Residents’ welfare bodies slam Goa tour, call it wastage of taxpayers’ money

After the participants were welcomed by general secretary J S Gogia, the discussion was initiated by him to deliberate upon the unresolved issues related to the RWAs and to the city largely connected with the residents.

At the outset, FOSWAC chairman Bittu drew the attention of the House towards the recent resolution passed by the Municipal Corporation wherein municipal councillors were allowed to undertake pleasure trips to the exotic places in the country under the pretext of study tours.

“How the garbage collection and processing is being managed there by spending the taxpayers’ money. Several such tours were already conducted by dozens of officials and municipal councillors visiting many countries and exotic places in India in the recent past without any tangible results. While the garbage collection and processing has gone from bad to worse creating mountains at Dadu Majra, the House unanimously condemned the wastage of taxpayers’ money,” said a statement issued by the FOSWAC.

Addressing the members and the SSP, Bittu said that the security and safety of city residents, specially senior citizens and children, is a matter of concern for all. He appealed to the SSP to take up the matter of installing security gates at entry points in each sector, with the architect department which in the name of Le Corbusier plan is denying any such permission, forgetting the changed scenario of Chandigarh.

He said that the population has increased manifold, so has the crime rate. The RWAs are ready to install such gates with their own collection without any burden to the exchequer.

The SSP agreed that such an effort will definitely reduce crime and will help identify criminals. He said that the menace of beggars and squatters has increased manifold, and the departments concerned are mute.

According to the RWAs, it was said that “it is the duty of MC to provide basic amenities of cleanliness, electricity and water to the citizens but system is not working”, said Col Gursewak Singh.

“The sweepers are missing. The 30- to 50-year-old sewage and water pipes need to be replaced,” he said.

K L Agarwal, president of RWA Sector 13, said that there is no inbuilt mechanism to even acknowledge the complaints by the MC office. The officials neither acknowledge the complaints nor even keep any record of them, what to talk of redressal, he pointed out.

K S Panchhi from RWA Sector 18 pointed out, “Though the vendors have been allotted the space, yet they do not go to their designated places. No representative from FOSWAC was taken in the town vending committee formed by the MC Chandigarh even though the RWAs are the most affected by the encroachments.”

Pankaj Gupta, president of RWA Sector 38, also pointed out how some of the RWAs are not receiving the payments for months together for the maintenance of parks and toilets. Responsibility should be fixed of the officials by the MC, he said.

Dr K S Chaudary, president of RWA 38 W, said that the increase in thefts in the city “has scared the residents and they feel threatened while moving out of house for vacations or for attending functions”.

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SSP Chahal listened to the members patiently and assured them that he will personally look into their grievances. He said that the police department will also take up the matter of installing security gates in sectors with the urban planning department.

‘Do not approve Goa tour’

“Recently, MC house approved a tour to Goa for all councillors and reportedly some councillors have already backed out. In a section of English print media, it has been reported that Commissioner and Chief Engineer of MC had visited the Goa and adjoining plants for management of solid waste only recently. To utter surprise, the report of tour has been submitted to administration but not considered at all,” the Second Innings Association said.

It was added, “The visit of Commissioner and Chief engineer and its report is very important. As such, till the report is considered and implemented, if needed, any tour of the same nature and to the same place cannot be undertaken and it will certainly invite comments from audit department. Even otherwise official sanction of repeated tours cannot be granted for same place, same purpose and same persons.

As such, the sanction to Goa tour of councillors may be put on hold and sanctioned only after due consideration of Solid Waste Management Committee under the Adviser. We hope that a decision to save wastage of public funds will be taken soon.”