Sambalpur, Sept. 16: The director of municipal administration has issued a showcause notice to Sambalpur Municipality asking it to reply to 19 charges levelled against the civic authority. The notice has been served on the chairperson, vice-chairperson and councillors of the municipality.

The showcause, issued by H.K. Tripathy, director of municipal administration, has asked the elected representatives of the municipality to reply to the notice within 15 days of receiving it as to why the government would not dissolve the council on the grounds listed in the letter.

The state government has brought 19 allegations against the civic authority. The notice says: “The municipality had paid Rs 37,12,500 to Jagruti Welfare Organisation for cleaning services in 2008-09. And the payment had been made without the council (passing a) resolution.” It was also alleged that a private company was awarded the contract of construction of vending zones in Sambalpur without any tender and the municipal council’s approval.

The letter listed the allegations as “permission for erection of hoardings and installation of mobile towers in the municipal area at much cheaper rates causing substantial loss to the public exchequer, illegal payment of pension dues to dead persons, illegal issuance of work order for cleaning services for 2011-12, complete breakdown of cleaning services in the town, disregard of municipal rules, failure in executing government schemes, illegal payments to private persons in complete disregard to government act and rules, disregard to the order of the high court by municipal council, illegal purchase of the dustbins, abuse of power in recruitments, illegal purchase of sarees and raincoats worth lakhs of rupees, inferior quality of construction works, illegal hiring of vehicles, illegal purchase of electrical equipment and daily use articles of Sambalpur Municipality, excess payment to ‘Biswa’, an organisation which was entrusted with the responsibility of cleaning the city during 2009-10, illegal collection of money from vehicles entering and leaving Sambalpur municipal area, and unauthorised payments of lakhs of rupees.”

Chairperson of Sambalpur Municipality, Reena Trivedi, however, said: “All the allegations brought against the municipality are baseless and false. I will reply to the government within 15 days.”