Asok seeks new govt's co-operation for SMC

TT, Siliguri, May 17: Mayor Asok Bhattacharya today solicited co-operation from the new state government which would be formed after May 19 and hoped that funds would be released to the municipal corporation without bias.

Bhattacharya, who will complete one year as the mayor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation tomorrow, said: "In the past one year, we faced non-co-operation from the state government and became victims of political vendetta while running the civic body. Because of such non-co-operation, we did not even get the legitimate funds and had to toil hard throughout the year. As a result, we could not take up a number of development projects in town."

He added: "Now that the new government will be formed soon, I would solicit complete cooperation from the state government. We expect that whoever forms the new government will not indulge in politics while dealing with the civic body in Siliguri. We hope the funds we are entitled to will be provided to us without being bias," he added.

Bhattacharya's appeal less than 48 hours before the counting of votes in the Assembly polls shows he is not sure about the alliance's victory, said observers.

"He is one of the key persons in conceiving 'Siliguri Model', in which the Congress and the Left Front allied to take on the Trinamul Congress. It later became the buzzword of state and central leaders of the Left and the Congress and led to the alliance of the two political forces in the Assembly polls," said an observer.

"Earlier, he had told the media that after May this year, or rather after the state polls were over, the civic body would not have to face any problems as it had faced in his first year in office. If he is seeking co-operation from the state government ahead of the poll results, it indicates Bhattacharya is not sure that the alliance will come to power," added the observer.

Bhattacharya, declined comment on the post-poll surveys which have predicted win for Trinamul.

"I will not comment on the post-poll surveys and we don't feel concerned over the results after the survey. I still hold my earlier view that Trinamul will be removed from power. Even today, I expect that the alliance of the people will come to power," the mayor told journalists.

Bhattacharya today highlighted some of the work undertaken by the civic body after he took charge.

"In the past one year, we could increase revenue from tax collection. In 2014-15, the civic body could collect Rs 4.72 crore through taxes and it was Rs 8.48 crore in 2015-16. Further, we have issued 9,153 new trade licences and renewed 26,292 trade licences," the mayor said. "We are giving impetus to the improvement of drinking water supply across Siliguri and next month, a new water reservoir with a capacity of five million litres would become functional in the Eastern Bypass area. At the 12 health centres run by the civic body, 12,727 patients have been treated in the past 12 months."

"In the past one year, the civic body has taken up over 400 projects like roads, drains and culverts at different locations of town, which are either in progress or have been completed. A total sum of Rs 33 crore would be spent on the projects," the mayor said.