Chandigarh, January 30: The first meeting of the MC General House this year was marred by ruckus. Mayor Rajesh Kalia faced criticism from Congress councillors and expelled BJP councillor Satish Kainth over development agenda.
Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla and Kainth objected to the preparation of development agenda without making a provision for funds.
As many as four works, worth over Rs 5 crore, in Kalia’s ward were tabled for approval. When the works came up for a discussion, Kainth pointed out that no budget had been provided for the works. While MC officials remained mum, Municipal Commissioner MC KK Yadav clarified that the works would be started after making a provision for funds next month.
As many as 21 agenda items were tabled in my first MC House meeting, but many of them were rejected amidst chaos. The chaos started at the onset of the meeting. Kainth and Kaila had a heated argument over the condition of the dumping ground.
Councillors reject hefty fine for encroachment
A heated argument was witnessed between MC officials and city councillors when MC Commissioner KK Yadav refused to endorse the resolution mooted by Asha Jaswal, former Mayor, and passed by the House, rejecting the imposition of Rs 10,000 fine on the traders for encroachig upon market corridors. Yadav said the resolution was illegal as any proposal could only be brought after following a proper procedure. Yadav said the resolution should have been brought 48 hours before the meeting. When he opposed the resolution, he had an altercation with Mayor Kalia, who backed it. Many Councillors, including nominated councillor Charnajiv Singh, opposed the fine.
Moreover, the MC reduced removal charges for seized items. It was proposed to charge Rs 4,000 for every offence an habitual encroacher commits in additional to the penalty. But the councillors opposed heavy charges and agreed to levy Rs 1,000 in case of first violation and Rs 1,500 in the case of second offence besides a penalty of Rs 500.
No hike in property tax
The House rejected the proposal to enhance tax on residential properties by 10 per cent. The agenda for the hike was placed on the recommendation of the house tax committee. The MC has also rejected property tax on commercial and industrial structures at 13 recently included villages.
Protest outside MC office
Workers of the Chandigarh ki Aawaz Party protested outside the MC office. Their Lok Sabha candidate Avinash Singh Sharma said it had not even been a month since the inclusion of villages into the MC limits, the civic body in the name of development had proposed to levy taxes on poor villagers.
MC to buy 97 waste-lifting vehicles
The House also approved to buy 97 garbage-lifting vehicles, to be stationed at commercial areas and 22 UT villages, which are not covered by private waste collectors. The Municipal Corporation has approved the agenda of setting up an animal carcass incinerator plant at Sector 25 at Rs 5 crore.
Lack of anti-rabies vaccine raised
The non-availability of anti-rabies vaccine at the dispensaries run by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation was raised by the councillors. Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla said the MC should start buying the vaccine so that patients don’t face any harassment.
