‘City’s sanitation nothing but a fraud on people’: Mohali MC meeting turns stormy; councillors slam contractor

It was decided that if the old company, which had handled sanitation until 2023 and had ranked second in the latest tender, agrees to work at lower rates, the existing five-year contract – which has completed only one and a half years – will be cancelled.

Several councillors alleged that corporation officials are working at the behest of Aam Aadmi Party leaders. One councillor went so far as to say “With Rs 40 lakh, 10 parks could have been developed, but the entire amount was spent on just one park simply because a ruling party leader lives there.”

The Mayor himself admitted, “Yes, there is political interference, but it must stop. The corporation is for the people, not for any political party’s pressure.”

The meeting also saw allegations regarding encroachments on shamlat land in Kumbhra and Matour villages, inaction by staff due to lack of police force, and officials taking bribes from owners of illegal buildings. Mayor Sidhu asserted, “Wherever required, FIRs will be registered.”

Ward No. 1 councillor Jaspreet Kaur accused officials of wastage of resources, saying, “The corporation itself destroyed 400 metres of a newly built road, laid only three months ago, by digging it up for sewerage pipelines. This is a total waste of public money and resources.”

Concluding the meeting, Mayor Sidhu made it clear: “Development works must not stop. The corporation exists for public welfare, not for political pressure.”

“If there are no funds, then lock the corporation”

Sector 78 councillor Harjit Singh Bholu lashed out at officials: “For three months, a park has remained dug up, the SDO was even called on site, but no work has started yet. Meanwhile, Rs 28 lakh has been sanctioned for just one park outside an AAP leader’s residence. With that amount, several parks could have been developed.”
He alleged, “The corporation has Rs 15 crore in funds, yet officers keep saying there is no money. If the funds are not to be used, then better shut down the corporation.”

Councillor angry over garbage and encroachments in Matour

Matour councillor Gurpreet Kaur said, “The problems of garbage, stray cattle, and encroachments on shamlat land in the village are serious. I raise this issue in every House meeting, but the Mayor deliberately ignores it. The public is demanding answers from me, but no action is taken.”

‘Officials taking bribes from Illegal builders’

Kumbhra councillor Ravinder Singh Bindra alleged, “Corporation officials are taking lakhs of rupees in bribes to protect owners of illegal high-rise buildings in the villages.”
When Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh asked him to name the officials, Bindra responded, “I will tell you privately what your officers are doing behind your back.”

Water tariff hike deferred to next meeting

A proposal to increase water tariffs and start billing households currently receiving free water was tabled. However, a final decision was deferred to the next meeting. Almost all councillors supported increasing the tariff to curb water wastage.

Stricter street vending policy, separate draw for coconut sellers

It was decided that vendors will now pay a fixed monthly fee, but no permanent space will be allotted. On the first two violations, challans (fines) will be issued, and on the third violation, their entire goods will be seized. However, the councillors demanded that goods should be seized after the second violation itself.

It was also decided that coconut sellers would be allotted space in markets instead of main roads through a lottery system. No vendor will be allowed to sit in a no-vending zone.

Probe sought into pipeline’s collapse

Former Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh Sethi raised the issue of the sewerage pipeline laid a few years ago from Kumbra to PCL Chowk, saying that an inquiry should be conducted into the pipeline’s collapse, the contractor’s security deposit should be forfeited, and legal action should be taken against him.