Dimapur, Dec 30 (MExN): There is discontentment among Dimapur Municipal Council members over matter pertaining to DMC tolls and fees. The stated fee matter was discussed out of agenda at a DMC meeting held December 22 and decided upon that tenure/duration of lease contract of DMC tolls and fees would be changed into calendar year from January to December instead of April 1, 2006 to May 1, 2007. This decision has been termed ‘arbitrary under the guise of board meeting’ which amounts to cheating leasees, three DMC councilors opined.
A statement from Councilors H Hokivi Chishi (ward 19) Ghoikhu Kits (ward 20) and T Vikheho Zhimo (ward 17) made the following account: A board meeting was convened at Dimapur December 20 to discuss matter pertinent to an exposure trip/tour programme of DMC members as well as to discuss parking zones near Durga Mandir at DMC old market area. However, a major issue regarding DMC toll and fee was discussed out of agenda. The meeting decided that the tenure/duration of lease contract of DMC toll and fees would be changed into calendar year from January to December instead of April 1, 2006 to May 1, 2007 and notified through an order DMC/G-14/Tolls/2006-07/4523-30 dated Dimapur December 29, 2006.
The DMC councilors pointed out that lease contract is allotted upon payment of the required fees by the concerned lessees (contractors) for the specified period of one year. Hence, changing of the contract term before completion of the specified period of one year (April 1 to May 1) to calendar year (January to December) in super-cession of all the previous orders is totally against the existing terms and conditions. This amounts to cheating the leasees concerned who have already taken the contract for a year, the three councilors pointed out.
“Such arbitrary decision under the guise of board meeting is totally uncalled for and such bad precedence should be condemned by all right-thinking citizens” the statement asserted while reminding that the DMC is a civic body which should function within the perimeter of rules and regulations as empowered by Nagaland Municipal Act 2001. Terming the decision “a sinister design”, the councilors cautioned that the same may invite criticism from the public and the DMC would be rendered “hapless” in case any leasee decides to sue the council or in the event a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is filed. “Where will be the position of the DMC? Therefore, all the leasee (contractors) who agree to the new terms would be doing so at their own risk since this may be changed anytime for which the general public shall stand witness” it stated.
Further, in regard to the agenda of parking zones near Durga Mandir at DMC old market area, the statement pointed out that money was collected from allotees for construction of a multi-storied marketing complex surrounding Durga Mandir. However, rather than constructing the said complex as assured to the allotees for which they had deposited the money to the DMC, the agenda put up for discussions “is also meant to cheat the allotees”, it added.
