Six-time councilor and first Mayor of Abohar Municipal Corporation, Vimal Thatai, has slammed the state government and the district administration for non-cooperation that obstructed most of the development schemes. He said the state government ignored repeated requests to appoint a full-time Commissioner for Abohar MC due to political vendetta.

Thatai said that the officials holding additional charge of MC Commissioner—provided absolutely no assistance in the past about two years in the development works. Furthermore, hurdles were created even in projects that had already been sanctioned by the Local Bodies Department. Consequently, the condition of the city remains dire today.

He explained that dozens of files relating to development were not cleared by the district administration. Approval of a Rs 9 lakh budget allocated for repairing 600 defunct streetlights and procuring other essential supplies, was withheld. A proposal was sent to regularize the services of employees who had completed their probation periods after working for several years but it was not approved. Another proposal to continue the services of 92 sanitation workers—who have been working on govt approved rates for the past several years—was not approved.

He alleged that the administration did not wish to allow any kind of development work in the city and created obstacles. He added that individuals applying for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are being subjected to unjust harassment. Those who purchased plots in 'Abha Square' and constructed their buildings there are being denied both electricity connections and the registration of the land in their names. The MC's tippers, JCBs, tractor-trolleys, and other vehicles lie in disrepair, yet approval for their maintenance is also being withheld.