The civic body, for the first time, has decided to incorporate suggestions of residents in its budget to be tabled this month to boost amenities but a former minister claimed that there was no substance in the move.

The executive officer of the civic body, Vijay Kumar Upadhyaya, said he has appealed to people to provide suggestions. He said suggestions could be faxed (to 06152-242027) or emailed to nagarparishadchhapra@gmail.com. He said suggestions on drinking water facilities or construction of dilapidated stretches would be appreciated. He added: “If people think that some locality should be included under the ambit of the Nagar Parishad, they should tell us.” He also asked advocates, professors and intellectuals in the parishad area to offer suggestions.

Udit Rai, an urban development minister in the erstwhile RJD regime, is not impressed with the effort apparently because suggestions from ward commissioners had not been invited for the budget. He said garbage heaps lie unattended near Sarkari Bazaar, Khanwa Nala and Daldali Bazaar locality. He asked: “The Nagar Parishad has proposed to purchase 200 thelas. If there is dearth of employees, who would drive them to cart garbage?”