By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 19 Mar: In its inaugural meeting held yesterday, the newly constituted board of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation deliberated upon a framework to improve the city’s arrangements, unanimously approving 77 proposals. The meeting addressed vital issues ranging from cleanliness to street lighting, with councillors voicing their concerns regarding the city’s development. Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal assured that the augmentation of resources for the waste disposal system would soon yield tangible results.
The nine-hour-long session, presided over by Mayor Thapliyal, witnessed spirited exchanges among members. However, the mayor’s timely interventions ensured the smooth progress of proceedings. A noteworthy decision was taken to transfer the responsibility of door-to-door garbage collection in 47 wards from Watergrace Company to the Municipal Corporation. Furthermore, the maintenance of streetlights was entrusted to a new company, replacing EESL.
Consensus was also achieved on several other matters, including the installation of CCTV cameras in wards, measures to curb the menace of drug trade, and the cleaning of rivers and drains. Discussions extended to formulating a new policy for councillors, encompassing provisions such as the establishment of offices within the municipal corporation and formal greetings for eunuchs.
Prominent issues raised in the House included the prohibition of electricity connections in slums and the determination of corporators’ salaries. There was also a demand to relocate the Sunday market to the city’s outskirts and accord priority to local vendors. Additionally, members called for the removal of encroachments and the relocation of the labour site at Lalpul.
Among those who attended the meeting were former Mayor and Dharampur MLA Vinod Chamoli, MLAs Khajan Das, Savita Kapoor, Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ and Sahdev Pundeer, as well as Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal.
