Three urban bodies reject govt.’s decision to form advisory council

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 21 (EMN): Against the backdrop of the state government’s recent directive for constituting an advisory council to various municipal and town councils, three units under the municipalities — AKMWP, AWUMT, and DUCCF — on Sunday resolved not to accept the proposal and urged the government to conduct Urban Local Bodies (ULB) election at the earliest.

Addressing journalists in Kohima, the AKMWP (Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat), DUCCF (Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation), and AWUMT (All Ward Union Mokokchung Town) stated that it had adopted two-point resolutions after having a joint meeting for the first time on Sunday.

“We are not against the government decision. But we want the government not to go for formation of an advisory council because that is not necessary”, President of AKMWP Thejao Sekhose said and added that the government at this juncture, is directly linked up with the grassroots level.

‘Instead, government should initiate ULB elections at the earliest without any bias and reservation for male or female’, he added.

The election should be conducted after due rectification of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 wherever it may infringe Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution which protects Nagaland, Sekhose said.

“We found that the Municipal Act 2001 in some chapters, infringes Article 371A. So we want the government to rectify all those and conduct the ULB election at the earliest”, he pointed out; while adding that the government “knows best” of such chapters.

“Nov. 18 notification by the Govt. of Nagaland for nomination of ULB advisory council will not be accepted”, the resolution stated.

It further urged the state government to “hold the ULB election at the earliest with due rectification and amendment of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 wherever it infringed the Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution”.

Meanwhile, the government in the notification directed that recommendations/ appointments as members in all the municipal and town councils should be completed and submitted to the principal secretary, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs on or before November 30.

Keeping this in mind, the three units had “thorough deliberations” and adopted the resolution, Sekhose said.

The unions expressed hope that the govt. after seeing their resolution, would stop from going ahead with their decision to form an advisory council.

According to them, the government should listen to the voice of the people first and go ahead with any other development.

It further urged the government to look upon the matter “seriously”.