Abdul Mallick, the BJD councillor of Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s ward No. 16, on the rampage in the conference hall of the corporation office. Later, he also wrecked the office of the corporation’s joint commissioner LN Mohapatra

Cuttack, Sept. 21: Thirty-seven BJD councillors today ransacked the Cuttack Municipal Corporation office and overturned chairs, broke glass table tops, scattered flower vases and bottles and ripped out computer cables and telephones to protest against the inordinate delay in execution of various welfare projects in the city.

They vented their ire during the special council meeting and demanded expeditious measures to repair roads and install proper street-lighting facilities.

The drama unfolded inside the conference hall of the corporation office. The protestors also damaged furniture at the joint commissioner’s office. Later, all the 37 councillors demonstrated in front the Biju Patnaik statue on the premises of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

Trouble erupted after BJD councillor of ward No. 22 Madhusudan Sahoo expressed displeasure over the delay in execution of minor road repairs ahead of Dussehra. Later, Congress and BJP councillors joined the chorus and demanded steps to carry out work in their respective wards.

The conference hall after being ransacked and (right) broken glass on the desk of the Cuttack Municipal Commission joint commissioner LN Mohapatra. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Today’s special council meeting was convened to discuss a five-point agenda that included emergency repair works to be taken up before Dussehra. The issues listed for discussion at the council meeting included sourcing electrical spare parts for maintenance of street lights, procuring health and sanitation materials, executing work tenders already approved by the contract standing committee and completion of a Japan-assisted project.

“We cannot face the people in our own wards. They always question us about development activities,” said councillor of ward No. 52 Pradeep Behera, adding that not a single project had progressed because of the lack of coordination between civic officials, including newly-appointed commissioner D.V. Swamy.

“The condition of most roads in Cuttack is deplorable and streetlights in 70 per cent areas within corporation limits do not work,” said councillor of ward No. 40 Pradipta Kishore Khuntia.

“Though tender process for various development works is over, the officials have not issued work orders,” he said.

Also, not a single contractor has applied for an open tender called by the corporation for the repair of roads as their previous bills are yet to be cleared.

“We are uncertain if work on the repair of roads would be complete before Durga Puja,” said councillor of ward No. 16 Abdul Mallik.

“The corporation has invited a tender from interested parties to carry out the repair of roads, estimated to cost around Rs 80 lakh. The tender would be opened on September 27,” said commissioner Swamy.

“Steps have also been taken to ensure that road repair works begin before Dussehra. There was a delay in the tender process for the past six or seven months because of procurement of spare parts for streetlights. However, a short tender will be called for the urgent repair of defunct streetlights in various parts of the city,” said Swamy.

Corporation sources said that earlier tenders were not invited for works worth Rs 50,000 or less. Now, all the work has to go through the tender process to ensure transparency. This had irked the councillors.