The Ranchi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday boiled over alleged mismanagement, tax fraud issue and demanded an impartial enquiry against the officials of the municipal corporation. Mayor Asha lakra demanded an independent enquiry for siphoning off money collected towards property tax and called off the board’s meeting amid vehement protests by board members.
Members of the board alleged mismanagement on the part of the RMC administration and criticised the officials for taking board’s business casually. The meeting lasted barely for few minutes as the protest grew stronger and increased verbal volley between elected representatives and officials of the municipal body.
“This is a clear case of mismanagement on the part of the officials of the RMC. There are clear rules about what to do to apprise councilors about the meeting yet most of the councilors were not intimated about the meeting,” said Mayor Asha lakra.
Meanwhile, elected representatives openly questioned the intention of the RMC administration on investigating tax fraud and siphoning off of money collected by tax collectors. The board also demanded an independent inquiry into the matter from the parent department’s end. The Mayor alleged that the administration is dragging its feet over the fraud that runs into crore and indicated that the revelation is just the tip of the iceberg hence qualified for impartial investigation.
“It is known to everyone that efforts are being made to influence investigations and shield those behind the fraud. Even the punitive action taken against those in question is an eye wash. Sometimes it is said that people accountable have been transferred but it turned out to be farce,” maintained lakra.
Notably, the Mayor has urged Minister Urban Development CP Singh to intervene in the matter and setup inquiry under competent authority to bring the culprit to book. A letter has been written by lakra to draw the Minister’s attention towards the murky ways of tax collection and take necessary steps to mitigate the probability of tax fraud.