town Planning Committee and Finance Standing Committee.“Opposition leader K J Jacob said that he will give a reply after discussing with the opposition councillors for a department level inquiry,” sources said.According to the sources, the decision to terminate the then contractor who undertook the contract for the display of advertisements and maintenance of street lamps was decided by the Corporation Council in March 2010. “The then council in which the LDF held the majority failed to take timely action and the contractor was terminated on December 2010 after the present council was sworn in. The opposition’s decision to back out from the demand of a Vigilance inquiry is on the grounds of this lapse from its part,” sources said.Later in the evening, Mayor Tony Chammany said the he was not informed about the media briefing and the procedures of the entire meeting were transparent. Earlier, the controversy broke out after the present council decided to invite hand quotation for the display of advertisements on electric posts for a period of one month. The opposition alleged that the matter was not discussed in the council and they did not have any idea about who undertook the contract, what was the amount and other details.