Siliguri mayor releases report card on 'Talk to Mayor'

Publication was made few days before first Trinamul-led civic board in Siliguri Municipal Corporation completes its first year

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb releases the report card on Monday: Passang Yolmo

TT Correspondent   |   Siliguri   | 14.02.23 : Gautam Deb, the Siliguri mayor, released a report card on Monday on “Talk to Mayor” — an interactive session on phone that he holds with residents every week.

“Based on the feedback we received from people, 83 per cent expressed satisfaction during the interactive sessions over civic services,” said Deb.

The publication was made a few days before the first Trinamul-led civic board in Siliguri Municipal Corporation completes its first year.

In the report card, the mayor has also referred to the interactions which he had held as the chairperson of the board of administrators of the SMC. He was in the post for eight months from May to December 2021 and in February 2022, he assumed the mayor’s office.

He said that as the chair of the BoA of the SMC and mayor of the current civic board, he attended 24 sessions in total (three for ‘Talk to Chairman’ and 22 for ‘Talk to Mayor’) to redress civic problems highlighted by Siliguri residents.

The report card says 580 grievances were reported in the past eight months. Most pertain to the public works department (152) and conservancy department (101)

“Also, 73 complaints were received about the performance of the building department. But only 57 people mentioned their inconveniences with regard to water supply, even though it is considered a major challenge of the present board,” said a source.

Deb said they acted on priority basis. “We paid field visits with MMICs and civic officials to resolve issues,” he said.

A source in the SMC said there are 25 departments that provide civic services to residents. 

“Complaints and suggestions also reached us via WhatsApp and the ‘Write to Mayor’ form,” said Deb.