A CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: The new signboard displaying Silchar as a ‘Corporation’ in place of the previous ‘Municipality Board’ at the civic body office was unveiled by Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha on Monday.
Ex-officio members as well as MLAs Dipayan Chakraborty of Silchar, Mihir Kanti Shome of Udharbond along with former Municipality Chairperson and currently a Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal, Sushmita Dev, former MLA Dilip Paul, along with a host of former Ward Commissioners and leading citizens assembled at the corporation’s office where the function was held. The event marked a transformative chapter in Silchar’s urban development journey.
MP Purkayastha paid glowing tributes to Late Kamini Kumar Chanda, the first Chairman of Silchar Municipal Board in 1913, and remembered the successive chairmen who contributed to building the foundation of civic administration in Silchar. “We are not merely witnessing an administrative upgrade; we are stepping into a new era of urban governance that aligns with our city’s aspirations,” he remarked.
Stressing the city’s strategic and cultural significance as the heart of the Barak Valley, he noted that the transition to a municipal corporation was inevitable given the population growth, expanding municipal boundaries, and increasing urban demands. “This upgradation will pave the way for enhanced financial devolution, superior infrastructure, and smarter urban planning,” he stated.
MP Purkayastha expressed profound gratitude to Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, hailing his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to equitable development across both the Brahmaputra and Barak Valley.
He also underscored the urgent need to prioritize key civic challenges under the new municipal framework, particularly drinking water supply, waste management, drainage improvement, and traffic regulation.
Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty elaborated on the numerous developmental initiatives undertaken during his tenure. He spoke of infrastructure upgrades, beautification projects, and improvements in civic amenities that laid the groundwork for this transition.
Sushmita Dev laid stress on furnishing the funds allocated and utilized over the past five years, underlining the importance of transparency and monitoring. Dev urged newly-appointed Silchar Municipality Commissioner Srishti Singh to ensure timely uploading of project reports and fund utilization details on the official SMC website for public accountability. She also made an appeal for use of the Bengali language in banners and hoardings related to upcoming projects, to preserve the cultural and linguistic identity of the region.
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