Northeast Desk, 20th June: The Mizo National Front (MNF) corporators held a press conference on Thursday at the Office of Aizawl Mayor Lalrinenga Sailo, where they countered the allegations made by the opposition corporators from the Zoram People’s Movement and the Congress during a June 10 press conference.
Mayor Sailo criticized the opposition’s accusations against the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC), suggesting that the opposition’s claims were an attempt to mislead the public ahead of the likely MNF victory in the upcoming by-election for AMC Ward XIX.
Addressing the opposition’s claim that the Board of Corporations failed to complete projects approved in the House, Sailo explained that delays in releasing ward funds were due to delayed transfers from the Centre to the State government. He also clarified that property tax funds were not distributed through corporators but allocated equally among them for use in consultation with local councils.
Mayor Sailo reported that Rs. 600 lakhs in property tax was collected in 2023-2024, with Rs. 480 lakhs (80%) utilized for public benefits, and Rs. 285 lakhs of this amount equally distributed among corporators. He addressed the opposition’s question about the Rs. 1.95 crore collected in property taxes, noting that its utilization was documented in the revised estimate.
The opposition’s claim that the MNF-led AMC awarded minor contracts worth over Rs. 30.92 crore to MNF party workers was dismissed by Sailo, who noted that this amount averaged to Rs. 100 lakhs per year, and when divided among 85 local councils, it resulted in Rs. 12 lakhs per council—a sum insufficient for creating major assets.
Regarding the non-functional incinerator purchased for Rs. 2.74 crore, Sailo stated it is undergoing a trial run, with Rs. 26,07,800 pending payment contingent on repairs to ensure it burns 10 tons of waste within 24 hours.
In response to accusations of delayed office work in issuing permits and licenses, Sailo pointed out that the AMC is understaffed, with only nine officers, three enforcement inspectors, and 24 vacant gazetted posts, with just 43% of technical posts filled.
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