Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

GMC mayor and deputy take charge

Saturday, 03 August 2013 05:33 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India              03.08.2013

GMC mayor and deputy take charge

GUWAHATI: The newly elected mayor of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Abir Patra and deputy mayor Nilakshi Talukdar took charge of their offices on Friday. Taking charge of the office that was laying vacant since 2008, senior Congressman Patra said that he will focus on solving civic problems being faced by residents of the city on a priority basis.

"I have taken charge as the mayor of the GMC at a time when the municipality faces the mammoth task of making Guwahati a modern city in the true sense. Starting from urban flooding to lack of adequate streetlights, the city's residents have been facing problems on various fronts. It is impossible to solve all the civic problems in a five-year term. So, I am going to give top priority to urban floods, installation of streetlights and better solid waste management," Patra told TOI.

He added that among the other priority areas, GMC will approach the Centre in the coming days for financial assistance to build better drainage facilities in the city. "We need at least six months to bring some noticeable changes in the city," Patra said. He added that the grievance redressal mechanism of the GMC will be strengthened in order to make it easier for the public to lodge complaints regarding civic problems.

Now, the mayor-in-council of the municipality has to be formed. GMC commissioner S Viswanathan said that the mayor-in-council has to be formed within 15 days of oath-taking by the councillors, which is by August 15. "Along with seven councillors and the mayor and deputy mayor, the mayor-in-council will be formed to look after various developmental activities under the GMC," said Viswanathan.

An official of the GMC said that there will be seven separate committees under the mayor-in-council. "Each committee will be headed by a chairman, who will be assisted by a presiding officer and a deputy presiding officer. The chairman and the presiding officers will be chosen by the mayor from the councillors," the official said.