Appointment of nodal officers not well received by councillors

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 22

Councillors have raised objection over the appointment of nodal officers in the wards by the Municipal Commissioner recently.

Pardeep Goyal, councillor from Ward Number 42, said, “This is the work of the councillors. Nodal officers are appointed to mislead. Presently, residents come with complaints to the councillors and we take these up with the officials concerned. But the reality is that MCB officials don’t listen to these issues. The question arises that if the complaints of councillors are not addressed, how come nodal officers address the public complaints directly.”

Another councillor from Ward Number 45, Sukhwinder Kaur, said, “There is no benefit of appointing nodal officers in wards as councillors are elected public representatives to raise issues affecting people.”

She said, “The appointment of nodal officers can be fruitful if they guarantee that work in the wards would be done.”

The councillor said these nodal officers should also sign caste certificates, Aadhaar cards and others document for which people go to the councillors.

Municipal Commissioner Rishi Pal Singh appointed 33 nodal officers for 50 wards a few days ago for the all-round development of the city.

These include an XEN, SDO, JE, superintendent, building inspector, sanitary Inspector and supervisor.

It is claimed that this has been done so that small or big problems of the areas could be resolved by these officials and residents are not made to run from pillar to post for getting the works done.

Even the nodal officers would also check works of MCB workers in the wards regarding sanitation, bad roads, filling potholes, removing encroachments, desilting of sewerage, maintenance of parks, street lights repair and water supply problems.

Now councillors have questioned that if nodal officers would do all work then what is the need for electing councillors in wards.