Balasore, Nov. 2: A section of BJD councillors of Balasore Municipality today staged a dharna in front of the district collector’s office alleging gross irregularities and corruption in the civic body.
The agitators, led by BJD town unit president Utpal Mohanty, labelled several allegations against the municipal authorities and sought the intervention of the district collector to curb corruption.
“The municipality has become almost defunct as its chairperson has remained unavailable for the past six months. In the absence of the chairperson, council meetings are not held regularly. At times, decisions are also being taken without passing a resolution,” said Sujit Deb, a councillor.
“The municipality has its own conference hall. Despite this, meetings are often being conducted in hotels. Corruptions and irregularities are rampant in this civic body and lakhs of rupees have already been swindled. We want an inquiry into all the irregularities of the civic body,” he said.
As many as six out of total 31 councillors have raised their voice today.
“Funds to the tune of several lakhs of rupees have been misappropriated in extending subsidised loan to various self-help groups and families under the below poverty line (BPL) category,” said Jayprakash Dash, another councillor.
“Most the decisions of functioning of the civic body are being taken in an autocratic manner by a few councillors and staff,” he added.
“The town’s roads are in a very bad shape, while other basic civic facilities such as sanitation and hygiene have also taken a backseat. A particular institution, which is being selected to impart training to students as part of various government schemes, is being favoured unduly,” alleged another disgruntled councillor.
Reacting to the allegations, executive officer of the municipality Sudhanshu Nayak said: “Things are in perfect order in the municipality.”
“All the allegations labelled by a section of councillors are baseless and fabricated,” said Manoj Rout, vice-chairman of the municipality.
District collector Akhil Bihari Ota said: “The municipality is a local self-governing entity. However, we will inquire into the allegations.”
