What ails Chandigarh?

Often,decisions taken by the city’s public servants reflect complete lack of communication. And then there is the famous ‘difference of opinion’,which has blocked many proposals and decisions.

Sometimes proposals conceptualised by former officials are dumped by their successors,who don’t find them ‘suitable’ for the city.

Bureaucrats,it seems,take Chandigarh as an experiment posting,taking decisions which are more whimsical than planned,more arbitrary than reasoned.

Newsline lists some issues,which point towards the state of affairs in the city.

Advertisements
Advertisements are allowed on AC cabs,not on non-AC cabs. CTU buses have ads,but LPG autos and tuk-tuks are barred from displaying them. This ambiguous policy of the Administration delayed the launch of non-AC cabs,as the dispute over fare could not be settled.

Industrial policy
Industries Secretary Ram Niwas was in favour of formulating an industrial policy,but Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar objected to it. Eventually,officials developed cold feet on the issue and the policy draft was brushed under the carpet.

Lighting up the city
The city experiences long power cuts and a large number of streetlights along the main roads are non-functional,but roundabouts glow with green and purple fancy lights. Also,the Administration had fixed lights to illuminate the trees on Jan Marg. These lights were removed after environmentalists protested.

Sukhna Lake
The lake is drying and a large number of fish were recently found dead,but the Administration’s plans for the lake include glass-bottomed boats,horse-driven buggies,laser shows,and a fountain. Some of these ideas have been shot down,but others await a decision. The proposal to desilt the lake,meanwhile,is pending with the Centre for many years without any signs of getting approved.

Access to Corbusier’s buildings
Le Corbusier designed the Open Hand for city residents to hold discussions. But due to security concerns,residents cannot visit the monument without prior permission. The same is the case with other buildings,including the Secretariat and the Assembly Building,of the legendary architect. The Administration had proposed to set up a tourist facilitation centre at the Capitol Complex,but it hasn’t come up yet.

New Lake in Sector 42
This lake has the unique distinction of having no natural source of water. It is frequently filled up with fresh water from tube wells. The lake,essentially created for conducting religious rituals,was inaugurated last year and Rs 3 crore has been spent on it. After leakage was noticed in the bed of the lake,repairs had to be undertaken. But residents of southern sectors don’t seem to have gained much from this ‘tourist attraction’.

Encroachments
Officials seem to have a habit of turning a blind eye to encroachments. Sample this: more than 300 religious structures,numerous markets and slums have come up on encroached land. In fact,more than 10 slums were built on land acquired by the Administration for development projects. Earlier,those who had come to the city till 1996 were to be rehabilitated. Now,rehabilitation is open to those who came till 2006. Policies are also being framed for rehabilitation of the marble market and scrap dealers,among others.

Waterless greens
A few months ago,the Administration handed over greenbelts in the southern sectors to the Municipal Corporation. But the tube well in one of the sectors was not handed over. With the tube well under the Administration,the civic body found it difficult to water the plants.

The only concrete road
The only concrete road in the city — it divides Sector 32and 31 — was inaugurated during the tenure of previous Home Secretary Krishan Mohan. But it has proved to be a failure,as a drive on the road is extremely wobbly.

Ideas from abroad
Over the years,officials of the Administration and the Municipal Corporation have taken inspiration from foreign lands. Around two years ago,a group of officials from the Engineering department,who were on the verge of retirement,were sent to Brussels to study underpasses there. A few months after they returned,the responsibility was handed over to the Chandigarh Housing Board. The underpasses,meanwhile,are yet to see the light of the day. Other inspired ideas include road sweeping machines and garbage processing plant — both are under the scanner.

Let’s divide our labours
A look at the division of work between the Administration and Municipal Corporation,a major reason for confusion:
* Main roads are built by the Administration and inner sector roads by the MC.
* Streetlights powered by overhead electricity cables are managed by the Administration,and those lit by underground cables are with MC.
* If a stray dog is creating trouble,the MC has to be approached,and if it is monkey menace,the complaint must reach the Administration.
* Complaints about mosquitoes are handled by the Administration,and flies fall in the domain of the MC.