‘Reply to showcause or face action’: Gujarat govt

RAJKOT: The state government has warned the Morbi municipality that it would take an ex parte decision regarding dissolution if the civic body did not reply to the show-cause notice issued to it by February 16.
The urban development department (UDD), in a letter to the municipality dated February 13, stated: "If no written reply is submitted in the given time frame, it will be deemed that you are not inclined to make any representation regarding this and the government will take an ex parte decision as per the rules."
The government had issued a show-cause notice to the municipality asking why it should be dissolved for failing to discharge its basic administrative duties that led to the collapse of the suspension bridge in which 135 people were killed and many injured on October 30 last year.
In the letter, the UDD has stated that it would consider providing the municipality an opportunity to hear its side if the written reply in the form of a general board meeting resolution is submitted by February 16
The first show-cause notice was issued by the government on January 18. In its reply, the municipality sought the document related to the bridge collapse to provide appropriate answers as all the papers were in the custody of the government-appointed special investigation team (SIT). The government had sent all the relevant documents as well as SIT's report which stated that the municipality had failed in performing its duty.
The Gujarat High Court had also asked the state government why it was not superseding the municipality by invoking section 263 of the Gujarat Municipalities Act which enables the state to dissolve a civic body if it is found lacking in discharging its duties.
On February 7, Jayanti Ghatlodiya, a member of the municipality, filed an individual reply stating that the general board has no role in the bridge collapse. However, the UDD did not consider it and asked the municipality to file a reply in the form of a general board resolution.
The municipality has called a special general body meeting today to file a reply to the government explaining why it should not be superseded. The notice issued in January stated: "From all the available facts and records, it looks like the earlier operations contract for the suspension bridge ended in March 2017.
After that, Oreva Group made it clear through several letters to the municipality between January 13, 2018, and January 9, 2020, that the bridge's condition was extremely dilapidated and that it should be immediately closed and repairs should be carried out. If kept open, there can be a serious accident and loss of lives. However, it's amply clear that the municipality did not take these warnings seriously."
A total of 10 people, including Oreva Group managing director Jaysukh Patel, have been arrested in the case and booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.