The Hindu 16.06.2010
New Kolkata Mayor all set to take over today
Raktima Bose
Kolkata: Sovan Chatterjee of the Trinamool Congress is all set to become the new Mayor of Kolkata this Wednesday.
Speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday, Mr. Chatterjee outlined his agenda for bringing about development in the city as well as changes in the functioning of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation over the next five years.
Saying that the new Trinamool Congress municipal board’s aim is to convert Kolkata into a “clean and green city of international standard” and “salvage the people’s lost faith” in the KMC authorities, he pointed out that extending every other civic service to the people would be his primary target.
Mr. Chatterjee said that taking filtered water to every locality, checking water-logging in low-lying areas during the monsoon, scientific waste disposal management and preventing recurrence of deadly diseases like dengue and malaria are some of the issues that will be immediately looked into.
Though he will formally take charge on Wednesday, he has already paid a few visits to the KMC headquarters and met municipal officials to discuss KMC’s preparedness to tackle the problem of water-logging with the monsoon knocking at the door now.
Mr. Chatterjee said public opinion matters while taking decisions about civic affairs and supported the advisory committee that has been set up by party chief Mamata Banerjee which comprises several personalities from various walks of life to advise the new board.
About his dream project, he said he would like to renovate and beautify the banks of the Hooghly to make it more attractive and added that his party chief also endorses his dream.
