In a significant development for Chandigarh's civic administration, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla has announced that approximately 95 percent of the accumulated waste at the Dadumajra dumping ground has been successfully removed during her one-year tenure. This announcement came during a press conference held on Friday, where the mayor outlined multiple achievements in sanitation and urban governance.
Major Sanitation Milestones Achieved
Addressing the media, Mayor Babla highlighted that sanitation presented one of the most critical challenges when she assumed office. The Municipal Corporation was grappling with legacy waste issues, delayed contracts, and substantial unpaid dues that were adversely affecting daily civic services. The large-scale clearance operation at Dadumajra represents a substantial step forward in enhancing public health and environmental conditions throughout the city.
Door-to-Door Garbage Collection Agreement Finalized
In another crucial announcement, the mayor revealed that the long-pending memorandum of understanding for door-to-door garbage collection, which had been stalled for six years, has now been formally finalized. This agreement is expected to significantly strengthen solid waste management across Chandigarh by ensuring uniform service delivery, improved monitoring mechanisms, and greater accountability. The implementation of this MoU is anticipated to enhance waste segregation practices and reduce the overall pressure on existing dumping grounds.
Sanitation Worker Dues Cleared
Mayor Babla also confirmed that payments totaling Rs 3 crore for sanitation workers' materials, which had been pending for thirty-two months, have been completely cleared. She emphasized that addressing these long-standing dues was essential to guarantee uninterrupted sanitation services and safer working conditions for municipal employees. Timely payments and consistent availability of essential materials, she added, remain fundamental to sustaining cleanliness initiatives throughout the urban area.
Institutional Reforms and Governance Improvements
Beyond sanitation reforms, the mayor detailed several institutional measures implemented to improve governance and transparency within the Municipal Corporation. The Finance and Contract Committee was constituted unanimously, while three statutory committees focusing on roads, water supply and sewerage, and house tax were reconstituted to enhance operational efficiency.
Additionally, nine specialized sub-committees were established to address specific areas including sanitation, enforcement, environmental concerns, women empowerment, electricity services, fire and emergency response, and village and slum development initiatives.
Revenue Generation and Financial Management
On the financial front, Mayor Babla reported that the Municipal Corporation successfully organized the 53rd Rose Festival without any expenditure while simultaneously generating income. New advertisement and parking policies have been implemented to strengthen civic finances, and relief measures have been extended to local traders by allowing pending license fees to be paid through convenient instalment plans.
The mayor acknowledged that financial assistance from the union government has played a vital role in stabilizing essential services and supporting critical infrastructure projects. These include the replacement of aging water supply and sewerage pipelines, comprehensive road repair works, and various other urban improvement initiatives.
Public Awareness and Community Engagement
To foster greater public participation in civic governance, the Municipal Corporation has conducted extensive awareness campaigns focusing on cleanliness standards, public health priorities, and creating a drug-free environment throughout Chandigarh. These initiatives aim to cultivate a sense of shared responsibility among residents for maintaining urban hygiene and community well-being.
Political Opposition and Criticism
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has launched strong criticism against the BJP-led Municipal Corporation, alleging that Mayor Babla's one-year tenure has been marked by governance failures, questionable projects, and policies that have burdened local residents. AAP Chandigarh state president Vijaypal Singh specifically cited repeated waterlogging incidents that submerged vehicles for the second consecutive year as evidence of administrative shortcomings.
Singh rejected the BJP's claims of financial revival, stating that despite earlier descriptions of the corporation's finances as "pathetic," municipal debt has reportedly risen to Rs 2,500 crore while salary and pension payments remain pending. The AAP leader further questioned revenue claims related to the Rose Festival, advertisement policies, and license fee instalments, alleging that projected earnings have failed to materialize as promised.
The opposition party also challenged the characterization of Rs 125 crore received from the central government, describing it as the corporation's rightful share from electricity revenues rather than a special grant. AAP has pledged to continue raising civic issues and has promised more affordable services and accountable governance, asserting that voters will deliver their verdict in upcoming municipal elections.
