The ward council will give more powers to the corporators who will be empowered to carry out development works worth upto Rs five lakh in the council limit.

The issue of setting up of ward committees under the 74th amendment of the Indian Constitution was raised by Samajwadi Party (SP) corporator Ramesh Joshi. A proposal to this effect was passed by the group leaders and then by the General Body in October last year, he said adding that the Mayor-in-Council (MiC) is delaying the implementation of the wardcouncils.

Joshi alleged that by such delay the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to concentrate power in its hands.

``The alliance is snatching awaythe right of the 200-odd corporators who will be members of the councils and will have powers to sanction work proposals upto Rs five lakh,'' he explained. However, MiC member Sardar Tara Singh (BJP) claimed that MiC especially the Mayor did not have powers to implement the ward council decision since the Congress had made some amendments in the MiC proposal when it was being passed in the state Legislative Council.

At this point, the debate took a new turn and members picked on the flaws in the Mayor-in-Council Act. The opposition attacked the ruling members demanding that they should oppose the defective law formulated by the Sena-BJP MLAs since they are responsible for passing of the amended law.

``All the council members should resign gracefully as they are unfit to rule the city,'' remarked Joshi. Yusuf Abrahani (SP) suggested the council members should concentrate on doing some work for the citizens than making excuses of having no powers.