Tura, June 25: Meghalaya legislator John Leslee K. Sangma has sought
against action chief executive officer of Tura Municipal Board (TMB)
for branding him as “one person”.
He has also urged urban affairs minister that the officer should be
immediately relieved from his responsibility, as he has lost the
confidence of the people and is no longer fit to carry on in such a
respectable position.
The government officer, Z J Sangma in his letter to deputy
commissioner of West Garo Hills Pravin Bakshi had branded John Leslee
as “one person”, drawing attention on the need to shift the vegetable
vendor from the Ringrey market to the newly constructed urban
marketing hub at Ringrey, which is yet to be inaugurated.
The municipal officer has stated that the legislator was causing
stalemate by advising the vegetable and fish vendors from Ringrey
market not to move to the new hub. The officer had sought deputy
commissioner’s intervention for shifting of the vendor within June, as
PWD (Roads) Tura North Division was planning to make a drain and
footpath at the Ringrey market.
John Leslee told this correspondent that he will take up the matter with
the privilege committee of the Meghalaya legislative assembly as the
officer showed total disregard towards an elected public
representative.
In a letter dashed off to urban affairs minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh,
John Leslee said, “As fellow legislator, I request you to look into
this serious matter as the person concerned happens to be from your
department, who always shows total disregard to the legislators and is
derailing whatever steps you are taking to fulfill your
responsibility”.
On June 16, John Leslee had explained to Lyngdoh that vendors and
traders were not willing to shift as there is no provision for parking
at the marketing hub.
He also stated that as per the urban affair minister’s assurance for
immediate construction of the parking lot, he had requested them
(vendors and traders) to be ready to move in.
He also clarified that he never advised the traders not to move in but
only cautioned them. “If the board forcibly try to move the traders
into the new building without providing parking space despite my
objection, I will be seeking court intervention”, said John Leslee.
Drawing attention of the urban affairs minister, John Leslee said,
“The authorities (TMB) are trying to cover up lapses of its department
from the government by accusing me”.
John Leslee said that the municipal board has misled the government on
the following context: (a) by making an announcement on the floor of
the house that the building was completed, when it was not; (b) the
construction of the building started in 2009 but permission was given
in 2013; (c) the building has developed cracks and leaks and the
construction plan was defective and the design outdated with pillars
in the middle of the room; and (d) the security deposit is exorbitant.
He also drew the attention of the minister that a member of the Achik
National Volunteers Council, an outfit which is on a ceasefire truce
with the government, was acting as de-facto lessee of Tura Nazing
bazar and is opening extorting money.(SP News)
