Silchar's First Municipal Corporation Takes Office with Promises of Transparency and Action
Cabinet Minister Kaushik Rai greets Amarendra Paul (centre), first Mayor of Silchar Municipal Corporation. (AT Photo)
Silchar, Nov 5: The inaugural session of the town's first Municipal Corporation commenced on Thursday, with Mayor Amarendra Paul, Deputy Mayor Bijendra Prasad Singh, and the councillors taking their oaths, emphasizing the need for transparent governance and addressing longstanding civic issues.
The ceremony held at Rajiv Bhawan marked a significant chapter in Silchar's civic history, with municipal governance tracing back to 1882.
During his address, Mayor Paul highlighted the urgent need to address waterlogging as a primary focus of his administration and called for community support in resolving ongoing urban challenges.
Deputy Mayor Singh underscored the importance of delivering municipal services without corruption, asserting that the convenience of citizens should be a benchmark for administrative effectiveness.
He announced his first initiative to facilitate the issuance of death certificates to grieving families at cremation sites, thereby reducing their need for multiple trips to municipal offices.
“The corporation's journey over the next five years, spanning 1,825 days, will be guided by public cooperation and collective efforts,” he stated.
Cabinet Minister Krishnendu Paul, overseeing the Barak Valley Development Department, reiterated Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s vision for a corruption-free civic administration and urged elected officials to fulfill the expectations of the residents.
“Residents should not encounter unnecessary hurdles in accessing municipal services. All necessary documents and certificates must be provided transparently and without hassle,” he emphasized.
He pointed out traffic congestion, waterlogging, and inadequate waste management as significant challenges and called for a collaborative approach to tackle these issues.
Additionally, he recommended that the new civic leaders seek guidance from former Silchar civic board chairperson Sushmita Dev.
Minister Kaushik Rai assured the corporation of the state government's support and encouraged elected officials to operate beyond political affiliations as part of 'Team Silchar Municipal Corporation.'
Rai, who also manages the Housing and Urban Affairs portfolio, announced that municipal forms would be provided free of charge and that online services would be expedited to enhance access to civic amenities.
He articulated a vision for a 'Swachh Silchar, a congestion-free Silchar, and a beautiful Silchar' as the guiding principles for the new administration.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions will adhere to a rotational reservation system. For the initial five-year term, both roles are open, with subsequent terms reserved for Scheduled Castes, followed by Scheduled Tribes and women. After a 20-year cycle, the positions will revert to the open category.
Silchar MP Parimal Suklabaidya, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha, and MLAs Rajdeep Goala, Kishor Nath, and Dr. Rajdeep Roy also took their oaths as ex-officio members.
Following the ceremony, the ministers, MPs, MLAs, and councillors paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and the language martyrs at Gandhi Bagh Park.