MLA's dharna forces govt to post SDM in Mussoorie

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 21

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi sat on a dharna in front of the Chief Secretary’s office in Dehradun today demanding a permanent post of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in the tourist hill town. He, however, relented and ended the dharna after the Joint Secretary, Personnel, showed him the government order appointing Shalini Negi as the SDM who would function from Mussoorie.

Joshi along with his supporters reached the secretariat around 12.30 pm and raised slogans against the government for not creating a permanent post of SDM in Mussoorie, as local residents had long been facing problems in the absence of an SDM who sits solely in the town and not in Dehradun.

The MLA said he had taken up the matter with senior officers several times but no action had been initiated so far. This indifferent attitude of the officers forced him to sit on a dharna in front of the Chief Secretary’s office today. He added relaxation in the freeze zone clause and other issues were still pending and local people were suffering in the absence of an SDM solely for Mussoorie. "Present Mussoorie SDM Ramji Saran has the charge of other departments in Dehradun and most of the time he remains in the state capital. He is not usually available in Mussoorie that sees a large inflow of tourists and dignitaries, especially during the peak tourist season," said Joshi.

Shalini Negi is at present working as a staff officer in the Revenue Department.