Mayor Thottathil Raveendran blasts staff for damaging reputation'

KOZHIKODE: Mayor Thottathil Raveendran, in his introductory speech ahead of the Budget presentation, hailed the state government’s various initiatives under the Nava Kerala Mission and hoped that the activities under the state government would take the Corporation to new heights. However, the Mayor severely criticised Corporation staff for indulging in activities which were maligning the reputation of the Corporation. His remarks came in the context of the recent incident where the tampered streetlight contract issue caused huge embarrassment to the civic body.

“We have been achieving remarkable progress in the development activities of the City and many of the projects in the present budget will definitely change the face of the City. A majority of the Corporation staff are giving good support to the Council by working hard without looking at the office time and even working during holidays. However, the unscrupulous actions of a minority are eclipsing the good work we have done,” he said.

Recently, the opposition gheraoed the Mayor during a Council meeting over the controversial streetlight contract in which the MoU signed with a private firm had been allegedly altered from what the Council had approved.  The Corporation Secretary in her report tabled in the Council found that the Deputy Secretary, Revenue Officer, Superintendent and Section Clerk had indulged in serious dereliction in duty.