Mission smart city: High Court quashes resident’s plea

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“None of the other cities in Haryana can ever compete with Panchkula on merit, as it is the only planned city in the state. It is unfortunate on the part of the Haryana government to reject such a city which is working as a Mini-Capital of Haryana, and houses head offices of all the government departments,” said R P Malhotra.

Panchkula’s claim for the smart city project was rejected by the government after its performa was received three days after the last date for submission of the form. However, residents, including local MLA Gian Chand Gupta, have been highlighting that Panchkula’s case be taken up on merit.

Malhotra added, “Being a smart city would have put an end to all our woes, be it Internet connectivity issues, bad roads and also more online facilities to make life easier. We will not have to wait in queues to pay bills.”

Such was the pressure from residents that a second application was recently sent by the Municipal Commissioner, Jagdeep Dhanda, with revised scores. However, that claim was also rejected by the state government.

With Chandigarh and Mohali marching ahead in the race, the residents of Panchkula are feeling alienated, as they will not be able to avail the facilities which will be provided in the neighbouring cities.

“Panchkula,Chandigarh and Mohali are part of the Chandigarh Capitol Project. They are so interconnected in all ways that it is difficult to look at one while ignoring the other. To ignore any part of the Tricity is quite unjustified and would be treated as political vendetta and would be harmful,” said Swadesh Nayyar, another resident.

“We pay more taxes in comparison to other districts of Haryana, and yet we will not get services,” said another resident, Mukul Gupta.

The residents have met Gian Chand Gupta and also submitted a memorandum to MP Ratanlal Kataria and Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki. They are now mulling to move the Apex Court.

“This is injustice. We should at least be allowed to compete, and no political vendetta should work. If our Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar chose to contest from Karnal, and not from Panchkula, then does it mean that Karnal should be given weightage over Panchkula? We are considering the option to move the Apex Court to secure our right,” added Malhotra.