TURA: At a time when the model code of conduct set for the just concluded election is still in place the auctioning of various entry point check gates by the Baghmara Municipal Board (BMB) over the week raised strong opposition from all quarters compelling the authority to eventually cancel the auction.
According to sources the BMB has been struggling to pay the salaries of its staff for the last seven months leading to a last ditch effort to gather funds by completing the auction early.
The auction process had been finalized under the orders of acting Deputy Commissioner, T G Momin (in the absence of DC CP Gotmare) who also happens to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BMB.
Initial payments had also been made. However, the same was cancelled after complaints made by some people who had also showed their interest in bidding.
They felt the timing of the bidding was in violation of the Election Code of Conduct and as such needed to be scheduled to a later date until after the elections.
When contacted the CEO on Wednesday evening confirmed the cancellation of the auction and said that a new process would have to be taken after May 16 the scheduled date for the counting of votes. He admitted that the move to complete the auction early was to gather funds for the BMB as it was at present facing a financial crunch which in turn was hampering the proper functioning of the board.
“We have not been able to pay our staff’s salaries for the last 7 months which should not be the case. We have cancelled the auction for the time being and will start the process of re-tendering after the elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources from within the BMB have confirmed the sorry state that it was in and predicted that the situation would certainly get worse in the future. According to them the Government was also not providing any kind of assistance and that it had not released any grant in aid at all to the Board.