Sambalpur suffers from illegal hoardings, with reports that proposals have been approved without a tender for years. The lack of transparency in the process raises concerns about potential financial irregularities, and the absence of a Ward Council Committee worsens the reasonability.
Key Points to Notice:
- Tender Neglect: Despite the city’s move from Sambalpur Municipal Council to Metropolitan Corporation eight years ago, no tenders for hoardings were issued, creating an environment conducive to illegal hoarding.
- Favoritism Allegations: Instead of following proper procedures, the Corporation is accused of approving only one bid and appointing organizations without a transparent process. The lack of transparency in financial dealings with hoarding companies raises concerns about the exploitation of government funding.
- Financial discrepancies: While other metropolitan corporations such as Cuttack and Bhubaneswar generate significant revenue from hoardings, the Sambalpur Metropolitan Corporation has reportedly struggled to reach even 50 lakhs. The transfer of hoarding responsibilities to the Tax Department is believed to contribute to financial irregularities.
- Council Committee Absence: The lack of a council committee creates an ideal environment for officials to make arbitrary choices, raising worries about favoritism and misuse of power.
According to Ashok Mishra, SMC’s Additional Commissioner, the state government has given certain Empanel businesses permission to install hoardings. The responsibility has been assigned to a Sambalpur-based organization, with charges of 10 per square foot. The current term expires on March 31, and a tender is scheduled shortly after that.
This issue highlights the importance of having transparent mechanisms and accountability to address the growth of illegal hoardings and maintain fair financial practices within the Metropolitan Corporation.