 |
Darjeeling, Dec. 21: Amar Singh Rai was today sworn in as the chairman of the Darjeeling municipality and his immediate task will be the realisation of dues of Rs 4 crore.
The municipality, set up in 1850, is considered to be “one of the richest civic bodies” in the state in terms of assets. However, the municipality’s monthly expenses stand at Rs 45 lakh against the revenue of about Rs 25 lakh.
Rai said his first priority as the chairman of the municipality would be to raise the revenue.
“The liabilities of the municipality stand at around Rs 4 crore and we will have to work out ways and means to realise it. I have already talked to the DGHC administrator and north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb to get an idea of ways to approach the authorities for revenue. The civic body is struggling to stand on its feet even though it is one of the richest in the state,” said Rai.
Sources said the Rs 4 crore dues were largely in the form of tax. They also said the civic body owned more than 50-60 buildings in the town and no other municipality in the state had so many properties.
Rai was administered oath of office and secrecy by Darjeeling deputy magistrate Chewang Paljor. Sukh Bahadur Biswakarma took oath as the vice-chairperson of the civic body.
The Darjeeling municipality has to pool 20 per cent of the salaries paid to its 456 permanent staff members. The civic body does not get any financial help to pay 193 daily wage workers. They are paid Rs 75 each.
“The board shells out about Rs 1.02 crore per month to pay salaries and wages to its employees,” said Rai.
Apart from streamlining the finances, the municipality’s upgrade into a corporation also tops the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-headed board’s priority list. “One of the first steps the new board wants to take is with regard to the municipality’s upgrade into a corporation,” said Rai.
The civic chief said even though he was hopeful that Balasun project would help tide over water scarcity in Darjeeling, the new board would seek the revamp of the water distribution system in the town with the help of the state government.
“I am also thinking of setting up standing committees of different departments to expedite the execution of various projects. We also want to make use of services of people from Darjeeling who are currently residing outside for the development of the town,” said Rai, who is a former vice-principal of Loreto College (now renamed as Southfield College).
The civic chief appealed to the people to shed the attitude of negativism. “I have never heard people talking good about the municipality. However, it is time that you shed negativism and come forward to help the board formulate people-friendly policies.”
New chairpersons were sworn in the other three hill municipalities also today. L.B. Pariyar and Ganga Maya Gurung assumed charge as the chairperson and the vice-chairperson of Kalimpong municipality respectively.
In Kuresong, Sameerdeep Blone was sworn in as the chairman, while Kalpana Pradhan took oath as the vice-chairperson. Mala Subba assumed charge as the chairperson of the Mirik municipality, while M.K. Zimba was sworn in as the vice-chairman.
VIVEK CHHETRI(The Telegraph)
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?