The report was published in The Telegraph on June 1, 2011

Darbhanga, June 2: Barely hours after The Telegraph carried a report on the abysmal condition of the town’s roads and the drainage system owing to alleged apathy of the Darbhanga Municipal Corporation (DMC), corrective measures are under way.

DMC, which was cash-strapped earlier, recently received a fund of Rs 7.5 crore from the government, but the salaries of the municipal workers could never be paid timely because the commissioner, who holds financial power to order any payment by the DMC, used to be on leave frequently. This discouraged the employees from reporting to duty and they refused to come back till their wages were paid. Yesterday, the chief commissioner of town development, Shashi Shekhar Sharma, vested the financial power to make payments on the additional comissioner of DMC, Dayashanker Bahadur. The initiative has raised hopes of things falling into place and swift payment of salaries to the municipal workers, most of whom work on contractual basis.

Bahadur confirmed to The Telegraph that he had received the necessary financial power to order the work of cleaning in the town. “I would definitely strive hard to stand to the public expectation and fulfil their desires in conformity with the capacity of the DMC,” Bahadur assured.

Acknowledging the impact of The Telegraph report, Darbhanga mayor Ajay Paswan expressed hope that all the workers get their wages and return to work by tomorrow.

Dr R.N. Chaurasia, a resident of Beladula under ward number 3, said: “We have not seen DMC workers in our colony for collecting garbage. If they come to work, common people can also come forward and co-operate with them. DMC should put cleaning work on top of their agenda and try to spray anti-mosquito chemicals before monsoon sets in.”

Kumari Nilima Thakur, a school teacher residing at Manharan Lal Das Colony under ward 20, said the DMC should consider installing streetlights and dredge drains on priority basis. “DMC must understand the sentiments of the public and quickly engage workers in cleaning work .”