Urban Development Minister CP Singh today visited to the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) office to review development related pending works with officials. He said after meeting that issues related to roads, ponds, sewerage and drainage, and arrangements of water supply in case of requirements during coming summer consumed larger part of discussion on the table. Singh, though, avoided any direct answer to the question of ongoing tussle between administrative bosses and elected representatives, mainly between Mayor Asha lakra and Municipal Commissioner Prashant Kumar.
“We have discussed road construction related works which were pending even after tendering processes. I have asked to get road construction works completed by end of May. Similarly, beautification and renovation of ponds got stuck due to rainy season, which have been directed to be completed before Chhath this year,” said Singh after meeting where Prashant Kumar, Asha lakra and Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya were also present.
Singh also said that fourth tender for pathway and lighting related works of Bada Talab would be released soon, as three such earlier efforts were failed because of only one bidder turned around to take the assignment. He also said that contractors would be asked to speed up sewerage and drainage related works, as problems at their end had nothing to do with the civic body and citizens. “Contractors making unnecessary delay in their works will be dealt accordingly,” said Singh.
However, the Minister avoided any direct question related to ongoing tussle between lakra and Kumar, which has left the civic body with no board meeting since last four months. The tussle between two bosses even came to a level a couple of days ago that ward councilors led by lakra went for hanging locks at the doors of RMC office. “RMC is a family and family disputes, though not unusual in any family, shouldn’t come out in public,” said the Minister.