Budgam, Jan 17: Leveling accusations against government for “deceiving them”, the councilors of Budgam said that government has forgotten them as the former failed to release their salaries and funds for developmental works.
They said that despite passing of three months, they have not received a single penny from government — neither for salary nor for developmental works.
“Before filing the nomination papers, I discussed the salary with returning officer who said we will be paid Rs 25000 monthly, besides funds,” a councilor wishing anonymity told Kashmir Images. “However, three months have elapsed and we got nothing.”
“We are being asked to visit our wards, but we don’t understand what we will do when we are empty-handed?” He asked.
Similarly, another councilor from Khansahib said that he was promised by officials at Deputy Commissioner’s office here that every councilor would be given Rs 20,000 as monthly honorarium.
“However, till date I didn’t receive anything. Recently, ADC [Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam] called a meeting but didn’t touch the salary part,” he said.
The councilors said that the most among them do not have any other source of income.
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir Farooq Ahmad Rather and Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam Khurshid Ahmad Shah could not be contacted via phone calls. But, they did not reply to text messages.
Pertinently, Urban Local Bodies polls were held only in one ward among 72 of Budgam district in October last year. Most of the wards either were won by candidates unopposed or remained vacant.
