Don’t interfere in MC affairs: Bansal to Admn

The Home Secretary’s letter,quoting observations of the UT Administrator,stated: “The MC is supposed to work in an environment of healthy debate and there is no case for rude behaviour on any one’s part. I feel this is not conducive for the harmonious functioning of the civic body and suggest there should be a debate on the subject so that decorum of the House is kept intact.”

Bansal said: “Agenda of this sort should not have been brought to the House. If there is a difference of opinion,there should be a proper way of sorting out things. Do we need advice from them? The corporation should be allowed to exercise its powers.” He added,“It seems that rather than solving the issue,the Administration is trying to spoil relations. Instead of maintaining good relations with the MC,the Administration officials are indulging in fights.”

Registering his protest against the agenda,councillor Pardeep Chhabra said the councillors had submitted a counter complaint against MC officials but no action was taken. “A discussion on this issue will open a can of worms,which may lead to further unpleasantness,” he added.

Many councillors were of the view that as neither Babla nor Sunkaria were present in the House today,the agenda should not have been brought up in the meeting.

Fund not spent,MC draws flak
Of the allotted Rs 1.25 crore by the MC for laying paver blocks,only Rs 36 lakh has been used so far. This was disclosed when an agenda to lay paver blocks in Sector 33 came up for discussion during the MC House meet on Friday. Pawan Kumar Bansal said when the budget allocation is Rs 1.25 crore then how could the officials justify completing work of only Rs 36 lakh. He added,“Many works sanctioned under MPLADS funds are also pending as most of these projects are with the civic body.” The House also approved the amendments in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (Regulation for the sale of Meat,Fish and Poultry) Byelaws,2002. It was suggested that fine should be imposed on those selling stale meat. The proposal to build a guesthouse at Water Works,Sector 26,was deferred after Bansal said it would lead to a lot of expenditure. The House also approved a proposal to hold sports meets in villages under the jurisdiction of the MC. It was also decided that a musical fountain will be installed in Sector 15 at a cost of Rs 62 lakh.