The Hindu 21.01.2014
Agartala to get municipal corporation on statehood day
LF government announces introduction of municipal councils in 10 small towns of Tripura
Agartala municipal council would formally take shape of
corporation ton Tuesday — the day Tripura attained statehood in 1972.
Tripura’s Left Front government has also announced introduction of
municipal councils in ten smaller towns of the State.
The
hitherto lone municipal body in the State capital that was created 142
years ago by the erstwhile royals would begin its new journey as
Agartala Municipal Corporation to deal with civic amenities in an area
of 72 square kilometres. “The first municipality had an area of three sq
km and 800 population,” Prafullajit Sinha, chairperson of the municipal
council, told
The Hindu
on Monday.
Burgeoning population
Mr.
Sinha would assume office of Mayor on Tuesday the council would
transform into a corporation. He said the population in Agartala
municipal area has now swelled to 4,20,000 — second largest after
Guwahati city in northeast India.
“We are ready to
take task of the Municipal Corporation with a fleet of 76 garbage and
waste collection vehicles and a big worker force,” Mr. Prafullajit Sinha
stated adding they have solid waste management, sewerage pumping, road
sweeping and public health issues.
The State
government earlier contracted out a Pune-based firm to set up a garbage
compost manure in Agartala. Mr. Sinha informed the work for the manure
would be completed in few months from now.
Tripura’s
Urban Development Minister Manik Dey also announced setting up of
municipal councils in ten smaller towns. The existing Nagar Panchayats
in the State would turn into municipal councils.
Officials
of the Urban Development Department are preparing a scheme for monetary
sanction from the Central government to equip new municipal councils
with necessary staff and equipment.
Municipal vehicle set afire
Meanwhile,
angry vendors set a municipal vehicle on fire and clashed with
personnel of municipal task force at Battala area in Agartala on Monday
afternoon. The incident occurred after task force started evicting
vendors from the road side.
A heavy security deployment brought situation under control. Some sustained minor injuries in the clash, police said.