Post suspension, waste management plant agenda passed

A company was given charge to run a solid waste management plant in Chandigarh for 15 years as no proper waste processing is being done. The meeting was held to discuss the same.

During the proceedings of the General House, post the suspension of the AAP councillors, only Congress councillors were sitting along with BJP councillors.

When the agenda on the waster management plant was taken up, Chandigarh Mayor Anup Gupta, who is also a BJP councillor, announced that the agenda stands passed. To the mayor’s spontaneous decision, Congress councillors said that at least the agenda should be discussed since they too want a solution. However, the national anthem was played and the House proceedings concluded.

Before the AAP representatives were suspended, the party’s councillor Kuldeep raised questions as to why the plant should be set up at Dadumajra itself and not at any other place.

When contacted Mayor Gupta was asked on the matter, he said every councillor has been given a detailed presentation on the agenda along with deliberations. “Even lone Akali councillor has been given a presentation separately and was given a representation in the high-powered committee,” the mayor added.

“ Moreover, the AAP councillors wanted to make it a political issue because 2024 election are coming and they don’t want to pass this agenda. I just told everyone before as well that the people of the area are suffering. Shouldn’t they be freed from the problems that the dump is causing? To finish off the waste, it is important that we get a plant there. Cutting above party lines, everyone should think of the people there and their sufferings,” Gupta said.

Deputy Mayor Kanwardeep Rana later said they had asked the Opposition of the other alternative if they had. “We asked them if they have other choice of land and they spoke about Khuda Lahora which was not feasible because the chunk of land there is really small,” he said.

Congress questions motive behind choosing same site

Earlier before the agenda was taken, Congress’s Gurpreet Singh said that they were not in favour of the same site being allotted for a waste management plant. “There are people staying there. How can the same site be allotted as the dumping site,” he said.

The AAP described Tuesday’s events of the uproar, suspension of its councillors, and approval of the agenda part of a “pre-planned” conspiracy by the BJP. “Today, once again there was a uproar during the House meeting. All of this was a pre-planned conspiracy by the BJP so that the anti-people agenda of setting up a garbage processing plant at Dadumajra could be passed by removing the AAP councillors from the House,” Prem Garg, AAP convener said.

The Congress councillor also said that scientific advice has not been taken as the same site has been chosen over and over again and it may be so harmful for residents. He demanded that a committee be constituted asking “if the same site is chosen as plant for 15 years what impact it may cause to the environment and people.”

Gurpreet also questioned the BJP for its work in the last nine years as the party claimed it would clear the dump for the people. BJP MP Kirron Kher responded to the allegations saying if they had not done anything in the first five years, she would not have been elected again in 2019. “Questions here are being asked in a very unhealthy manner,” the MP added.

“We were already against the manner in which the company was brought up to set up the plant. Everyone knows who and how the plant was set up. There was no exit clause in the agreement and whenever we would take the firm to the court, it would take the plea of no exit clause in the agreement. And you are asking me what was done in nine years,” Kher further said.

Sewer cess and property tax

SAD councillor Hardeep Singh asked as to what was being done for the sewer cess issue because people are getting sewer charges of Rs 7,000. The House had resolved reduction of sewer cess from 30 per cent to 10 per cent, few months ago, and the same had been sent to the administration for the final approval. To this, the mayor replied, “UT had sought clarification and we have given the same on it”.

Hardeep also asked as to why people were being burdened with property tax that is being levied from 2004 when it is civic body’s fault of not maintaining record. “Why is the tax being levied from 2004. How is it possible that tax of 15-20 years is levied on people. It is the MC s fault to not maintain record,” the SAD councillor added. Mayor Gupta responded that a detailed agenda is being brought in the next House meeting.

Rs 48 lakh property tax on charitable organisation

Nominated councillor Anil Masih raised issue the issue of an orphanage, where 41 children are being raised and is purely on donations of kind, being asked to pay property tax worth Rs 48 lakh.
However, Commissioner Anindita Mitra stated that they met her and has informed them that no coercive action would be taken as a case has been prepared to exempt all charitable institutes and sent it to the government for approval.