WMC accused of misusing Govt machinery
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 16 2022: Wangoi Municipal Council (WMC) has become the dirtiest municipality as no waste collection activity has been done for a long time.

Even the backhoe loader and tractor purchased for the purpose have gone missing, Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation former chairman Sagolsem Achouba has stated.

Speaking to newspersons on Friday, S Achouba recounted that Wangoi Municipal Council was upgraded from Nagar Panchayat to a municipal council on February 28, 2014.The Samurou and Thongkhong Laxmi Bazar Municipal Councils, which were upgraded on May 26, 2017 engaged requisite machineries and vehicles and successfully maintained cleanliness in their respective jurisdiction.

However, areas under Wangoi Municipal Council are littered with garbage, as if there is no Council to look after the area in the first place.

Achouba disclosed that he enquired the then Wangoi Municipal Council executive officer Khominthang regarding the poor state of areas under its jurisdiction, absence of requisite machineries and why it borrow the vehicles of Samurou and Thongkhong Laxmi Bazar Municipal Councils before the Governor's visit.

In response, the EO said that the machines were being kept at the Wangoi Makha Leikai residence of ex-chairperson in-charge Thoudam Pratap as there was no place to keep them.

During a visit to Pratap's residence with the EO, they found an old mini-Tata 407 purchased in 2021.Of the 4 e-rickshaws, 2 were absent on the pretext that they had been taken out for the day's business, while the other 2 were non-functional.

The whereabouts of a backhoe loader and a tractor, both of which are quite expensive, were found missing, S Achouba said.

Remarking that Wangoi Municipal Council is full of garbage, making it seem like there is no authority to take care of it; Achouba urged for consulting with the local elders if there is no land for the Council.

However, even if the land is found, lack of the requisite machines is a problem.

Thus, he informed the EO that he will be reporting the matter to the Chief Minister and the MAHUD minister.

Urging for tracing the whereabouts of the missing machines; the former chairman further urged the EO to take up the necessary action and allow the people to enjoy the benefits of having the Council.

He then appreciated Samurou and Thongkhong Laxmi Bazar Municipal Councils for the work done in their respective jurisdictions.

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