Power eludes EB civic chief

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 12: The new civic body chief of English Bazaar Municipality and a Congress leader, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, has expressed his helplessness in pacifying casual workers of the municipality who have threatened to launch a stir if the authorities fail to pay them on time. Mr Tiwari described himself as an “idle chairman” as he sits in his chair without any authority. “I am not in a position to take any decision in the absence of a nod from the directorate of local bodies (DLB). Without taking an oath, I am a handicapped chairman and it is difficult for me to discharge my duties towards the people,” Mr Tiwari said. The new civic board has not been able to make last month’s payment to casual workers engaged in cleaning drains, roads and maintenance of street lights, as it does not have the authority to do so, Mr Tiwari said. He said DLB officials told him that the oath-taking ceremony would be completed by Monday, but so far no initiative has been taken by the district administration. A senior official of the Malda administration, however, said that the DLB has taken up the matter and that Mr Tiwari will formally be sworn in as chairman soon. “Without the DLB’s consent, we cannot conduct an oath-taking ceremony. The ADM (development) has contacted the DLB and a decision will be taken soon. We have sent all resolutions to the DLB,” the official said. After retaining power of the EBM on 3 June, the Congress and Trinamul leaders met the SDO and requested him to conduct an oath-taking ceremony, but the officials allegedly turned down their plea based on the Municipal Act.