Nellore: Even as municipal administration and urban development minister P. Narayana has intervened to sort out the differences between municipal commissioner S. Dilli Rao and Nellore mayor Abdul Aziz as well as Nellore Urban Development Authority chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, the stalemate between the official and the politicians has been continuing.
Both the mayor an NUDA chief have openly criticised the commissioner for his style of functioning and the latter told them in the same frequency that they are free to transfer him. In this backdrop, the minister has advised Aziz and Srinivasulu Reddy to handle the official carefully while stressing that transferring him is not a solution. He has reminded them about ensuing general elections and need to keep the officials in good humour.
Incidentally four commissioners, including an IAS officer K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu, have been transferred during last four years of Telugu Desam rule in the municipal corporation, allegedly, because of unreasonable demands from the ruling party leaders besides lack of coordination. The reputation of the civic body was taken a beating especially when committed officials such as Mr Babu and P.V.S.S. Moorthy were transferred unceremoniously but the rulers have not learned any lessons going by latest developments.
Differences between mayor and the present municipal commissioner S. Dilli Rao came to the fore when Mr Aziz pulled up the officer during a recent meeting at the civic body for not discussing with him before taking decisions. He was very angry against the officer for going ahead with encroachments’ demolition drive in his division even after he told him to wait for two hours so that he will be able to reach the spot.
Municipal commissioner S. Dilli Rao made it clear that he is following procedure and there is no need for him to consult the mayor for each and everything. Mr Dilli Rao’s argument is that the leaders will not allow him to carry out the drive because of political compulsions if he gives prior information. In case of NUDA chairman, Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, he is unhappy with the commissioner, who also happens to be the vice-chairman of Nellore urban development authority, for not routing the files through him.
