Cash in office or dry taps, says union - Darjeeling civic staff threaten to shut down emergency services

Darjeeling, Aug. 26/VIVEK CHHETRI: The employees’ union at the Darjeeling municipality has threatened to shut down emergency services like conservancy and water supply if the old system of depositing taxes at the civic body is not revived.

The Darjeeling Municipality Employees’ Union, which claims to be an apolitical body, has been on a pen-down strike since August 4 to protest the new system under which residents have to deposit property tax with the Union Bank of India.

The employees are demanding that the citizens be allowed to pay the tax in the civic office as in the past.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which had maintained silence so long, today said it would try to broker peace between both the sides.

“We have decided to discuss the impasse at the municipality with our party leaders tomorrow. We hope a solution will emerge soon,” said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.

Allan Chhetri, the president of the union, said: “We have not heard a word from the district administration and we see no solution in sight. We are now seriously contemplating shutting down emergency services like conservancy and the water-works department as last resort. Our strike is causing inconvenience to the general public but we would like to appeal to them to bear with us as our demand is for the public’s convenience.”

District magistrate Mohan Gandhi held a meeting with the employees two days ago but no solution could be worked out.

“The district magistrate spoke on the lines of the subdivisional officer (who is also the chairperson of the board of administrators of the municipality). We have already rejected that proposal,” said Chhetri.

The union alleged that the decision to shift the payment of property taxes to the bank was taken without consulting employees. “Paying taxes at the bank would cause inconvenience to the general public as they have to scuttle between the bank and the office if there is a mismatch in records,” said Chhetri. “Sixteen employees responsible for collecting the tax are without work in the civic office now.”

The SDO had said he had introduced the new system to keep pace with time. The official believes such a move would slowly help introduce Net-banking in the town to enable the people to pay all bills from home.

Given the staunch stand taken by the unions, observers believe the administration might revert to the old system and let an elected body take further decision.

“After all, elections to the municipality are likely to take place soon now that the political problem has been settled in the hills. The administration will most likely avoid confrontation with the employees on small issues like this and leave the matter to the new elected body to take a call,” said an observer. 

-TT