Odisha: Corporators lock CMC office over alleged misbehaviour by Commissioner

Cuttack: The corporators of the Silver City here today locked the office of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on allegations of misbehaviour by the Commissioner of the civic body.

The corporators also staged a dharna near the statue of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and threatened to boycott the upcoming council meeting of the CMC.

According to sources, the CMC Commissioner Nikhil Pavan Kalyan has decided to transfer the junior engineers (JEs) of all wards of the Cuttack city.

The corporators today met the CMC Commissioner to lodge their protest over the issue. However, the Commissioner misbehaved with the corporators which prompted them to stage the dharna and lock the CMC office, sources said.

“Some corporators had earlier requested the Commissioner to shift the JEs of their respective wards. But, the Commissioner has decided to transfer the JEs of all wards without any valid reason. We opposed this decision on the grounds that this mass transfer will further delay the developmental work. During our discussion, the Commissioner used certain objectionable words towards us. That is why we the corporators of all 59 wards decided to boycott the upcoming CMC council meeting,” said corporator Gagan Ojha.

The corporators also sought the immediate transfer of the CMC Commissioner over the issue.

“We are opposing the mass transfer of JEs to prevent any further delay in the developmental work. The new JEs will take at least three months to get acquainted with the problems of the wards. When we raised this issue with the Commissioner, he told us that why the corporators have so much love for some JEs. He should not use such words towards us,” said corporator Santosh Bhol.

According to sources, at least 40 corporators have urged the Commissioner not to transfer the JEs of their wards. “The CMC authorities are transferring the JEs on the plea that there performance was not up to the mark. Can they give us assurance that the so called non-performing JEs will do well after this mass transfer? This process will delay the developmental work,” said corporator and CMC works committee chief Pradip Khuntia.

Mayor Subhash Singh said he will look into the issue and try to solve it through discussions.

“The corporators and the Commissioner are part and parcel of the CMC. We will hold discussion with all parties and solve the issue,” he added.