Protests break in GP areas as administration kickstarts process to upgrade Silchar into Corporation

When the news of the Tupkhna sub-urban area was declared to be merged with the Silchar Municipal Corporation, it erupted with sounds of protest from various sections of the population on Sunday morning. A Citizen’s Assembly was called in the Gaon Panchayat Office to place their demands and register their opposition against this step. From Panchayat Representative to senior citizens of the area, everyone participated in the said meeting on February 13, 2022. Their say that 70% of the population of this area is impoverished and the municipality will exploit them further.

Municipal corporations charge heavy taxes upon people for land, water and other amenities, the poor populace of that area won’t be able to pay these taxes and that’s the reason behind the protest. They alleged that the daily wage earners, which make up the majority of the population of that area, can’t even afford food twice daily, how can they afford taxes above that? Under the Chairmanship of veteran citizens of that area, Baktar Uddin Laskar, the meeting was organised in the presence of other members of the Gaon Panchayat (GP). On Sunday, the GP President Mia Khan, speaking to the media said, “We have upheld the merits and demerits of going under the corporation in today’s meeting in presence of AP Member, Advocate and other veterans of the area. After long hours of debate and discussion, we have found that our fellow brothers of this area can’t even afford to pay the limited taxes levied by the Gaon Panchayat, how can they pay the Municipal taxes equally with the rich people of the urban areas”?

Counting other problems, Khan further said, “If it comes under Municipality, there comes additional burden of getting permits and heavy paperwork for building homes, businesses and buildings. This also takes heavy money and taxes. How can the poor and uneducated population of our area afford this? Hardly they can make both ends meet”. Other members in the protest also seconded with Khan and voiced their opposition against this step of urbanizing the area. They have also demanded that this step by the administration is a slack way of bagging taxes from the poor without doing any actual developmental steps. Among other members, AP Member and advocate, Jasim Uddin Mazumder, Faraz Uddin Laskar, Zahir Uddin Mazumder, Sajeeb Uddin Laskar were present in the meeting.