Staff Reporter
NAHARLAGUN, Jun 11: The traders of the capital complex have been facing serious problems for a month now in renewing their trade licences/obtaining new licences, due to unavailability of internet facility at the Itanagar Municipal Council (IMC) office.
According to reports, the problem started about a month back but is yet to be resolved.
“My trading licence is soon getting expired and I have to pay penalty if the deadline is missed. For the last 15 days I have been visiting the IMC office, but every time the staff tells me that there is no internet facility and that my licence cannot be renewed. I live in Chimpu, and going all the way to Naharlagun costs me heavily. Will the IMC bear my fuel expense?” said an angry trader.
He added, “It is good to go digital, but the IMC simply does not seem prepared for it. They are harassing traders in the name of digitization. We appeal to the state government, particularly Chief Minister Pema Khandu, to look into the issue and take action against the IMC for causing trouble to the business community. The CM talks of making Arunachal a business-friendly state but his officials are not helping the cause.”
Making the matter worse, the officials and councillors of the IMC are reportedly busy in a bitter power struggle.
“Officers of the IMC are engaged in a bitter power struggle. Similarly, councillors too are divided into various factions and are busy in a power battle. These people are causing immense harm to the IMC for their selfish gains. If the problems affecting the IMC are not resolved at the earliest, they will also affect the implementation of the Itanagar smart city project,” said a worried citizen.
