DSCC was the loser in city corporation split

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday said DSCC became the loser during the split of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), as the boundaries of two city corporations were not determined proportionately.

Speaking at a programme at Siddique Bazar in Old Dhaka, the mayor said most of the income-generating areas of the then DCC went to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) due to the improper division.

The areas which have been brought under DSCC have less revenue sources, though its expenditure is higher than that of DNCC.

“Sixty percent of total revenue income capacities of undivided DCC went to the DNCC whereas DSCC got only 40 percent,” he said.

DSCC was in massive debt till April 2015 when he took office, the mayor said, adding that electricity connections of the DSCC offices were about to be cut off as they failed to pay bills. “But we overcame the situation taking block allocation from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the mayor said.

Seeking special help from the Local Government Division to increase their income-generating sources, the mayor said an organisation cannot run like this.

“There are many hospitals and educational institutions under DSCC management; we have to spend a good amount of money to purchase medicine for the hospitals. We also have to struggle to pay salaries of staff due to lack of revenue,” he said.

Mayor Khokon laid the foundation stone of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Multi-Purpose Complex at Siddique Bazar, which will be constructed on one bigha land.

The mayor said they will modernise the rundown community centres under DSCC, keeping different kinds of facilities including healthcare, libraries and indoor games for citizens.

The complex in Siddique Bazar, with community centre hall, healthcare centre, councillor office, library, separate gyms for men and women, indoor games, cafeteria, parking and lift facilities, will be constructed at a cost of Tk 61 core.

The complex will be implemented in two phases; Tk 23 crore will be spent in first phase.

The mayor said they will modernise all the rundown community centres (around 18) spending Tk 248 crore ensuring all these facilities for the residents of the areas.

Khokon said they also have plans to construct this kind of complexes in places of Khalil Sardar Community Centre and Shayesta Khan Kollyan Kendra in Old Dhaka.

With the implementations of all the projects, residents of old Dhaka will see a new look of the city, he said.