Mussoorie Municipal Chairperson Mira Saklani Alleges Irregularities by Former Board

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand: Mussoorie Municipal Council Chairperson Mira Saklani has leveled serious allegations against former Mayor Anuj Gupta and his administration, claiming that the rights of “environment friends” were openly violated during his tenure and that rules were bypassed to favor certain individuals. She stressed that accusations against the current board are misleading and entirely baseless.

Strike by Environment Workers Misled:
Chairperson Saklani said that the recent strike by environmental workers and employees of Kin Sanstha was based on misinformation. The employees were led to believe that the current municipal board was acting against their interests and colluding with a door-to-door waste collection company, whereas the truth is entirely different.

Tender Process and Appointment Irregularities:
Saklani clarified that, from 1 January 2025, door-to-door waste collection in Mussoorie was awarded to Lord Shiva Company through a proper online tender process, which saw participation from seven companies. Kin Sanstha, on the other hand, did not participate. She alleged that former Mayor Anuj Gupta conducted offline tenders for personal gain, violating standard procedures.

Discrepancies in Employee Records:
The Chairperson revealed that while Kin Sanstha reported 169 employees on paper, only 112 were actually covered under ESI and PF. The remaining staff were “adjusted” on paper without any ground presence. Earlier, the municipality paid Kin Sanstha approximately ₹10.3 lakh per month, and supervisors were appointed in a one-supervisor-for-three-employees ratio, despite no real work being performed.

Current Administration Ensures Fair Practices:
Under the current administration, Lord Shiva Company follows a policy of equal pay for equal work. Previously, environmental workers received just ₹8,000 per month, whereas in 2022, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had announced a daily wage of ₹500, which was deliberately not implemented by the former board. After assuming office, Saklani implemented the CM’s directive, ensuring workers now receive over ₹17,000 per month along with full ESI and PF benefits.

Alleged Mismanagement of Bio-Methane Plant:
Saklani also alleged that the previous board inaugurated a bio-methane plant near IDH MRF Center at a cost of nearly ₹1.5 crore, but it was never operational, leaving it in a dilapidated state—a move she described as indicative of a large-scale scam.

Future Plans and Transparency:
The Chairperson announced that the current board will rectify the irregularities in Mohalla Committee staffing by reinstating 25 workers to their original positions once the upcoming board proposal is approved. She reiterated that the municipality does not intend to take away anyone’s employment, but rules must be followed. Lord Shiva Company has also been warned to comply with regulations and safeguard workers’ rights, failing which its contract may be terminated.

Chairperson Saklani emphasized that the current board operates with full transparency and will publicly present all evidence of previous irregularities. Municipal councillors Vishal Kharola, Sachin Guher, Gauri Thapliyal, Shivani Bharti, Ranbir Kandari, and Pawan Thalwal were present during the statement.