Manipur style :Squeezing the life out of IMC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2009: If there is one word to describe the Imphal Municipal Council then it would aptly be-Sickwith life slowly ebbing out with a number of factors contributing to the sick state in which the IMC finds itself today.

During the course of an investigation conducted by The Sangai Express it came to light that the IMC had handsome assets including over 100 shops in the prime commercial areas of Kangjeibung Maning, Rup Mahal Tank, Nagamapal and Khoyathong which it leased out.

A broken down portion of the all of the IMC office

The rent from these shops went a long way in meeting the required expenses of the Council.

However in due course of time almost all the shops which earned huge revenue for the IMC were granted pattas and they transformed into private holdings depriving the IMC of a rich source of income.

All these were the handiworks of Ministers and Councillors concerned.

Today the IMC has only a few handful of shops at Rupmahal Tank plus the land where the Gauhati High Court stands.

It is not only the loss of revenue earning sources which has been dogging the IMC but also the gigantic size of the employees.

For the 27 wards which have a population size of 2.5 lakhs, the IMC has 300 regular employees.

Not surprisingly the employees have not been paid their salaries for 24 months.

The backlog presently stands at a princely amount of Rs 4.76 crores for 24 months, Rs 5.41 crore by way of unpaid pensions for 108 months, leave engagement of Rs 22 lakhs, gratuity of Rs 74 lakhs and Rs 3 lakhs for Councillors' honorarium.

Over and above the gradual loss of its assets as well as excess employees, no development projects have been entrusted to the IMC since it does not have the requisite technical man power.

This is another factor for the loss in income.

Though the IMC has practically no sources of income, its liability is huge as it has to fork out Rs 35 lakhs every month as salaries for its employees, Rs 10 lakhs for other expenditures as well as pensions and other benefits.

After the State Govt divested the responsibility of collecting Octroi tax from the IMC, it has been paying the Council Rs 19 lakhs per month while another Rs 6 lakhs is earned through other avenues.

This however falls far short of the Rs 45 lakhs needed every month.

Perhaps nothing symbolises the state of the IMC than the dilapidated building which passes off as its office.