Dimapur, June 29 (MExN): Amidst growing allegations of corruption and mismanagement in Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), its former chief advisor has denied, today, any wrongdoing. Rather, former chief advisor K Keditsu has elaborated a number of issues dealing with finance, including that of salary for its staffers, source of revenue and the controversy over the shopping complex and proposed parking lot in Dimapur which opposition parties have been hounding.
Former Chief Advisor of DMC K Keditsu issued a statement today responding to the allegations of graft and listed out the charges for clarification. According to Keditsu, the advisory board found a backlog of 3-month staff salary as well as non-payment of installments of Central Provided Fund, Service Gratuity and Leave Encashment (which are deducted from the salary) amounting to around Rs. 89 lakh.
In fact, the former DMC leader stated, the regional office of “CPF Guhawuti” had even served an ultimatum to the council to clear all the liabilities within one month and “in case of non-compliance the office of the DMC would be locked and the properties would be seized.” The council not only cleared the salary of the DMC staff but also negotiated and made the necessary payment of the stated amount to the concerned agencies, Keditsu said. “This was one small achievement we made during our short stint.”
On the source of the council’s revenue, Keditsu mentioned toll tax and house rent as the basic source. Approximately around Rs. 7 lakh per month was being accrued from the house rent and Rs. 6.5 lakh per month from toll tax, he said. “After we took over the office it was improved to around Rs. 25 lacs per month from toll tax and Rs. 8-9 lacs from the hose rent without taxing the people, which can be substantiated from the office record. And it is heartening that we are being subjected to all sort of criticism despite our services rendered to the best of our ability,” the former advisor stated.
He stated further: “As far as fracas about the rent issues is concerned, the amount of Rs. 50, 38, 434 is a result of the accumulation over a long period of time which has not been recovered up to this point of time. Therefore, blaming the Advisory Board in this regard is nothing short of political vendetta to not only spoils the name of the advisory board member but also to tarnish the image. This accusation clearly indicates that this is a case of vindictive attack. To our utter surprise, it was found that a few plots of land belonging to Dimapur Municipal Council did not have up to date documents. We took the pain to update the same by paying all overdue revenue and completing all formalities to keep the record clear.”
Keditsu also listed out a number of other ‘achievements’ in his statement which included having “the biggest shopping complex in the entire state of Nagaland at New Market.” On the controversy surrounding the shopping complex, he said the ground floor and the first floor were completed and the original “allotees” numbering 289 were accommodated satisfactorily and another 145 allotments were made in the newly extended first floor.
Interestingly he admitted that the proposed parking lot for Dimapur could not be, all thanks to ‘random allotment. “But the second floor which was earmarked for car parking was cancelled after the dissolution of the Advisory Board on the 4th April 2012 and allotment was made randomly without bothering about the hardship faced by the people due to the lack of parking place in the town.”
The former chief DMC leader reminded that the bone of contention of the “DMC imbroglio” is in connection with the misappropriation of fund as highlighted by the Audit. “In this regard it needs to be mentioned that CEO had asked to all Advisors to clarify the activities in their respective assignments which was complied with the matters were discussed in the Advisory Board meeting and resolution was adopted accepting all reports submitted by the members and the CEO was to reply to the Auditors accordingly.”
Relative to the controversy, the Dimapur unit of the NPF has also issued a press release responding to the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s (NPCC) “certain allegations” concerning the DMC.
“First of all, we have made it amply clear in our statement on the 17th of June 2012, that investigation are on and the law will be punished,” the unit said. The unit explained that the government would not interfere with the investigation in any way and the “guilty would be booked whoever one may be.” However, the NPF division lamented, “our assurances seems to have fallen into deaf ears and some people are making statements which may influence the investigation and may act as hindrance to come to the rightful conclusion.”
“The State Vigilance Commission is an independent body investigating the case and the Dimapur Municipal Council is also autonomous in its functioning. The chief minister or the Urban Development minister should not be held responsible in this regard. The NPF party strongly condemns such statement seeking the resignation of the chief minister or the Urban Development minister and out rightly rejects the same and appeals to all to have patience, as justice will definitely prevail,” it added.
