BJP councillors accuse Shimla Mayor of favouritism

Shimla, July 11

BJP councillors have accused Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan of favouritism and not acting in right earnest to make the town ready to face any eventuality in case of heavy rain.

They said the Mayor will be responsible if any loss of life occurred in the town due to a possible disaster.

In a joint statement, the councillors stated that the MC had failed to cut dangerous trees, besides failing to restore drains in the town. They said due to the corporation’s alleged inaction, trees were falling in many areas of the town.

Water was entering houses and shops due to choked drains, they added.

BJP councillor Saroj Thakur said the Mayor was “missing” from the town for a week and the inspection of dangerous trees was stalled.

“Residents of the town are forced to visit offices of the Municipal Corporation and Forest Department to get the dangerous trees near their homes lopped.

Officials of the Forest Department have claimed that the dangerous trees will only be cut after the inspection by the Mayor,” the councillor said.

The BJP councillors also accused the Municipal Corporation of favouritism and stated that their files were not being entertained and works were being delayed on the pretext of the lack of funds.

Denying the allegations of favouritism, Mayor Surender Chauhan said he had gone to Chandigarh for a health check-up and had inspected the dangerous trees before leaving the town.

He said the allegations of the BJP councillors were politically motivated as he had done work in each and every ward of the town.