IMC members to launch stir against non formation of WDC
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 03 2011:
The members of the Imphal Municipal Council are all set launch a stir against the non formation of Ward Development Council (WDC) in all the 27 wards.
They made it clear that if the government fails to form the WDC before October 8, they will be forced to initiate various forms of democratic agitations.
Addressing media persons at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, Gambhir Khumbongmayum, President of IMC Members' Forum said that the election for the ward members and councilors of the IMC was held on May 25 under the Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010.But even after the lapse of 4 months after the declaration of election results, all welfare programmes that are to be taken up in the municipal wards have failed to materialize due to the non formation of WDC.
Even if the Councillors have taken their oaths and a Municipality Council has been formed, it cannot be termed as a complete Council since the provisions of both the Manipur Municipality Act, 1994 and the Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010 have not been taken up altogether.
The Ward Development Committee members were excluded in the oath taking ceremony where only the Councilors took oath thereby altogether ignoring the Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010, he said.
He further went on to say that a memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Minister in .this regard and a notification for the formation of WDC was issued on August 9 .
But unfortunately the government nominee to be nominated under the Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010 was not mentioned in the notification.
The Chief Minister even announced in the Assembly session that the formation of WDC will be completed in the month of September this year but nothing positive has come up even now.
Meanwhile, protestors who are on a relay hunger strike since today morning at Moirangkhom Oil Pump, demanding the formation of Ward Development Council was foiled by security personnel this evening.
The relay hunger strike protest which was organized by the All Manipur Nagar Panchayat and Municipal Council Elected Ward Committee Members Welfare Association was carried out in connection to the decision made at the GB meeting held yesterday.
Since the place at which the protestors were staging the relay hunger strike was a silent zone, the police personnel came and dismantled the kanat and samiyana used as tent by the protestors and dispursed the crowd.
The protestors however said that even if they are chased out from the area they will continue protesting elsewhere until and unless their demands are fulfilled.
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