Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation in its council meeting on Tuesday accepted the proposal made by the Vastralata Merchants Association on decreasing the rental amount from Rs 17.06 crore to Rs 8.45 crore. A resolution was passed in the council asking the government to take a decision in this regard. The Opposition parties, including the BJP opposed the move and protested against the decision.
The VMC made this controversial proposal in order to end the legal battle with the traders. The traders association has not paid rents since 2008 over a dispute of increased lease amount.
The VMC increased the lease amount by 33.3 per cent but the traders argue that the government has issued a GO that limits the increase in the lease amount to 15 per cent only.
VMC commissioner G. Veerapandian justified the truce agreement and the proposals made by the traders on the grounds that there were lapses on the part of the VMC in implementing the GO in favour of traders. He said this agreement was only to end the stalemate and the court cases over the issue. The resolution passed on Tuesday will be sent to the government and the government will take the final call, he added.
YSRC floor leader in the VMC B. Punyaseela opposed the move and asked how the council can pass a resolution when the matter is pending in the High Court.
BJP corporator Uttamchand Bhandari said that the VMC should not give in to the blackmail of traders. Another issue that rocked the council was the proposal to re-name Krishna Lanka feeder road as Gadde Rammohan Rao road.
YSRC members thronged the mayor’s well and shouted slogans against the move. The deputy mayor G V Ramana suspended three members. YSRC corporators Chandana Suresh, B Bhava Kumar and K Damodar sat on a one-day hunger strike before the council hall to protest their suspension.
Increase of the Thummalapalli Kalakshetram rentals was once again postponed due to opposition from ruling party members.
