WARD COUNCILORS PROTESTED THE MINISTER JIVESH KUMAR

WARD COUNCILORS PROTESTED THE MINISTER JIVESH KUMAR

1-SEP-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Ward councilors created a ruckus during the foundation stone laying, inauguration and review meeting organized by Urban Development and Housing Department Minister Jivesh Kumar in Bhojpur district. Ward councilors registered their protest by raising the slogan “Go Back” in the Collectorate auditorium, due to which the atmosphere of the meeting became tense for some time.

According to sources, Minister Jivesh Kumar had reached Ara, where he launched schemes worth about Rs 10 crore under various municipal bodies in the district. At the same time, the ward councilors alleged that they face embarrassment in front of the people in the locality to get small works completed, but the minister and departmental officers do not listen to their problems and complaints seriously.

The ward councilors first headed to the Circuit House, so that their demands and complaints could be shared by meeting the minister directly. But some officials there did not allow them to meet the minister, due to which a heated argument and war of words started between the councilors and the officials. After this, as soon as the minister reached the DM office to attend the review meeting, the ward councilors continued to protest and raise slogans against him.

Due to the uproar, the atmosphere of the Collectorate auditorium became chaotic for some time. To control the situation, the local MLA and other officials communicated with the ward councilors and calmed them down. After this, they were requested to attend the meeting. Finally, the ward councilors attended the review meeting after being persuaded by the officials and the MLA.

During the meeting, Minister Jivesh Kumar instructed the officials that the work of the schemes going on in the municipal bodies should be completed on time and in a transparent manner. He asked the ward councilors and local representatives to ensure that the problems of the public are heard in every ward and there should be transparency in small works.

On this occasion, the local MLA, MP, District Officer, Deputy Development Commissioner, other officials of the Collectorate, electors and representatives of municipal bodies were present in the meeting. The minister also interacted with the representatives of political parties and took their feedback and asked whether there was any hindrance in the operation of the scheme in the interest of the public.

In the review meeting, the minister also made it clear that coordination between local representatives and officials is extremely important in any transparent scheme. He instructed all the present officials and councilors that any kind of negligence in public interest and public works will not be tolerated.

The protest of the ward councilors was an indication that the complaints of the local public in small works should be heard seriously and the role of local representatives should not be ignored. During the meeting, the ministers and officials discussed all the issues in detail and ensured that proper monitoring will be done for the smooth implementation of the schemes in every ward.

This entire incident showed how important communication and cooperation is between local representatives and officials. Despite the uproar, the review meeting was concluded successfully and the minister assured to take necessary steps towards better implementation of schemes in future.