Civic chief concerned over corruption

MALDA,(India) Dec.1. — The English Bazaar civic board is finding it difficult to address the issue of ‘corruption’ raised by Opposition councillors.

The chairman of the civic body could not come up with a satisfactory explanation when Opposition members at the board meeting yesterday questioned him about the payment for the fogging machine at Rs 42,000 each, Rs 20,000 more than its market price.

The chairman and other board members had to suggest setting up of a committee including their members to find out the root cause of such excessive payment.

The Opposition finally walked out, demanding a clarification for the payment which was not adopted at the board of councillors’ meeting.

Speaking to reporters, chairman Mr Nihar Ranjan Ghosh said that not only the English Bazaar Municipality but also the Burdwan Municipality had bought such fogging machines at the same price.

The Opposition leader, Mr RP Banerjee, said the English Bazaar civic board is lagging behind even in literacy programme.

Though preparations were scheduled to begin by 21 November they were deferred for today’s meeting on the issue.

On the other hand, though the present board criticised the previous one and its system of tax collection from “unauthorised slaughter houses’ the present board is functioning along similar lines only reducing the rate by Rs 2.

“A slaughter will have to pay Rs 3 for each goat to the civic body”, the chairman said.

When asked about an assurance on the quality of mutton, the chairman remained silent.In Malda town, hundreds of butchers sell meat on roadsides without caring for hygiene and without the authorities’ permission.

It is a common sight, especially on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

Though it was decided to dismantle all open slaughter houses following an objection raised by a group of citizens with a view to keeping children from seeing the open killing of goats, the earlier board could not implement it. — SNS