Over 50 Jharia residents on Tuesday rallied on foot from JP Chowk at Katras to the Dhanbad district headquarters in protest against the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation accusing it of engaging in corruption over developmental work.

The protesters, comprising young activists, also burned effigies of Municipal Commissioner Satyendra Kumar and Executive Engineer Anup Kumar Samanta and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Uma Shankar Singh, demanding action against them .

They said that the civic body is engaging in corruption regarding the ongoing renovation and beautification work of the Nehru Park at Katras More, the Children’s Park at Dharamshala Road and several other parks of the area.

Akhlaque Ahmad, the founder of social organization Youth Concept, alleged that the boundary bricks at the Nehru Park are being laid atop the existing dilapidated wall instead of constructing a new one, putting the lives of children in danger.

“When we objected to it, the contractor said that they have to pay more than 36 per cent commission to the municipal corporation authorities so they don’t have any option,” said Ahmad.

Vikash Kumar, a resident of Katras More alleged that substandard quality material is being used for the construction, and the wall can collapse any day.

“The walking track developed in Children’s park at Dharamshala road has developed cracks at several places while around 150 trees have been cut in the name of construction work devoiding the park of greenery,” Anil Jain, a Jharia-based trader, said.

Deepak Kumar, Junior Engineer of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation refuted the claims. “As per the estimate of the project only 45 per cent of the construction work at Nehru park is supposed to be done anew. Moreover, grill laying work is also being carried out, and so there is no provision of construction of a new boundary wall,” he said.