KOLHAPUR: The general body meeting of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Wednesday ended abruptly after the Opposition (BJP-Tararani Aghadi alliance) and the ruling Congress-NCP alliance locked horns over the Kalammawadi direct pipeline project.Several corporators from the Opposition said that Congress leaders were involved in corruption and that is delaying the pipeline project. In reply, the Congress-NCP corporators blamed the BJP-led state government's lack of action as the major reason for delay in the work.Following this allegation and counter-allegation, the BJP-Tararani Aghadi leaders staged a walkout from the GB meeting. The Opposition had asked the civic administration to present a 'white paper' on the Rs488 crore pipeline project. However, the civic officials produced an information booklet regarding the project inviting major anger among the corporators.Vijay Suryavanshi, BJP corporators, said, "The pipeline work should have been completed by now. But it is yet to see the light of the day. We found that several work have been stopped. We would like to know if the hydraulic testing has been done yet on the route and how has it been achieved. There is need for an independent monitoring over the project."Bhupal Shete, deputy mayor, said that most of the no-objection certificates required to start the project, are stuck with the state government. "The BJP-Tararani Aghadi corporators blaming us in not fair and I condemn it. Their party is at the helm for the last four-and-a-half years and they have repeatedly obstructed the work."He added that permissions are also needed from the forest department and the letters regarding the same have been sent to them. But there has been no reply. "We need to go to Nagpur and will protest against the forest department," he said.Meanwhile, many corporators from the E-ward raised their concern regarding no water in their areas and also warned the administration of protests if the supply is not resumed.Meanwhile, the general body of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Monday approved standing committee's resolution that did not approve any hike in the tax on rented property.Currently, the civic administration is charging 70% tax of the rent as tax and this has been opposed by the corporators from all the political parties. According to them, the huge property tax is hampering the growth and development of the city.On Monday, the general body decided to move a supplementary motion to bring down the tax on rented properties. Administration has pointed out that it will lose around Rs7 crore if the suggestions made by the corporators are accepted. Corporators will now hold negotiations with all the stake-holders before moving the supplementary motion that is expected to reduce the tax.The general body has already passed resolutions asking to maintain status-quo on the hike in taxes. The hikes were suggested in the license fee for professionals, rent of halls and play grounds owned by the municipal corporation, rent of all in-house sports and swimming pools and for various documents that are required from the building construction department.

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