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.
