Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh on Tuesday alleged that he could not spend his funds on development projects in the city because of the non-cooperation of the Trinamool Congress-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC).

His Assembly constituency covers 33 of 47 SMC wards.

“Residents of many SMC wards are not getting proper drinking water supply. Several public wells are not even maintained and public toilets are without doors. I wanted to allot funds from my Bidhayak Elaka Unnayan Prakalpa (BEUP) to repair and maintain the wells and the toilets. But the civic body is not cooperating with me,” Ghosh told a news conference here on Tuesday.

Ghosh said he had submitted proposals to the SMC to use his MLA funds to establish a multi-level parking lot and construct a water reservoir in the city.

“But authorities at the SMC ignored those proposals which could have helped the residents here. In fact, despite repeated attempts, the mayor could not give me an appointment to listen to my proposals,” he added.

Every year, an MLA receives ₹70 lakh under the BEUP to execute development projects in his constituency.

“The MLA funds can be utilised effectively to bridge the critical gaps and provide better services to people. But I am disappointed that the civic board is politically biased,” said Ghosh.

He had recently sent a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee through Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, saying the Darjeeling district administration was also lackadaisical in endorsing the MLA’s proposals.

“I have pointed out that I have recommended 40 schemes under BEUP since 2021 (when he was elected). However, the district magistrate’s office accepted only 29 proposals and 11 schemes were sanctioned. Funds have been released for only seven schemes so far,” said Ghosh.

Sources in the administration said Ghosh’s proposals were under consideration and necessary steps would be taken at the right time.

Ranjan Sarkar, the deputy mayor of the SMC, denied the BJP MLA’s charges and claimed that infrastructure projects worth ₹1,500 crore were in progress in the
civic area. “The chief minister has taken measures for the infrastructure development of Siliguri. If the MLA wants to provide funds, he should follow proper procedures. Instead, he is indulging in politics,” said Sarkar.