Developmental activities of North Lakhimpur Municipal Board hit roadblock

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The developmental activities of the North Lakhimpur Municipal Board have hit a roadblock due to lack of a friendly environment between the Chief Executive Officer and the chairperson of the Board. As a result of it, the citizens of the municipal area have been deprived of adequate facilities which urban citizens must enjoy.

At present, funds amounting to Rs. 6.20 crore, allotted to the NLMB for various developmental activities, have not been utilized due to the alleged conflict between the two executives of the Board. Out of the gross amount, a fund of Rs. 5.50 crore was allotted for the construction of 31 roads under the municipal area five months back while another fund amounting to Rs 70 lakh was given to the Board under the 14th Finance Commission. In addition, a large amount of fund under Swachh Bharat Mission has still not been used in order to build community toilets in various places under 14 wards of the Municipal Board.

The director of municipal administration has issued reminder letters to NLMB regarding the non-utilization of the fund of Rs. 5.50 crore while the Dhakuakhona Nagar Samiti, Bihpuriya Municipal Board and Narayanpur Nagar Samiti of Lakhimpur district have already utilized the fund allotted under the same scheme. Under such circumstances, the fund allotted to NLMB is on the brink of being returned.

Regarding these issues, the chairperson of the NLMB has blamed the non-cooperative attitude of the CEO towards initiating any steps for implementing developmental activities. In connection, various complaints, such as frequent absence in the office, keeping files pending and absence in the Board meetings, have been made against NLMB CEO Debashish Goswami, resulting in the failure of the Board to even invite tenders to utilize the allotted funds. Though the NLMB chairperson Surya Phukan informed about these issues to Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Dr. Jeevan B in February, it is alleged that he has not paid due attention to resolve the problems.

Under such circumstances, a citizens’ meet, chaired by former NLMB chairperson Anwar Hussain, was held in the NLMB conference hall on Thursday in order to discuss these issues. Participating in the discussion to resolve the problems, a host of prominent figures of North Lakhimpur, including social activist Uday Sankar Hazarika, academicians Premanada Howborah, Dr. Mukunda Rajbonshi, Bonti Gogoi Howborah and Rukma Gohainbaruah, and former AASU leader Khagen Gogoi, lamented the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the CEO and forwarded various suggestions. After the discussion, a citizens’ committee was constituted in the meeting which took a resolution to call on the DC on Friday in order to solve the imbroglio.

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