Dissidence rocks Ukhrul ADC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 24 2012: Close on the heels of submitting an appeal to the MPCC President urging for the removal of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council and arrange replacements for them, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman have been asked today to step down from their respective posts by 14 dissident members of Ukhrul ADC.

Citing inefficiency in administrative matter, lack of transparency in financial matter, lack of coordination and cooperation, manipulation of power and several other lax and slipshod activities on the part of the Chairman Shangam Luireiwo and Vice Chairman M Ngalangzar of Ukhrul ADC, MPCC President Gaikhangam has been urged to remove them from their respective office under Section 23 (2) of the Manipur (Hill Areas District Council Act, 1971) and appoint replacements for them.

An appeal letter was submitted to the MPCC chief on May 22 wherein 14 members, out of the total 26 members, of the ADC have appended their signatures.

Besides forwarding the resolutions adopted by the meeting to the MPCC President, the dissident ADC members have also served a notice to the Chairman and VC personally to step down from their respective post today.

Several resolutions, it may be mentioned, were adopted by the dissident members in this regard during a meeting of the ADC members on May 21 at Hotel Bheigo, Imphal which was presided by H Shangai, MDC.

The resolutions adopted at the meeting were also forwarded to the MPCC President along with the appeal letter.

Even after two years since the installation of the ADC in 2010 after a gap of 20 years, no single developmental work has been taken up by the Ukhrul ADC and no change has been witnessed in the administrative system, the rebel members pointed out while adding that it is the proof of the Chairman and the VC's inefficient, weak and poor administration.

Among others, the rebel members alleged the Chairman and VC of Ukhrul ADC of manipulating the State Government's order on devolution of DRDA to ADC while adding that councilors are not allowed to participate in any scheme discussion for implementation under DRDA like total sanitation campaign, SGSY, IAY, BADP, IWMP, MGNREGS, NLCPR and all other departments devolved to the ADC but implemented unilaterally by leaving MDCs as mere beneficiaries.

The meeting held on May 21 also resolved against the frequent transfer and posting of some particular teachers even two or five times in a week and month without consultation with the concerned MDCs in their respective District Council Constituency.

The rebels members also alleged the Chairman and VC of not sharing the administrative and governing power to the elected members which is against Section 27 A (3) of the District Council Act.

Further alleging that programme proposals for any development works have not been invited from councilors, the dissident members stated that it shows the lack of coordination and cooperation.

The members also cited lack of control over the ADC members in the 10th Assembly election which resulted in the division within the party and lost of one Congress MLA's seat in Ukhrul.

Alleging the Chairman and VC of not convening the ADC House meeting since May 2011, the rebel members also charged them of not constituting planning committee and working out the budget estimates during the past one year which only shows his authoritarianism.

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