Mangaluru : Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai on Tuesday became the latest to criticise the style of functioning of outgoing Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati. He said that an “upright” officer stalled the renovation work of the Town Hall.

During an interaction with presspersons here, Mr. Rai said that he had directed the officer in January to ensure that renovation work was completed within three months (from January).

“We can issue directions, but it is the officials who have to perform. Even after six months, work has not been completed,” he said.

When a reporter pointed out that the delay was due to the Nirmithi Kendra, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, which was unable to execute the work because of a “clash of political interests”, Mr. Rai said that the officer could have overcome the obstacle. In a meeting convened on Monday, he directed the officials concerned to complete the renovation work by August, Mr. Rai added.

On the question of delay in completing the road underbridge on Padil-Bajal Road, the former Mayor Shashidhar Hegde said that Ms. Korlapati kept the file of revised drawings of approach roads pending for months together and hence, the delay.

The corporation would soon submit the drawings to the railways and get the work completed at the earliest, he said.

Mr. Rai said that politicians cutting across party lines had welcomed the commissioner’s transfer, including BJP leaders, during private conversations.

However, in public, they claimed that she was a good officer and her transfer was wrong, he remarked.

Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, Deputy Mayor Purushottam Chitrapura, and Mangaluru Urban Development Authority Chairman Ibrahim Kodijal were present.