Batala Municipal Corporation heads nowhere

With most administrative posts in Batala municipal council — including that of president, vice-president and executive officer — lying vacant, the locals have not been getting the basic amenities.

With most administrative posts in Batala municipal council — including that of president, vice-president and executive officer — lying vacant, the locals have not been getting the basic amenities.

HT Image

Potholed roads, over-flowing sewage, non-availability of clean drinking water and garbage strewn all over the town are common here.

The post of the MC president has been lying vacant for the past three months while that of the vice-president for five months. The executive officer, who was running the council for the past some time in the absence of the president, was also transferred on July 16.

According to information, though the council has been spending Rs 1.93 lakh every month for maintenance of streetlights, more than 75% of the lights do not function. For providing better sanitation facilities to locals, the council has employed 164 regular and 101 contractual employees and is spending Rs 2.1 lakh on lifting the garbage and filth.

Despite that, every nook and corner of the town is covered with garbage, making it difficult for the locals. People have been facing an acute shortage of clean drinking water in this hot weather.

Though the administration had called a meeting of the council to elect the president on July 9, it was postponed at the last minute.