Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Meeting Overshadowed by Water Contamination Crisis
The General House meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Wednesday descended into chaos, with the pressing issue of contaminated drinking water supply taking center stage. The session was marked by intense protests, heated exchanges, and political confrontations, significantly delaying the agenda for hours as councillors voiced longstanding grievances from their constituencies.
Heated Exchanges and Protests Over Water Quality
Councillors from various wards, including Mauli Jagran, Dadu Majra, Dhanas, and Sector 52, raised serious allegations regarding dirty water supply that has plagued residents for years without a permanent solution. Congress councillors entered the House carrying banners and chanting slogans, accusing authorities of neglecting repeated complaints. Manoj Sonkar, the councillor from Mauli Jagran, emphasized the dire situation, stating that residents are struggling for every drop of water, with even the available supply being contaminated. He questioned the efficacy of House meetings if public grievances remain unaddressed.
Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar responded by noting that previous water samples tested by the corporation had shown normal results, but he acknowledged the persistence of complaints. In a move to address the concerns, he announced that water samples would now be examined by a third-party agency, with subsequent actions based on the findings. The debate intensified when councillors highlighted issues with frequently malfunctioning tubewell motors and delayed repairs. Senior Deputy Mayor Jasmanpreet Singh pointed out that residents often resort to calling councillors because officials are unresponsive, prompting the commissioner to direct the Chief Engineer to suspend negligent officials, though Jasmanpreet later clarified that the lapse might not be entirely theirs.
Dramatic Demonstrations and Accountability Demands
The proceedings took a dramatic turn when Congress councillor Sachin Galav displayed two glasses of water—one clear and another resembling green tea—to illustrate alleged contamination in his area, triggering sharp exchanges and briefly disrupting the meeting. Mayor Saurabh Joshi described reports of polluted water, including an incident where a child allegedly died and several residents fell ill after consuming contaminated supply, as "extremely shameful." He demanded a detailed report within 72 hours to fix accountability and warned of strict action against any negligent officials.
Corruption Allegations and Political Tensions
Beyond the water crisis, the House also addressed corruption allegations. BJP councillor Kanwarjeet Singh Rana claimed that some officials were withholding contractor payments without bribes and alleged that certain officers owned farmhouses in New Chandigarh. He called for all officials and employees to submit asset and liability declarations. The mayor accepted this proposal, directing that such details be collected and presented before the House, as well as forwarded to the finance department. Councillors also agreed to disclose their own assets, though some exhibited hesitation.
Political tensions flared further when Congress councillors waved posters accusing AAP's Chandigarh in-charge Jarnail Singh of breaking an alliance that allegedly allowed the BJP to secure the mayor's post. AAP councillors objected, leading to verbal clashes before Mayor Joshi intervened, urging members to avoid personal remarks against those not present.
Key Projects Approved Amidst Disruptions
Despite the disruptions, the House managed to approve several significant development projects. These include:
- Rs 41 crore for the construction of parking roads in sectors 35D, 44D, 34A, and 34B.
- Reconstruction of a community centre in Sector 25D.
- Rs 18.43 crore for a shelter accommodating 1,980 dogs near the MRF centre in Sector 25 West, targeted for completion by September.
Additional projects cleared encompass repairs of damaged park pathways in Sector 40C (Rs 86 lakh) and Sector 40D (Rs 89 lakh), upgrading the Sector 40D market (Rs 76 lakh), and purchasing computers and printers for MC branches worth Rs 1.40 crore. However, a proposal to convert 213 free parking sites into paid parking zones was rejected after opposition from multiple parties. Commissioner Amit Kumar had suggested a one-month pilot project, but Leader of Opposition Hardeep Singh opposed it, leading the mayor to reject the agenda and clarify that the city would continue with its existing 76 paid parking sites.
Modernization and Committee Appointments
The House also approved steps to modernize proceedings by installing screens and headphones at councillors' seats as part of a move toward a paperless system. The commissioner has been tasked with preparing estimates, and councillors will receive training to operate the digital setup. In other business, an official communication confirmed that during the 358th General House meeting held on February 11, five councillors were declared elected unopposed as members of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) for 2026 under Regulation 58(5) of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation regulations. The members are Harjeet Singh, Jasbir Singh (Ward 24), Kanwarjeet Singh, Rajinder Kumar Sharma, and Yogesh Dhingra. This committee is empowered to approve works up to Rs 50 lakh.
Additional Concerns and Assurances
Earlier in the session, AAP councillors raised concerns about deaths of cattle in city gaushalas and demanded that an inquiry committee report be made public. Mayor Joshi assured that the report would first be presented before the House and mentioned that corrective steps had already begun following his inspection of the facilities. The meeting, while tumultuous, underscored the deepening political friction within the civic body, even as the mayor appealed for decorum and cooperation to address the pressing issues facing Chandigarh's residents.
