‘Taanashahi’ decision by Purohit… he is trying to create Delhi-like situation: Chandigarh Mayor

The mayor further said Purohit is trying to create a situation similar to one seen in the national capital between Delhi government and lieutenant governor (LG). “He (Purohit) is trying to make it just like the Delhi LG and government situation. Anyway, we have also requested our Member of Parliament (MP) to take this situation up in the Lok Sabha,” Kumar added.

The resolution to provide 20,000 litres of free water was rejected as the administration said that the move will cause a revenue loss of Rs 19.70 crore to the civic body annually and above that the loan too has to be repaid which the corporation has taken from the French bank for its ambitious 24X7 water supply project.

“Keeping in view the long-term needs of the city for replacement of the water supply system, benefits of 24X7 water supply project, and financial health of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, the administrator, exercising his powers under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, struck down the resolution of the General House of Municipal Corporation and disallowed free water supply,” it was stated.

Order is anti-people: Congress

AAP’s INDIA bloc partner Congress has also critcised the “arbitrary order” and described it as “anti-people”

Terming the Purohit’s “arbitrary” order as “anti-people”, Rajiv Sharma, spokesperson of Chandigarh Congress, in an official party statement, said that such a decision has been taken “under pressure of the BJP”, adding that the saffron party is still not able to forget its “resounding defeat” in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“The administrator has not only worked against the interest and will of the people of Chandigarh, but has also tried to justify the Tughlaqi decision of the BJP to impose an unnecessary burden of Rs 500 crore on the city, which the people of Chandigarh will have to pay for many decades,” Sharma further said.

Emphasising that the newly elected MP Manish Tewari is committed to implementing each and every part of the manifesto despite hurdles being created by the BJP, the Congress spokesperson stated that the party will soon announce a program to “expose the BJP’s attempts at putting hurdles in restoring the past glory of the city, which took a severe beating in last ten years”.

Sharma urging the BJP and its defeated LS candidate Sanjay Tandon to cooperate with the incumbent Tewari and Chandigarh Congress in promoting the welfare and progress of the city, adding “any negative approach on their part will further alienate them from the enlightened people of the city”.

AAP’s key promises falling flat

The AAP’s all three key promises for Chandigarh – free water, free parking and power – seem to be falling flat with the UT administration going the other way around entirely.

While free parking and water was a promise in the municipal elections by the AAP, free 300 units of power to every family and 20,000 litres of water to every family were made in the Lok Sabha (LS) elections by the alliance candidate.

Just after a week of the announcement of general election results, the Chandigarh Administration has sent a proposal of hike power tariff by 19.7 per cent. The administrator also rejected the free water of 20,000 litres to every family resolution sent by the AAP and Congress elected representatives and also notified new hourly rates of parking.

Vinod Vashisht, Convener, CFORWO (City Forum of Residents Welfare Organizations) said the people of Chandigarh do not want another Delhi LG type of situation in Chandigarh.

“Chandigarh administrator, who is considered as head of the government for UT of Chandigarh, should always keep in mind that he is just a union government nominee and not people’s representative. Instead of resorting to blanket reversal of municipal House majority decisions, it is recommended that the administrator should afford an opportunity of being heard to all stakeholders,” Vashisht said.

“He ought to take periodic advice from his own advisory council and try to arrive at a win-win decisions while respecting people’s aspirations. He can also refer matter to union home ministry if at times he thinks so.”

The CFORWO convener said that the MC House should discuss administration’s decision and re-submit its recommendations after House review. “It is good that new parking rates are linked to smart parking facilities set up, which must include linkage to the central server. An additional charge of Rs 5 for cash transactions is uncalled for, instead, there can be a provision of prepaid cards for such users,” suggested Vashisht.