Siliguri mayor slams BJP MLAs for 'failing' to carry out development work

Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb has accused BJP lawmakers of taking no steps to carry out substantial development work and failing to utilise their local area development funds in the 14 wards under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC).

- SANKHA GHOSH

Mr Deb directly charged Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee for her alleged non-committal role. A two-time MLA of the constituency and former minister, Mr Deb said Mrs Chatterjee was doing nothing but "sleeping." 

The mayor fired a salvo at her during the weekly phone-in programme 'Talk to the Mayor' after a resident of ward 40 expressed resentment at the role of the civic body on the deplorable condition of the drains and roads.

The 14 SMC wards, four-gram panchayats (DabgramI & II and Fulbari-I&II) come under the jurisdiction of the Assembly segment in Jalpaiguri district.

"She (Chatterjee) has been elected for almost two years now. I am wondering what she has done for the development there. How much work has she taken up during this period? The MP (of Jalpaiguri), who will complete four and half years in office, gets development funds of Rs 5 crore annually and the MLA gets Rs 60 lakh. Moreover, they are entitled to get other assistance from the Centre, but what is their performance?" Mr Deb said in response to the call while venting his ire.