Morung Express News
Dimapur| August 31
Following series of allegations against the Dimapur Municipal Council, of corruption and misappropriation of funds, the DMC has said that it will be presenting a “white paper” during the council’s meet in the second week of September. Speaking to The Morung Express, the civic body contested the allegations and said the whole truth will be made public after the council meet. “There is no corruption or misuse of funds in the DMC,” one councillor asserted.
Allegations were made against the DMC on August 26 by a Congress councillor, Hejeto Sema, accusing the civic body of severe corruption and fund misappropriation. The DMC refuted the allegations. Then in an interesting turn of events later, another Congress councillor, Pukhavi Yepthomi, had asserted that the allegations were baseless and had shown support to the organization. In this regard, the DMC said that it acknowledged the Congress councillor’s remarks for the DMC.
Replying to the accusations, the DMC said that the annual turnover of the civic body is more than what was stated. But, putting aside that claim, DMC said that the monthly salary of the employees stands at approximately Rs. 21 lakhs. Apart from the salary, DMC also spends over Rs. 1 to 1.5 lakhs on fuel a month to run its machineries. In fact, the council asserted, the charge of misuse of funds is just “a piece of imagination.” The expenses incurred by the civic body everyday itself accounts for that, the DMC said. Not wanting to press deeper into their daily expenses, DMC, however, said the civic body would be dysfunctional if the allegations were true.
On the allegations of collections made from various markets around Dimapur, the council said that when the new team took over, the millennium market balance sheet was nil. DMC councillors also clarified that it received Rs. 40 lakhs and not Rs.50 lakhs, as alleged, from the government after the demolition drive. It is reported that 18% from Rs. 50 lakhs was deducted by the department.
Also, that the DMC collected Rs.22 lakhs for the CCTVs to be installed in New Market, is totally fabricated, the councillors said. The council asserted that the amount received was far less than alleged. The collection figures will be presented in the council meet, councillors said.
Still, the DMC is not denying loopholes in the charges made against appointments though. One councillor admitted that extra appointments have been made ‘based on the requirements of the civic body,’ most of which are grade-IV staffs. However, among the 7 new appointees, DMC said “a few posts were created” while others were made against vacancies. “We can firmly declare that there is no corruption, but yes, some appointments have been made. This will also be brought up in the meeting. We will not hide anything,” DMC said.
Meanwhile, a knowledgeable party pundit said that there will be no change in leadership as far as the DMC is concerned, over the allegations.
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