Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved eight resolutions at its 10th ordinary board meeting on Friday, including a proposal to issue municipal bonds worth Rs 200 crore, a move officials say will fund infrastructure and improve civic amenities but which drew strong objections from several councillors.
Under the plan, the central government will contribute Rs 26 crore, while the remaining funds are to be raised through the bond issue. Municipal commissioner Yashpal Meena told the board that the money would be invested in revenue-generating assets such as vending zones, malls and commercial buildings, aimed at strengthening the corporation’s finances and reducing long-term dependence on state grants.
The proposal, however, faced resistance from Dr Ashish Kumar Sinha, a former member of the empowered standing committee, who warned that floating bonds without a clearly defined project pipeline could expose the civic body to financial risk. He pointed out that the borrowed amount would have to be repaid with interest, potentially burdening the corporation if returns did not materialise as planned.
Alongside the bond issue, the board approved schemes worth Rs 1 crore each for councillors and sanctioned the purchase of equipment to improve solid waste management. These include 150 e-rickshaw waste collection vehicles, 150 closed tippers, 75 open tippers, two super-sucker machines and three mini excavators to support regular waste collection across wards.
The meeting also cleared proposals for water infrastructure, including the construction of high-yield tube wells at an estimated cost of Rs 1.33–1.36 crore in various wards and the installation of 100 water ATMs across the city.
Proceedings were repeatedly disrupted by protests from councillors over a survey of civic amenities conducted in 19 newly expanded wards. Several members questioned why the exercise had not covered all wards, raising concerns about selective implementation and possible financial irregularities. Objections were also voiced over the ratification of the 2025–26 budget nearly nine months after the financial year began, with councillors demanding an explanation for the delay.
Contention extended to new advertising regulations and a proposed increase in taxes on commercial properties. Councillors said they had not been adequately briefed on the advertising rules before they were tabled, prompting a decision to convene a special meeting to reconsider the matter. While some members opposed higher commercial taxes, citing pressure on small traders, others backed the move, and the increase was eventually approved.
The turbulence follows scenes from the previous board meeting, where a dispute between mayor Sita Sahu and municipal commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar over agenda items escalated into physical altercations among councillors. Despite the commissioner boycotting that session, 12 agenda items were passed. Allegations later surfaced regarding the conduct of the mayor’s son during the meeting, prompting police intervention.
