SMB faces flak for poor waste magement

From a correspondent

Silchar, Nov 27: The absence of door to door waste collection system from the municipal body of the town is a serious issue and a health hazard. Besides, an outbreak of infectious viral diseases may happen at any moment. The Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) has made a mess of the civic services. The poor draige system, piling up garbage and the pathetic state of hygiene in the roads of the town is making people sick. Demanding the repair of entire draige system in town and launching of door to door garbage collection system, the members of garik Swartha Raksha Sangram Parishad organized a sit in protest in front the office of SMB on Thursday. The agitating members of the Parishad also submitted a memorandum to Niharendra rayan Thakur, chairman of the Board.

Criticizing the Board, Haridas Dutta, general secretary of the Parishad said that Niharendara rayan Thakur is not eligible to be the first citizen of the town. The Bharatiya Jata Party has chosen a wrong person as the chairman of the prestigious Silchar Municipal Board. On being confronted by the members of the Parishad regarding the day to day workings of the civic body, Thakur got involved into a war of words with the agitators. Thakur accused the Parishad members of unfortutely having a very wrong approach towards the functioning of the board.

 Thakur said that in spite of its limited means, the Board is pro actively working for the development of the town. The body has successfully implemented the policy of door to door tax collection system to provide relief to the aggrieved citizens, particularly the old and the infirm, of the town. But, certain organizations have always held a negative approach to the board’s functioning. Thakur said he is open to all sorts of criticisms, arguments and dialogues, but it should be from a constructive point of view to benefit the board and most importantly the citizens of Silchar. Malay Bhattacharjee, member of the Parishad, condemned Thakur for his ‘negative approach’ remark and said the Parishad has always supported the SMB in every noble endeavor. Bhattacharjee also held the district administration responsible for present hapless condition of the town. Bhattacharjee added to say that though S Viswatahan, Deputy Commissioner of the district, is an IAS officer, but he is not using his resources for further development of this important urban setup of the state.

 Haridas Dutta said that the civic body has failed to provide better civic amenities to the residents of Silchar. He further said that the present board is even more inefficient in comparison to the previous one. The people of the town cast their votes in favour of BJP affiliated candidates for a positive change. But, the board has miserably failed in each and every aspect of its duties and functioning. Poor draige system, absence of proper garbage disposal system and unclean potable water supply are examples of the civic body’s inefficiency. Haridas Dutta added to say that the Parishad along with morally responsible citizens of the town will continue their protest against the inefficient office bearers of the civic body. Others members of the garik Swartha Raksha Sangram Parishad who spoke on the occasion included Subrata Bhattacharjee, Pijush Das, Ajoy Roy, Rafique Ahmed.