FOSWAC (Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh) chairman Baljinder Singh Bittu Sunday criticised the Municipal Corporation for turning Chandigarh’s parking system into a “corruption den” and converting public community centres into overpriced marriage halls, depriving local residents of access to basic facilities like reading rooms, gyms, and recreational spaces. He urged Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla to intervene personally and restore public access to these centres for small meetings without the burden of formal bookings. These concerns came to the fore during the monthly executive meeting of FOSWAC held at the People’s Convention Centre in Sector 36. Mayor Babla was present as the chief guest, along with Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty as the guest of honour. Also in attendance was Arun Kumar Verma, Director of CPDL, accompanied by his team. The meeting opened with J S Gogia welcoming the dignitaries, after which RWA representatives raised a range of civic grievances, from encroachments and non-functional street lights to absentee councillors and the harassment of CHB residents. During the meeting, Bittu said that the parking problem in Chandigarh is a matter of concern for all residents of Chandigarh. The MC has mismanaged the whole process; it has become a corruption den. Speaking about the community centres, he said crores of public money was spent on these community centres but clandestinely these community centres are converted into marriage palaces where booking charges are exorbitantly high. The residents of the sector are totally barred from entering in these community centres. He appealed to the mayor to personally look into the matter and allow the residents to have small meetings without any booking. Earlier, the residents frequently used reading room, gymnasium, carrom board, badminton and other facilities at these community centres but all such activities are barred for the residents. He said that the growth of rehri, phari and illegal vendors has increased manifold. They encroach upon on choicest positions at the market without any check. Also, during the meeting, Pankaj Gupta, president of RWA Sector 38W, said that the Chandigarh Housing Board is harassing the residents. The need-based changes earlier allowed by the CHB has been undone. He said that the FOSWAC would start a mass agitation and protest against the dictatorial policies of the CHB. Col Gursewak Singh from RWA Sector 13 said that a new trend of denigrating the RWA has started and some vested interests create a ruckus in their functioning and this needs to be checked. Appropriate action should be taken against those elements. Amardeep Singh, president of RWA Sector 39, said that the councilor of their ward has been living abroad for long leaving the ward orphan. He asked for some action for non- resident councillors who abandon their wards after getting elected. He appealed to the Mayor to adopt their ward and help residents. Verma of CPDL assured attendees of improvements in electricity supply and infrastructure upgrades, while urging residents to adopt solar energy solutions. The Mayor assured all the RWAs that their pending dues for the park maintenance will be cleared in the coming month. She said that she is heading a cash-starved corporation and said that the corporation will get enough funds to clear all pending works.
