Dimapur, June 19 (MExN): The Naga Council of Dimapur today called the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) a “hotbed of corruption” where crores have been siphoned off by “individuals” with the blessings of politicians while the DMC’s permanent staffers are not even being paid their basic salaries on claims of “funds crunch.” The municipal organization is sinking deeper, the council said in a press release today and pointed point-blank at the Nagaland government as being complicit to the corruption.
“The State Vigilance Commission’s investigations and revelations have confirmed our worst fears that DMC is a hotbed of corruption where several crores of rupees have been siphoned off with impunity over the years by individuals operating under the patronage of politicians having no concern for the welfare of Dimapurians whereas the permanent staffs of DMC are being denied even the basic salaries on the pretext of funds crunch,” the council stated. The press release was appended by the council’s vice president V Zhimo and joint secretary LL Buming.
The council did not spare the government: “There is now no denying that the government is complicit in the present DMC scandal for it decided against holding elections after the previous DMC tenure lapsed in 2009 so that friends, relatives and cronies could be accommodated in ‘cash rich’ municipal bodies.” The ‘skeletons’ continue to roll out of the shelves, the council said. The State Election Commission is requested to look into this matter.
The council said the concept of appointing Advisors in DMC and municipal bodies was strongly objected to by Naga Council at various forums since Advisors along with the CEOs are purely political appointees not accountable to the public and therefore liable to engage in corrupt activities notwithstanding their foremost civic duties. The politicians are directly responsible for the unprecedented and artificial price rise in Nagaland, the council said.
The Naga Council has demanded removal of the concept of “Advisors” in municipal bodies “as civic bodies are not cash cows to be milked dry for selfish gains; elected and accountable members should man municipal bodies at all times and not CEO; an elected member should be a permanent resident of that particular ward/ municipality.
“It is not only the much maligned unions-banned for now-responsible for the price rise but politicians are to be equally blamed. For instance, every item that enters the state from outside is subject to toll tax by DMC. According to RTI documents, VVIP politicians have bagged all the contracts to levy taxes and toll fees through their relatives and cronies. A truck carrying 300 bags of cement should pay only Rs. 600 @ Rs. 2 as toll tax at New Field Check Gate, Dimapur. In reality, every cement-laden truckers pay Rs. 1600. Suffice to say, this extra Rs 1000 is partly the reason why cement cost is high and it’s the poor common man who suffer in the end. Not surprisingly, like all other contracts, contract for toll tax on cement has been given to a VVIP relative.”
The council has challenged the government saying that if the State is at all really concerned about governance, the State Vigilance Commission should get to the bottom of the ‘mess’ and punish and prosecute the guilty.
“In the meantime, the CEO, DMC is requested to ensure that all the original allottees of New Market, whose structures have been demolished to pave way for a new building be allotted shops in the new building as per original agreement. Also, the multi-level car parking-cum-shopping complex should be built as per the original master plan. No attempt should be made to do away with car parking by the concerned authority least this sparks the ire of public at a time when public of Dimapur have been ceaselessly tormented by traffic congestion in Dimapur.”
