A contentious and stormy debate erupted during the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) house meeting on Friday. Councillors launched sharp accusations against the civic body, alleging it was taking selective action in its ongoing drive to demolish encroachments on green belts and road berms.
Councillors Target "Influential" Encroachers
The core allegation from the elected representatives was clear: the MC was targeting ordinary residents while allowing influential and powerful individuals to occupy government land with impunity. They specifically named VVIPs, IAS, and IPS officers as those who have illegally extended their properties onto public green spaces. The councillors challenged the MC administration to demonstrate its fairness by acting against these powerful violators first.
The issue came to the forefront during discussions on a formal agenda item related to the drive to clear illegal structures from green belts, road berms, and the Right of Way (ROW). The MC has put forward a proposal to impose financial penalties on violators, with the amount to be added to their water bills. Failure to pay could potentially lead to the disconnection of the water supply, though this proposal still awaits the formal approval of the house.
"MC Lacks Courage," Says Former Deputy Mayor
Leading the charge was former deputy mayor Manjit Singh Sethi. He accused the MC of lacking the courage to confront the powerful. "This issue was raised almost 10 years ago. Notices were issued, but nothing happened," Sethi stated. He pointed out that VVIPs and senior bureaucrats have occupied green belts outside their homes, and the MC has not dared to touch those encroachments. Sethi insisted that for the drive to be credible and avoid charges of arbitrariness, enforcement must begin with the most influential violators.
Several other councillors echoed this sentiment. While they expressed support for the removal of illegal encroachments in principle, they unanimously demanded uniform and unbiased action. They argued that the current perception of selective enforcement was triggering public resentment and leading to unnecessary confrontations between residents and MC officials.
Commissioner Cites Court Orders, Warns of Penalties
In response, MC Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh clarified that the civic body's actions were not discretionary but were being undertaken following directions from the High Court. "We are following court orders to free government land illegally occupied by residents. Unfortunately, the issue has now taken a political turn," he explained.
The commissioner issued a stern warning to residents. He informed the house that notices had already been served to property owners, directing them to remove platforms, fencing, flower pots, and other structures from green belts and berms. If residents fail to comply voluntarily, penalties will be added to their water bills, and persistent non-payment could result in disconnection of the water supply. He urged the councillors to convey to the public that this action is a legal mandate, not a choice.
A Test of Equal Application of Law
Despite the commissioner's assurances, the heated exchange underscored a significant and growing mistrust between the elected councillors and the civic administration. The councillors remained firm, insisting that the true test of the demolition drive's integrity and success lies in its uniform application. For them, the law must be applied equally—from the most powerful officer to the most ordinary resident—to restore public faith and ensure justice.
The debate has put the spotlight squarely on the MC's next moves, as the city watches to see whether the drive will remain limited to easy targets or will finally confront the entrenched encroachments of the influential.
