From a Correspondent
JOYSAGAR, March 20: The Sivasagar regiol unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) staged a protest against the Sivasagar Municipal Board (SMB) authorities opposing alleged anomalies of the board members as well as some officials. The AASU slammed the local body as it was allegedly not functioning satisfactorily and not serving the citizens by keeping the historic town clean and hygienic. Besides, SMB had also failed to supply pure drinking water to all the citizens under its total 14 wards. The important public roads under the SMB jurisdiction are in a dilapidated condition and SMB also does not have any scientific plan to dispose garbage collected daily from the town. SMB throws garbage in residential places near wards no. 13 and 14, alleged the Sivasagar AASU.
Moreover, the development works done by the local body allegedly are below standard and in implementing public works, many of the office bearers as well as elected ward members have indulged in corruption. AASU has demanded a probe into allotment of tender for work under the SMB. The student body also alleged that the board earned revenue about Rs 3.75 crore per annum but it was uble to pay the salary of the SMB employees and workers. SMB workers and employees have not got their monthly salary for the past 14 months.
In the last State budget, Sivasagar Municipal Board was allotted fincial aid of Rs 100 crore. AASU said that the district authorities as well as the government should keep strict vigil on how the fund is utilized by the municipal board as there has been allegation of misappropriation of public money against the SMB authorities.
Earlier, the Indian Patriotic Federation (Socialist) had also staged protest against all anomalies in the local body. This time, the Sivasagar Regiol AASU has come out against the alleged corruption of the Sivasagar Municipal Board. The leaders of the organization submitted a memorandum to Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner and the State Urban Development Department Commissioner.