Councillors decry IMC suspension
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2010: Decision of the Congress-led Secular progressive Front Government to suspend the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) for six months has evoked strong resentment among the Councillors, who while decrying the move, cautioned that intense movement would be launched till withdrawal of the suspension order.

Interacting with newspersons today, some agitated Councillors described as unjustifiable the Government's decision asserting that term of the present Council still has 11 more months.

They also disclosed that a decision has been taken to contest the suspension by the Government in a Court of law.

IMC suspended, but did it serve any purpose while in office ?

Ward No.27 Councillor Sh Prahlahda said even though the Chief Minister, who is also the MAHUD Minister, deserves to be appreciated for his initiative in ousting IMC Chairperson RK Ranisana Devi from the Council's top job, decision to keep the Council in suspension does not serve any positive purposes.

Recounting that when a no confidence motion was moved against Ranisana in April 2009 by 14 councillors out of the total number of 27 the SPF Government went all out to negate the move, Prahlahda said not only is removal of Ranisana a testimony of the Government's double-standard but the move to suspend the Council demonstrates immaturity to tackle important issues.

To the Govt's charges of financial mismanagement for suspending the Council, the Councillor clarified that inspite of the Government allocating Rs 13.92 lakhs for purchase of a tipper truck the vehicle could not be possessed for Rs 82,000 was utilised out of the sum to pay wages of master-roll employees who were used to clear municipal wastes after Council employees resorted to ceasework strike.

While informing that the balance amount is still in the Council's account, Prahlahda also maintained that regular employees are yet to get 30 months salary in addition to pensioners languishing in distress as pension amount for 131 months are not paid till date.

He also alleged callousness of the Government to the Council's proposal for a special package to tide over the financial problems besetting Imphal Municipal Council.

Accusing lack of initiative by the Government to improve financial condition of the Council particularly to generate income, he further explained that ever since implementation of Value Added Tax system, the Council's income is limited to monthly octroi tax amount of Rs 19 lakh and another sum of Rs 5.50 lakh collected as tax from women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel.

The income thus generated is incompatible to monthly expenditures of the Council which hovers around the Rs 72 lakh mark inclusive of salary and pension, he added.

Contending that incomes previously gained by the Council from land tax and household revenue have been diverted to other department, the Councillor disclosed that the Govt is yet to respond to a Council's proposal for levying Rs 10 per annum from each house in about 8000 localities within the 27 Municipal Councils.

Even though the Council is besieged with problems the Government suspending the Council rather than chalk out and implement remedial measures will be an unhealthy trend, he expressed.