Arunachal Pradesh: Itanagar Mayor vows to make capital among India’s cleanest cities amid bandh call

Mayor Likha Nari Tadar on May 28 vowed to transform Itanagar into one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country while appealing to citizens to cooperate with the civic body in maintaining cleanliness across the capital region.

 

The newly elected Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation was seen carrying a broom and participating in cleanliness activities alongside municipal staff despite a bandh call issued by certain organisations in the state.

 

Speaking exclusively, Mayor Nari said the state government remains inclusive and open to dialogue, referring to an eight-hour consultation meeting chaired by Pema Khandu where community-based organisations, students, bureaucrats, officers and public representatives discussed several key issues concerning the state.

 

She stated that Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation was invited to attend the meeting and present its grievances, but its representatives did not participate despite the invitation.

 

On waste management, the Mayor spoke about the proposed Dapo Yarlo Solid Waste Management Plant and said certain forest clearance issues had delayed the project. She added that a new company has been directed to handle waste segregation work and that a deadline of May 30 has been fixed for installation of the plant.

 

Welcoming the government’s decision to create a separate department for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, Nari described it as an important step towards checking illegal influx into the state.

 

The Mayor also said CCTV surveillance and challans are being used to curb littering and illegal dumping of garbage across all 20 wards under the Itanagar Municipal Corporation.

 

Rejecting allegations of corruption in the tender process, Nari asserted that the IMC is functioning transparently and adopting digital systems for revenue collection and issuance of public service certificates at nominal costs.

 

She further stated that she regularly conducts field visits and public outreach programmes to monitor civic amenities and address public concerns in the capital city.