Giving rest to all anticipations, Mayor Asha Lakra on Monday confirmed that despite relaxation in Municipal election by-laws that allows an individual to contest Municipal election-2018 without any back-up of political parties, she will not contest election independently.
Addressing a press conference while sharing the details of her achievements from June 2014 to March 2018, she said, “I will stick to my ideology and will not contest municipal election-2018 independently. Also, it is upon the party (BJP) officials that they will give me ticket or not. I will whole-heartedly support the choice of our senior leaders. So far, I have given my best and done work that is best in public interest.”
For the first time, Municipal Election can be contested independently without any political party support. Apart from taking up a few political issues before the release of municipal election notification-2018, the Mayor during the press meet presented a detailed report of her accomplishments and the projects undertaken during her four year tenure.
From transforming five slums into well-maintained colonies by constructing 1,565 houses so far to laying foundation stone of major projects like vendors complex, urban haat, Birsa Munda Terminus, vegetable market at Madhukam etc, the Mayor counted on the projects that were launched during her tenure for the well being of city residents.
Further counting on the attainments, the Mayor added, “Streamlining door to door garbage collection task, constitution of 31,705 toilets under Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM-Urban), construction of roads and sewerage drainages, restoration of major water reservoirs, installation of LED lights, inauguration of 10 parks at major localities are the few major achievements that had somewhere boosted the urban growth and expansion.”
Speaking about the challenges ahead and her further course of action, if she comes into the power again, Lakra added, “After constant effort, phase-1work of sewerage drainage project got completed, if remaining three phases work gets over next year, we will be able to install waste water treatment plant at certain areas that will prove immensely helpful for public where depleting ground water level often creates trouble.”
Besides, Lakra said streamlining inept urban transportation, construction of bus stoppages and auto stands with all essential facilities like display board, route charts, seats etc, renovation of ITI bus stand, modification of ‘rain-baseras’ (Shelter Homes), creation of small fire stations to tackle emergency situation, creation of multi-storey parking and demarcation of proper vending zones within the municipal periphery to settle down the street vendors are issues that will be addressed with utmost priority, if she gains the power back.