The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) House has deferred the agenda for inviting a tender to select a contractor for the operation and management of 89 paid parking lots under the civic body. The decision came after the MC proposed a 30-40 per cent increase in parking rates, which the House opposed.
Mayor opposes rate hike, seeks smart parking without burden
Mayor Saurabh Joshi stated that the House was not in favour of increasing the rates, but wanted smart parking without putting any burden on the residents. The deferral indicates a need to balance modernisation with affordability.
House rejects 100-fold penalty for green belt encroachment
The House also rejected a proposal for a 100-fold increase in penalty for encroaching on green belts close to residential houses. This move underscores the civic body's cautious approach to penal measures.
Rs 21.44 crore canal water supply plan approved
In a positive development, the House approved a Rs 21.44-crore plan for the augmentation of canal water supply to Wards 7, 8 and 9 from the Sector 32 waterworks. Over one lakh residents of Mauli Jagran, Raipur Kalan, Makhanmajra, Raipur Khurd, Industrial Area, Phase 1, Daria, Vikas Nagar, Ambedkar Colony, Charan Singh Colony and Small Flats will benefit from canal water.
Mayor pushes for devolution of municipal functions
Meanwhile, the MC also approved a resolution put forth by the Mayor. He has urged the UT Administrator and the Centre to initiate appropriate legislative, statutory and administrative measures for the devolution of all municipal functions envisaged under the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution of India to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, in accordance with the legislative intent of the Capital of Punjab (Development & Regulation) Act, 1952. The Twelfth Schedule provides for powers relating to urban planning, regulation of land use, construction of buildings, building regulations and other municipal functions.
Inquiry into CCTV procurement ordered
The Commissioner informed the House that an inquiry into the installation of CCTV cameras from the ward development fund had been marked to the official concerned. Harpreet Kaur Babla, former Mayor, had raised the matter of CCTV cameras having been procured at exorbitant prices.
