A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: As per decision taken in the citizens’ meet held on August 31, the Free Thinkers Citizen Forum demanded removal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the North Lakhimpur Municipal Board (NLMB).
Regarding the issue, a delegation of the organization, led by president Uday Sankar Hazarika and secretary Arup Kalita, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur district on Tuesday. In the memorandum, the organization alleged that the existing ‘inexperienced’ CEO, who is an Assistant Commissioner, had failed to manage the civic services as per laws and principles and emergence of syndicate raj under the sponsorship of different parties with vested interests under his term was alleged from multiple sides. Under such circumstances, the organization demanded the DC to remove him within 15 days and to engage an ADC-level officer in his place.
Notably, the crucial citizens’ meet, organized at the Uttar Lakhimpur Xahitya Xabha Bhavan on August 31, under the auspices of Free Thinkers Citizen Forum of Lakhimpur (FTCFL), held detailed discussion on alleged anomalies in the collection of tax by NLMB, complexity in providing trade licence and granting permission for house construction, NLMB’s failure in providing due facilities to the urban people despite increased taxes, health related issues in the town, cleanliness and hygienic environment. After the discussion, the meet decided to submit memorandum to the DC on manifold demands with regard to the discussed issues.
In addition to the demand for the removal of the CEO concerned, FTCFL, in the same memorandum, demanded the DC to launch an impartial enquiry against the ‘controversial’ activities of the CEO, to take steps to ensure that all facilities are provided to the urban citizens by NLMB as per Municipal Law against increased taxes, to resolve the anomalies with regard to taxation, renewal of trade licence, granting of permission for new house construction, to scrap the collection of parking charges on the National Highway and to hold meeting between NLMB authority and the tax payers regarding the NLMB’s activities. The organization fixed a deadline of 15 days for the redress of these demands.