By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Dec: Office work at the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (Doon Nagar Nigam) came to a complete halt today as the officers and the employees resorted to a work boycott following an alleged incident of misbehaviour by a Congress Municipal Corporator with Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal.
In protest, the municipal staff locked all the sections of the Nagar Nigam office and announced that the strike would continue until the Corporator tenders a formal apology to the Municipal Commissioner.
Work at Doon Nagar Nigam remained totally disrupted as employees united to oppose what they described as an affront to the dignity of the administration. According to staff members, the incident occurred yesterday when Robin, a municipal corporator from Ward Number 47, reached the chamber of the Municipal Commissioner and allegedly engaged in indecent conduct. The episode triggered widespread resentment among officials and the employees, who asserted that their agitation would not be withdrawn without a public apology from the corporator concerned.
The employees’ union asserted that there would be no compromise on the issue of respect and dignity of the officers and the staff. They stated that, if elected representatives attempted to compel the officials and the employees to function according to their personal diktats through intimidation or high-handed behaviour, the municipal workforce would collectively refuse to discharge its duties. The confrontation reportedly began yesterday allegedly over some tenders of municipal works in various wards, when Congress corporators visited the Municipal Corporation office. During the visit, a heated exchange took place between Robin and the Municipal Commissioner, creating a tense and volatile situation within the premises. The corporators had allegedly gheraoed the Commissioner’s office, accusing her of making him wait unnecessarily and not responding to his telephone calls.
On the other hand, the corporators claimed that the Municipal Commissioner objected to them speaking in a raised voice and asked the corporator concerned to leave her chamber.
The dispute is stated to be linked to tenders of development works in various wards. It is also reported that certain corporators alleged disparity in allocation of funds in various wards. According to them, development works worth over Rs 70 lakhs have been proposed in certain wards, while adequate budgetary provisions for development works in their respective wards are yet to be sanctioned.
