Byasanagar municipality chairperson has courted controversy for allegedly misbehaving with the municipality executive officer in presence of other officials over installation of a mobile tower.
The municipality chairperson Sangeeta Pingua allegedly hurled files on the executive officer Ashok Kumar Rout. Though the incident took place a month back, a purported video of Pingua’s misbehaviour is currently doing the rounds on social media.
Meanwhile, the concerned executive officer recently got transfer order following which resentment is currently brewing among the locals.
According to sources, residents of Byasanagar have been facing internet and network issues over some time for which a residential plot was chosen for setting up of a mobile tower at the locality.
While a few locals supported this move, some went against the proposal of the installation of the mobile tower due to its ill impact on health.
The administration gave its nod after the local councillor and a majority of residents said 'yes' for the project by signing on a paper. Accordingly, mobile tower construction work started but it was stopped after the chairperson cancelled its NOC recently.
It is learnt that the alleged misbehaviour incident had taken place on October 15. A month after the incident, the executive officer received his transfer order on Wednesday.
He has been transferred to Khandapada from Byasanagar. It is now being alleged that the municipality chairperson, who is also a leader of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, is behind the transfer of executive officer.
When contacted, however, Byasanagar municipality chairperson Sangeeta Pingua said, “I had not thrown files on him. I just returned files to him.”
(Reported by Janmajayee Dash)