Siliguri Municipal Corporation corruption issue raised at Uttar Kanya administrative meeting; CM orders probe

Fulbari, 20th May: Allegations of corruption in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation were raised during the administrative meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Uttar Kanya on Wednesday. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh informed during a press conference that Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul has been directed by the Chief Minister to look into the matter.

A high-level administrative meeting was held at Uttar Kanya focusing on North Bengal’s administrative infrastructure, development projects and various governance-related issues. Addressing the media after the meeting, the MP and MLA highlighted several important decisions and announcements taken during the discussions.

They announced 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. It was also announced that women would not have to pay fares on government buses from June onwards.

The leaders further alleged that major corruption complaints have surfaced within the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and said that an investigation process would begin soon.

They also stated that elections in municipal corporations where polls are still pending are likely to be conducted after the monsoon season.

Development of tea garden areas was also discussed during the meeting. Officials have reportedly been directed to follow the Assam model to make tea-related development projects more effective.

Raju Bista and Shankar Ghosh further said that similar administrative meetings would now be held every month to regularly review developmental work in North Bengal. Instructions have also been issued to maintain coordination among police, administration and different departments.