Dear Editor, Through the columns of your esteemed paper I would like to highlight the concerns of number of Municipal Councilors of Udhampur Municipal Council regarding an amount of Rs 2 crore that has been placed at disposal of MC Udhampur. Number of Councilors has accused President of the Council for distribution of aforesaid amount among various wards on the pattern of ‘Bandar-Bant’ and have exclusively condemned the action of the President for earmarking Rs 40 lakh for a swimming pool. If we look into the aspect we find there is dire scarcity of drinking water in town. It would have been better if this amount should have been utilized for augmentation of water supply in the town. Udhampur town is not so developed as to provide this facility from a meager amount of Rs 2 crore that should have been spent on placing CTC, to improve water supply, to improve worst conditions of the lanes & drains of the city. Another allegation of erecting a statue was hotly condemned by various councilors. The MC should have obtained the consensus of citizens as to whose statue is being erected and at what place? The accusations of Councilors that different agenda is discussed and decided inside the house and the outcome of minutes of meeting are totally different than the point arrived at are serious allegations and speaks of no transparency in the working of the Council. This sort of working seriously affects the development of the city and smells of autocracy in the council. This way the purpose of electing a council is totally defeated. Our request to the President of the Council to take all councilors in confidence in the decisions so that a positive message emanates that will be appreciated by one and all rather than advancing the agenda of a particular political party as alleged by a group of male/female councilors. Mahadeep Singh Jamwal, 16/198, Udhampur.
