Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA and Asansol Municipal Corporation Chairman Jitendra Tiwari has written to West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim saying that funds allotted below the Smart city project to the tune of Rs 2000 crore have been stopped due to political motives.
“Being born and brought up as a responsible citizen of Asansol and performing the responsibilities of the Urban Local Body of this city as a Chairman, Mayor & Administrator from past several years I am very grieved to state you that our city was chosen by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India under Smart City Mission Project which if would have been allowed by you our city could have received funds amounting 2000 crores which would be very crucial for development of our city,” he said in the letter.
“Asansol was chosen under this project as a result of tremendous work effort of Councilors and entire team of AMC leading to being qualified as a city to be chosen under this but due to political reasons we were not allowed to get the benefits of this project by the State Government,” the letter adds.
“It was instead promised that funds will be made available by the State Government for overall development of this city but it was not done. Similarly under Solid Waste Management project Asansol City could have received another 1500 crores fund by the Central Government like several other cities in our country but you and your department have not allowed us to get the benefits of these Central Government Funds due to which I feel that injustice has been made to the city of Asansol,” it additional study.
The letter also states that many project reports below Asansol Municipal Corporation have not been authorized by the state urban improvement division.
The letter ends by saying, “Therefore with lot of pain I am writing you this letter requesting you to kindly allow Asansol Municipal Corporation to get benefits being provided by Central Government or State Government provide equivalent funds for development of our beloved city Asansol as a rectification of ill deeds on your part towards Asansol.”