DSCC most corruption-free govt institution

Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday claimed that the Dhaka South City Corporation is the most corruption-free institution of all the government offices.

Taposh was speaking at a press conference at Nagar Bhaban, marking his third year as mayor.

"We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. If we find any trace of corruption we strike there hard. For this, it (DSCC) has become corruption free, earning city dwellers' trust," he claimed.

''In the last three years, more than 100 officers and employees have been dismissed for various crimes including corruption and irregularities," he added.

The mayor claimed that no one is facing harassment now in the Nagar Bhaban and regional offices of the city corporation.

He also said he has taken several successful steps to ensure good governance in the DSCC.

Taposh said more than 500 officers and employees, including 109 drivers of heavy vehicles, have been appointed to reduce the severity of this shortage of necessary manpower. As a result, the rate of implementation of supervision and development activities as well as the delivery of civic services and the casual work of the corporation has increased.

TREE FELLING

Regarding the controversy surrounding tree felling on Saat Masjid Road, Taposh clarified that trees are only felled when there are no alternative options.

The removal of trees on this road was carried out to facilitate the implementation of a scientifically designed road layout, he claimed.

He refuted allegations of 536 trees being cut, calling for accurate information and discouraging baseless blames. Going forward, the mayor assured that no more large trees will be planted in road medians.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Taposh also addressed waste management, stating that significant progress has been made in this area over the past three years.

Through comprehensive activities, the DSCC has successfully reduced dumping of  garbage besides roads and walkways from 100 percent to 20 percent. Notably, 80 percent of the waste is now directly taken to interim waste transfer centres.

WATERLOGGING

Taposh highlighted the construction and development of infrastructure at 136 locations, at a cost of Tk 225 crore, funded by the DSCC itself. This initiative aimed to mitigate waterlogging, resulting in a significant reduction of flood during rainfall.

Previously affected areas such as Dhanmondi-27, Palashi intersection, Azimpur intersection, Shantinagar, Rajarbagh, Secretariat, Motijheel area, Notre Dame College vicinity, and the roads near Bangladesh Bank and Kamalapur Railway Station, are no longer submerged, he said.

The mayor stressed that reducing waterlogging has been a top priority, preventing around 70 percent of the city from being flooded.

DRIVES AGAINST ILLEGAL OCCUPATION

Taposh announced the recovery of over 34 acres of land, valued at more than Tk 3,100 crore, through numerous eviction drives in the last three years.

Illegal occupants of Maisha Canal in Sutrapur for 80 years, Roy Saheb Bazar crossing for three decades, DSCC parking space in Laxmibazar for two decades, and Dhalpur Cleaner Colony for four decades have been successfully evicted by the DSCC, he said.

DSCC Chief Executive Officer Mizanur Rahman, panel mayor-1 Sohidullah Minu, and divisional heads of DSCC were present at the event.