EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14
THENaga Council Dimapur is of the view that Urban Development department (UDD) should go into the root cause of the problem in DMC instead of issuing long-winding orders from Kohima on the legality of appointment of 37 lessees to collect toll tax.The Naga Council, in a release issued by its vice president VikatoZhimomi today, said it does not question the competence of the UDD over the affairs of the DMC but since the lessee system is the root cause of the problem, it is about time the State government takes cognizance of the issue.
It said the lessee system is an open perpetuation of a corrupt system as borne out by facts and therefore, this system should be abrogated.
Questioning on what ground the tolltax is being collected and for what purpose, the Naga Council sought to know is the amount collected being used to repair roads or to undertake development works. It said ‘the answer is absolutely no’.
The Council also raised these questions - why should the general public be harassed in the form of price rise on account of toll-tax collections? Or why should money collected from the toll-gates be used to pay employee salaries? Where are the yearly crores of rupees collected as trade license fees? How is it that sweepers and scavengers are not paid salaries despite every trader under DMC jurisdiction paying Rs. 600 as sanitation fee per year? How is it that DMC is being used like a sex worker with a mind boggling 305 employees?
It further asked with more than half of the employees (163) appointed as peons and chowkidars, why is the UDD sweeping the real issues under the carpet.
“These are the questions which the UDD has to provide answers to instead of shouting from its roof-top that it has the sole authority to appoint this and that lessee,” the Council said.
“As things stand, it’s about time that the DMC is revamped in toto including hiring an independent auditor to audit its accounts,” it said while stating that the Dimapurians expect the UDD Parliamentary Secretary to rise above petty politics and cleanse the tainted and corrupted DMC for which Dimapurians will remain grateful.
ACAUT, Naga Council social work on Dec 16
In view of the impasse between DMC and UDD, the ACAUT and Naga Council will undertake a mass social work in Dimapur municipal area on December 16. Therefore, they have urged the residents of all the colonies and areas under DMC jurisdiction to extend helping hand and help keep Dimapur clean.
They have also appealed to the respective colonies to dump garbage and filth at their local dumping sites from where dumpers and JCBs will collect the filth.
Further, they have requested individuals to donate dumpers (trucks) and JCBs for this purpose for which Dimapurians will be ever grateful.
The phone numbers 8974040544 and 9856871947 may be contacted by individuals willing to donate dumpers and JCBs for the day.
The social work will start at 6 am.
The Media Cell of ACAUT has requested all ACAUT and Naga Council members, including councilors, to assemble at City Tower Junction at 6am sharp.
