The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation's plan to extend its boundaries by incorporating additional villages has been officially scrapped, dealing a blow to the city's expansion ambitions. The local bodies department revoked the resolution passed by the MC House in December, citing ongoing census-related restrictions.
The principal secretary of the local bodies department communicated to the MC commissioner that the resolution did not comply with existing rules and instructions. Officials clarified that boundary changes are prohibited during the census period, leading to the overturn of the decision.
An anonymous MC official attributed the failure to delays in data preparation and obtaining necessary approvals. The official noted that while the central government had earlier sought inputs on potential expansion, procedural delays prevented timely finalization. Efforts may resume once the census concludes, the official added.
MC secretary Neeraj Jain confirmed the details.
Political Blame Game Erupts
The cancellation has ignited a political controversy. Former BJP councillor Narinder Singh Malhi claimed his party opposed the proposal from the start and alleged ulterior motives by the ruling party. SAD district president Bhupinder Singh Bhinda highlighted the civic body's strained resources, noting that the MC already struggles with water supply, sewerage, roads, and streetlights, and cannot manage additional areas.
Senior deputy mayor Rakesh Prashar defended the decision, calling it a procedural issue tied to the census. He accused opposition parties of creating unnecessary controversy and affirmed that the government will revisit the matter after the census exercise concludes.
History of Failed Attempts
Efforts to expand Ludhiana's city limits have repeatedly failed. In 2011, then-MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik initiated talks, leading to the inclusion of several villages from the Gill constituency. On December 20, 2016, the MC House approved adding 53 villages, but BJP leaders objected, citing a lack of rural base. During the Congress regime, expansion was shelved due to the civic body's poor financial condition.
