Fulbari, 20 May (Siliguri Chronicle) – Allegations of corruption within the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) were raised during a high-level administrative meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Uttar Kanya on Wednesday. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh later informed the media that Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul had been directed by the Chief Minister to look into the matter.
The meeting focused on administrative infrastructure, development projects and governance-related issues concerning North Bengal. Addressing a press conference after the discussions, the MP and MLA highlighted several key announcements and decisions taken during the meeting.
Among the major announcements, the leaders said that the VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin) 125-day work scheme would be launched across the state from June. They also announced that women would be allowed to travel free of cost on government buses from next month.
Speaking on the SMC issue, the leaders alleged that several corruption-related complaints had surfaced within the civic body and stated that an investigation process would begin soon.
They further said that elections in municipal corporations where polls are still pending are likely to be held after the monsoon season.
Development of tea garden areas was also discussed during the meeting. According to the leaders, officials have been instructed to follow the Assam model to improve the implementation of tea-related development projects.
Raju Bista and Shankar Ghosh also said that similar administrative meetings would now be conducted every month to regularly review development work in North Bengal. Directions have also reportedly been issued to ensure better coordination among the police, administration and various government departments.
