The state government is planning to set up Asansol as a model city, announced the mayor of Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC), Jitendra Tiwari.

A Citizen’s Charter has been prepared so that the civic amenities are provided in stipulated time, the mayor added. Special emphasis has been given to solid waste management.

Every household will be provided with blue and green dustbins by AMC so that the biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste can be separated. Asansol Municipal Corporation has taken the issue of trade licenses for the business community online and very soon building plan sanction, holding tax, water connection etc will also be included in the online application system, the AMC mayor said.

Every Monday, the commissioner of AMC, Khurseed Ali Qadri, will handle the queries of the Grievance Cell for citizens. On other days a superintendent engineer rank officer will handle the grievance cell.

The Grievance Cell will be headed by the AMC commissioner. Within 15 days the replies will be sent to the respective complainants on their mobile phones. Steps will be taken against people who fill up ponds in the AMC jurisdiction area. A team will be set up with the BLLRO and the locals OCs to look into the pond filling allegations, Mr Jitendra Tiwari added.

While sanctioning new building plans the civic body will encourage rain water harvesting on the rooftop of the building and plantations to increase greenery, he said.

Asansol Municipal Corporation, with 106 wards is the second largest municipal corporation in the state after Kolkata Municipal Corporation and will go to the polls next year. The name of Asansol did not figure in the Smart City list sent to the Centre by the TMC government. Now, however, with barely an year remaining before the civic polls the state government said it plans to upgrade Asansol as a model city with a host of civic amenities. Despite becoming a new district headquarters, no major infrastucture project has come up so far and all important roads of the city are getting choked with constructions on both sides. Meanwhile, the Asansol Municipal Corporation has so far funded 367 cancer patients under the Ramkrishna Cancer patient Relief Scheme. The AMC has also been providing financial assistance to kidney patients for the past two year.