Hilal Shah urges Govt to reorganize the function of Municipal Committees
Srinagar Dec 23. The Chairmen of various Municipal Committee of Kashmir province held an important meeting in Srinagar expressing serious concern over the problems confronting Councilors in Kashmir province,
The meeting was Presided over by Chairman Anantnag Municipal Council and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) General Secretary Hilal Ahmad Shah.
The meeting expressed dismay over the attitude of the Govt towards the newly constituted Municipal committees/Councils, saying that that despite braving the brunt of extremely volatile situation in the valley they participated in the electoral process to ensure development of people at grass roots level.
On this occasion Hilal Ahmad Shah flanked by various Chairmen of Municipal Committees/Councils also addressed a presser and expressed his displeasure over the attitude of the Govt towards the newly constituted Committees/Councils in Kashmir province.
He said it is quite amazing rather anguishing that Govt has not been able to provide funds and other facilities required for development of Wards to Municipal Committees/Councils, particularly in respect of sanitation, construction of lanes drains, hygiene, shifting of garbage from interior and main roads, manpower etc.
Elaborating his point Hilal Ahmad Shah said garbage, which is an important issue in the society needs to be removed on daily basis from main roads to dumping sites, but this is very unfortunate that the vehicles provided earlier to various Committees are lying defunct or shifted to others places, as a result, the garbage remains on roads for weeks together thereby causing huge inconvenience to local population.
He said Government must ensure all the facilities required for overall sanitation in Wards for which the Municipal Committees/Constituted after the ULB Elections need to be strengthened and provided manpower and other necessary facilities required immediately.
He said the Committees are hardly able to provide salary to it’s employees out of the revenue collected from the shopkeepers etc, as a result, they are not able to move beyond the salary component, urging the Govt to provide the funds @ Rs. 2.00 Crores to every councilor enabling him/her to do the job for which he or she has been chosen by the people, till the funds that are in the pipeline are released to Municipal Committees.
Shah also asked the Govt to accord sanction to additional projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation besides all the DPR’s submitted by the Municipal Councils/Committees
He also emphasizing the Government to ensure facilities such as accommodation, vehicles and security to Chairmen/Councilors to ensure the safety of their lives and property.
Apprised the media persons about their future strategy, Shah said the meeting held today resolved to approach Prime Minister Narindra Modi, Congress president Shri. Rahul Gandhi and Governor of the State with their demands/grievances to seek their resolution. we will seek all facilities required to streamline the functioning of the Municipal Committees/Councils in Kashmir province in the larger interests of the poor and down trodden people, Shah told the Media persons.
