E-Paper
Municipal chief, MLA trade charges
Heated arguments were exchanged between the municipal commissioner and a delegation of BJP members who had gone to meet him to discuss issues related to city?s development.
Heated arguments were exchanged between the municipal commissioner and a delegation of BJP members who had gone to meet him to discuss issues related to city’s development.
BJP MLA from Cantonment, Satish Mahana, along with his supporters, today met the municipal commissioner (MC) at his office to complain about the “poor civic scenario” in the city. “All development activities in the city have come to a standstill. No cleaning of drains is being carried out and all roads are in shambles,” Mahana said.
The MLA accused the MC of being publicity hungry. To this, Chatterjee allegedly retorted by asking Mahana not to make any personal comments. “Aap koi bhi personal comment nahi kariye (Please don’t make any personal comments). No one can doubt my integrity. I can also say that you did not initiate any development work when you were a minister,” he said.
On this, the delegation members stood up and started shouting at the MC. It was only after additional municipal commissioner (AMC) R Vikram Singh and CO Pavitra Mohan Tripathi intervened that the situation was brought under control.
In between the altercations, former BJP MLA Rakesh Sonkar tried to put forward some suggestions but the MC allegedly stopped him from doing so. This again angered the delegation members leading to allegations and counter allegations.
Chatterjee then asked them to put forward their suggestions one by one.
When Mahana complained of choked sewers at Coolie Bazar, the MC informed him that since all drains had been de-silted before the onset of monsoon, it would not be possible to clean them again now. However, Mahana alleged that no drain had been cleaned and informed Chatterjee about a number of roads that were in bad shape with big potholes.
Chatterjee then explained to him the various problems being faced by the Nagar Nigam including acute financial crisis and Allahabad High Court’s order banning all payments until the pending dues of pensioners were cleared.
On this, the MLA pointed out that when the Nigam collected tax from people, it was also responsible for carrying out development work in the city.
An agitated MC then allegedly asked the MLA, “How much work have you carried out from your MLA fund.” This infuriated the BJP members and heated arguments between the two followed.
When the parties again sat for discussions, Mahana asked Chatterjee why the Nigam had issued a Rs 7 lakh tax notice to a Lal Bangla trader.
“When traders come to your office to discuss the matter, you don’t meet him,” Mahana said to the MC. Chatterjee’s reply again led to chaotic scenes in the office.
During the meeting, former BJP Corporator Pramila Pandey left no chance to shout at the MC.
Sensing little chances of an outcome, the BJP members walked out of the office.
