खड़गपुर नगरपालिका बोर्ड भंग, एसडीओ को कार्यभार

पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार ने एक बड़ा निर्णय लेते हुए खड़गपुर नगर पालिका के निर्वाचित बोर्ड को तत्काल प्रभाव से भंग कर दिया है। यह आदेश 21 जनवरी 2026 को कोलकाता से जारी किया गया, जिसने शहर के राजनीतिक और प्रशासनिक गलियारों में हलचल पैदा कर दी है।

प्रमुख बदलाव और नियुक्तियाँ:

राज्य सरकार के निर्देशानुसार, पश्चिम बंगाल नगर पालिका अधिनियम 1993 की धारा 431 के तहत ‘बोर्ड ऑफ काउंसिलर्स’ को विलुप्त कर दिया गया है। बोर्ड के भंग होने से उत्पन्न प्रशासनिक शून्यता को भरने के लिए राज्यपाल की अनुमति से खड़गपुर के उपमंडल मजिस्ट्रेट (SDO) को नया प्रशासक नियुक्त किया गया है।

नगर पालिका संचालन की सभी शक्तियां अब निर्वाचित प्रतिनिधियों के बजाय प्रशासक के पास होंगी। यह व्यवस्था आगामी छह महीने तक या नए बोर्ड के गठन होने तक प्रभावी रहेगी।

सरकार का पक्ष:

राज्य सरकार का दावा है कि यह निर्णय जनहित में लिया गया है ताकि नागरिक सेवाओं में किसी भी प्रकार की बाधा न आए। पिछले कुछ समय से नगर पालिका में विकास कार्यों और सेवाओं को लेकर काफी शिकायतें थी, जिसे देखते हुए यह कड़ा कदम उठाया गया है।

राजनीतिक हलचल:

इस अचानक हुए बदलाव के बाद राजनीतिक चर्चाएँ तेज हो गई हैं। स्थानीय स्तर पर यह सवाल उठ रहे हैं कि आखिर बोर्ड को भंग करने की नौबत क्यों आई और नए चुनाव कब आयोजित किए जाएंगे।

 

Government of West Bengal

Department of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs

“NAGARA YAN”,

DF – 8, Sector – I, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700064

ORD ER

No. 107/UDMA-15011(22)/24/2025-LS-MA SEC Dated, Kolkata, the 21st January, 2026

WHEREAS a mass petition (hereinafter referred to as the “said petition”) received by this Department

on the 17th December, 2025 from the residents of the Kharagpur Municipality (hereinafter referred to as the

“said Municipality”) in the district of Paschim Medinipur wherein allegation has been made on failure in

providing basic municipal services;

AND WHEREAS in the said petition, complaint has been made on the following disruption of

municipal services in said Municipality:

(1) Insufficient supply for last one (1) year and poor quality of drinking water.

(2) Accumulation of garbage due to lack of proper waste disposal by the municipal authority and irregular

collection of wastes from house holds.

(3) Irregular cleaning of drainages causing bad odour and spreading diseases.

( 4) Problems of installation of street light as well as maintenance ofit,

(5) Non-redressal of the public grievances raised by the residents or even by the concerned councilor.

AND WHEREAS considering the said allegations of gross negligence in the performance of the duties

imposed upon the said Municipality by or under the West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993 (West Ben. Act. XXII of

1993) (hereinafter referred to as the “said Act”) and the rules made thereunder, the Board of Councillors of the

said Municipality has been directed vide order No. 976/UDMA-15011(22)/24/2025-LS-MA SEC, Dated,

Kolkata, the 19

1

h December, 2025 to show cause within seven (7) days from the date of issuance of the order

why it shall not be dissolved on the grounds of the charges mentioned hereinabove in terms of provisions of

sub-section (I) of section 43 I of the said Act;

AND WHEREAS in response of the said show cause order, the Chairperson of the said Municipality,

vide Memo No. 1770/2025-26/KM, dated 23.12.2025, has submitted the reply of the Board of Councillors, as

resolved in the meeting held on 23.12.2025, on the allegations made in said petition, wherein summarily it has

been mentioned that:

• The lapse, if any, were neither willful nor deliberate;

• The Board of Councillors has already taken substantive corrective measures;

• Dissolution of the elected body would severely affect ongoing civic services and public interest.

AND WHEREAS the Chairperson of the said Municipality in the letter dated 23.12.2025 has also
mentioned that a mass petition may or may not have any legitimate grievance concerning municipal services and
should not be treated as absolute one. The residents of Kharagpur have the right to place their grievances before
any competent authority. The Board remains committed to stand with the people of Kharagpur and does not
treat any complaint in a discrete or isolated manner. The Board assures the State Government of its complete co-
operation, transparency and renewed commitment to provide efficient municipal services in strict compliance
with the law;
AND WHEREAS the District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur has been requested vide letter No.
977/UDMA-15011(22)/24/2025-LS-MA SEC, Dated, Kolkata, the 19
1
h December, 2025 to cause an enquiry on
the said allegations of disruption of municipal services in the said Municipality and to send a report thereof to
this Department;
AND WHEREAS from the enquiry report received from the District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur
vide Memo No. 11/MA/2026, dated 16.01.2026, it bas been revealed that:
(1) Quality and Supply of Drinking Water, – Inadequate supply of safe potable drinking water in different parts
of municipal area with complaints of supply of turbid or discoloured water and bacterial contamination
over an extended period;
(2) Waste Collection and Disposal,- Inadequate Solid Waste Management (SWM) with irregularity in waste
collection and unscientific waste disposal methods along with a partially operational Solid Waste
Management (SWM) processing facility;
(3) Irregular cleaning of Drainages causing Health Concerns and bad odour,- Cleaning or de-silting of drains not
done on a regular basis leading to persistent water stagnation and foul odour contributing to adverse health
conditions.
( 4) Street Light Installation and Maintenance,- Deficiencies in both coverage and maintenance of existing street
lighting infrastructure. Demand for installation of additional street lights in newly developed and extended
areas of the municipality not met;
(5) Non-redressal of Public Grievances by Councillors,- Ineffective Public Grievance Redressal mechanism
with no timely or adequate solution indicating gap in grievance handling and follow-up at the municipal
level;
AND WHEREAS in addition, the District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur has further made the observation
that the enquiry report of the Sub-Divisional Officer, Kharagpur dated 14/01/2026 further noted complaints
relating to financial irregularities involving municipal employees, Building permissions and alleged violation of
building regulations. In addition, grievances pertaining to the execution and implementation of schemes related
to roads, drainage and drinking water supply also observed;

e AND WHEREAS in the enquiry report, the District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur has also mentioned
in the letter that the enquiry report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Kbaragpur, corroborates the
allegations contained in the mass petition dated 17/12/2025 against the Board of Councillors of the Kbaragpur
Municipality and clearly establishes gross neglect on the part of the Board in discharging it’s statutory
ob.ligations relating to service delivery under the West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993;
AND WHEREAS considering the submission of the Board of Councillors of the said Municipality and
the findings made by the District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur through enquiry, as mentioned hereinabove, it
can be stated that the Board of Councillors of the said Municipality is not in a position to carry out its functions
and to provide normal civic services. The State Government is of the opinion that the Board of Councillors of
the said Municipality has shown its incompetence in the performance of the duties or in the exercise of the
functions, imposed on it by or under the said Act and rules made thereunder or any other Jaw for the time being
in force;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 431 of the said
Act, the Governor is pleased hereby to declare the Board of Councillors of the Kharagpur Municipality to be
incompetent to exercise the statutory functions imposed on it and to dissolve the Board of Councillors of the
said Municipality with immediate effect.
Principal Secretary
No. 107/1(10)/UDMA-15011(22)/24/2025-LS-MA SEC Dated, Kolkata, the 21 January, 2026

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to the –
I) Secretary, State Election Commission, West Bengal, 18, Saroj ini Naidu Sarani, Kol – 17.
2) Director of Local Bodies, Government of West Bengal.
3) District Magistrate, Paschim Medinipur, P.O. – Midnapore, Dist. – Paschim Medinipur.
4) Director, State Urban Development Agency.
5) Sub-divisional Officer, Kbaragpur, Dist. – Paschim Medinipur.
6) Chief Engineer, Municipal Engineering Directorate (South Zone), West Bengal.
7) P.S. to Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, UD & MA Department, Govt. of West Bengal
8) Executive Officer, Kharagpur Municipality, he is requested to circulate it to all concerned at once.
9) Sr. P.S. to Principal Secretary, UD & MA Department, Govt. of West Bengal.
10) Section Officer, IT Wing of this Department.
Special Secretary to the Govt. of West Bengal.