Political Storm Erupts Over Chandigarh's Ambitious Water Project
The Friday meeting of Chandigarh's Municipal Corporation turned into a battleground as opposition councillors from Congress and AAP clashed violently with ruling BJP members over the controversial 24x7 water supply project. The session witnessed sharp exchanges and heated arguments that brought the house proceedings to a standstill multiple times.
Opposition Demands Project Scrapping
Congress and AAP councillors united in their opposition to what they termed a "white elephant" project that would impose massive financial burden on city residents. The opposition parties demanded immediate scrapping of the ambitious scheme, arguing it would disrupt water supply for years and drain municipal resources.
Congress leader Gurpreet Singh launched a scathing attack, accusing the mayor of imposing an unnecessary Rs 2,000-crore burden on the city. "When the administration itself cites financial crunch, why waste money on such an extravagant project?" Singh questioned, revealing that barely 10% of work is complete in Manimajra's pilot project while Rs 250 crore has already been spent.
AAP councillor Yogesh Dhingra echoed these concerns, warning that residents would ultimately bear the loan burden. "People of Chandigarh do not want this project," he asserted, with Congress's Taruna Mehta and AAP's Damapreet Singh joining the chorus demanding immediate cancellation.
BJP Defends Infrastructure Modernization
BJP councillors strongly defended the project, with Anup Gupta arguing for its continuation with modified execution strategies. "The 24x7 water supply project has multiple components, including replacing old pipelines, which is crucial. We should not scrap it but rethink its execution," Gupta stated.
The BJP leader suggested exploring additional funding options from the Centre and other sources, specifically mentioning MoHUA as a potential funding partner. He emphasized that the project aimed at modernizing the city's water infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted supply in the long run.
Mayor's Intervention and Decision
Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla found herself at the center of the storm, rejecting the opposition's demand for voting on the issue despite Congress and AAP holding majority. The mayor announced that the project would not be scrapped but reviewed comprehensively.
Babla assured councillors that a detailed report covering financial and technical aspects would be presented in the next meeting. She also directed that the proposal be sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for its opinion, particularly on funding and feasibility aspects.
The flashpoint occurred when the engineering department began presenting the status report of the pilot project in Manimajra. Opposition councillors immediately interrupted, questioning the project's viability and cost implications, leading to chaotic scenes in the house.
Vigilance Probe Adds to Concerns
Adding to the controversy, the Manimajra pilot project is currently under vigilance probe. The department has seized records from the engineering wing and questioned officials, putting additional pressure on the civic body to proceed cautiously.
The opposition argued that instead of burdening the entire city with this massive project, the administration should prepare small, area-specific plans for pipeline replacement where necessary. They warned that the project would disturb existing water supply for prolonged periods, causing significant inconvenience to residents.
As the verbal spat continued, the mayor termed the debate as "sheer wastage of time," while opposition members alleged they were denied a fair chance to speak. The meeting concluded with the mayor's assurance of comprehensive review, leaving the future of Chandigarh's water supply project hanging in balance.
