Imphal, October 08, 2009: Democratic Council Front (DCF), an opposition group of the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC), has disagreed with the claim of IMC Chairperson that the IMC generated an annual income of over Rs 4 crore.

Talking to reporters today at the office chamber of vice-chairperson of IMC, spokesperson of DCF and councilor of ward no.7, Ch Joykumar contradicted the claim of IMC Chairperson that the IMC has generated over Rs 4 crore between August 2008 and August 2009. He said, during the period in question, the IMC has collected Rs 2,05,147 as tax from shops in Imphal area and Rs 2,28,818 from roadside vendors, making a total income of Rs 4,33,961.He added that the claim of the IMC Chairperson that it generated Rs 4,10,35,865 as tax was totally wrong.

Ch Joykumar asked why the IMC is not releasing the pay of its employees for so many months if it generated such huge income in a year as claimed by the chairperson.

The council has been initiating withdrawal of Rs 8,56,000 as one time grant from the government after the council stopped collecting octroi tax.

Saying that the grant has not been received yet, Joykumar added that there has been no funding from the state finance commission for renovation of municipal area.

He said the IMC and MAHUD department have discussion on the matter of inclusion of different works programme.

The IMC employees were on cease work strike from May 22 this year due to non-payment of salary.

According to an agreement signed on September 27, the IMC employees have resumed normal service since yesterday.

He pointed out that no tax was collected during the strike period of four months and 14 days.

The DCF has strongly condemned the 'misled' statement of the Chairperson in her sole interest.

He also pointed out that a no confidence motion was raised against the chairperson on June 27 this year.

Lamenting the indifference attitude of the government in summoning a requisition meeting of the no confidence motion, Joykumar also wondered why the government is not summoning the meeting for this long period.

He said there has also been a court case for the tardiness in summoning the requisition meeting.

There are a total of 14 councilors including 10 Congress councilors in the opposition DCF.

The chairperson has 13 councilors.

This could be the reason why the meeting has not been convened, he said.

He further charged that the chairperson never used to inform the councilors about the works the council is going to take up.

Seven other councilors were also present during the press meet.

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