Officials who removed hoardings transferred!

• Disputed action was taken in the urban development minister’s district itself

Mangaluru: In the backdrop of the strict removal of illegal hoardings in Bengaluru as per High Court’s direction, a similar good attempt on the removal of illegal hoardings in Mangaluru has shamefully ended in the transfer of a corporation official as punishment.

Mangaluru Corporation Revenue Officer Praveenchandra Karkera has been transferred to Kalburgi. Amidst this, a few corporation officials have also protested and opposed this sudden transfer. What is notable is that this incident has occurred in the home district of the urban development and district in-charge minister U.T. Khader. There are only 3 more years remaining for the retirement of the transferred official and his transfer to a far-off city has come under much criticism.

Action over complaints

There were many complaints regarding the illegal hoardings displayed at public places by a few people which were also causing loss to the income of the corporation. In this backdrop, the officials decided to remove more than 45 illegal hoardings.

On August 6^th, Praveen Chandra removed illegal hoardings from 15 locations along the airport road in between Kavoor junction and Maravoor Bridge. Of the removed hoardings, most of them were belonging to a relative of a politician. As the operation was spreading, the official was transferred to Kalburgi on August 14^th.

The official left on holiday

It is being said that the officials, saddened by his transfer left on holiday. But, this is not the first time he has faced such type of transfer. In 2014, when he was the Assistant Revenue Official, he was transferred to Belgaum for removing illegal hoardings of a corporator. He questioned the action through court and returned back to Mangaluru with a promotion.

No Revenue Official in Corporation

There are three revenue divisions within the Corporation’s limits and Praveenchandra was in the city division. The assistant revenue officer here has appointed as the revenue officer for one of the 2 posts vacant at Surathkal Division. Now, with the transfer of Praveenchandra, the city division is without a revenue officer.