Sopore, April 01: The councilors of Sopore have threatened to tender mass resignation if the government failed to release their salaries and funds.
Councilors in Sopore told Kashmir Images that they have not received a single penny from the government in last six months, be it salary or funds meant for the developmental works.
“Before filing the nomination papers, I had discussed the salary with Returning Officer who had said that each councilors will be paid a salary of 20000 rupees per month, besides funds, but we are yet to receive any sort of payment from the government ,” one of the councilors, Reyaz Ahmad, told Kashmir Images.
“We are being told by the higher officials to visit our respective wards on regular basis but with no funds available with us, it is useless for the councilors to visit the wards. If they fail to do so we all will resign from their wards and posts,” he added.
Another councilor, Rohit Kumar, from Shahabad Sopore told Kashmir Images that they have requested the concerned officials several times to release their salaries and funds but to no avail.
Talking to Kashmir Images, President Municipal Council Sopore, Abdul Ahad Malla, told Kashmir Images that they have been deceived by the central and state government. “During elections, we were promised that every councilor will receive salary and funds but six months have already passed without a single penny being deposited in our accounts,” said Malla.
“If situation remains the same, all councilors in Sopore will submit their resignation to the government,” he added.
When contacted Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Rather, said: “We have forwarded a proposal to government concerning the issue and once the same is approved, all councilors of state will receive salaries and other funds.”
