Siliguri: Series of projects launched ahead of civic polls

Election panel affidavit mentions voting will be held to five municipal corporations on January 22 and to the remaining bodies on February 27

Gautam Deb: File Picture

Bireswar Banerjee   |   TT  |  Siliguri   |  26.12.21 : The board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), the largest civic body in north Bengal, launched and inaugurated infrastructural projects worth around Rs 2.5 crore on Saturday, within 48 hours of the state election commission filing an affidavit in Calcutta High Court mentioning the dates when polls would be held to the SMC and other civic bodies.

The poll panel affidavit mentions that elections will be held to five municipal corporations on January 22 and to the remaining civic bodies on February 27.  

This prompted the SMC to launch and inaugurate the projects in a hurry because the state election commission is expected to issue the notification for polls soon.

On Saturday, BoA chairperson Gautam Deb, along with other members, inaugurated a number of upgraded roads, sheds for vehicles at the dumping yard of the SMC, a beautification project at the Tenzing Norgey statue area and also a police assistance booth at Darjeeling More, the principal entry point to Siliguri.

“We don’t have enough time as the dates of the civic polls may be announced soon. We have to work fast. We will approach people with a report card of the development work done in the past seven months (since he was made the BoA chairperson),” said Deb.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a Talk to Chairman event, an interactive session with residents of the city over phone which he holds every week.

During the hour-long session, Deb attended 30 calls and listened to the residents who spoke about various civic issues and sought his intervention.

Gautam Deb after inaugurating the Tenzing Norgay statue in Siliguri on Saturday: Passang Yolmo

“One of the callers made an allegation against the building cell of the SMC. This prompted him (Deb) to order an inquiry and also instruct officials concerned to act on the complaints of people and ensure that necessary steps are taken,” said a source.

The SMC is the sole civic body in the state where Trinamul has never been in power. This time, the party is desperate to secure the municipal corporation and is putting in all efforts to secure the majority of the 47 seats.