MC official turns down Municipal draft Bill

PATIALA, MARCH 16: Surinder Singla, chairman of the Municipal Council8217;s Affairs Committee, rejected the proposed Punjab Municipal Bill draft today and urged the select committee to deliberate on the document before rushing it for approval.

Capt. Amarinder Singh, president Punjab Congress, had earlier constituted a committee to examine the proposed draft and submit its report to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee PPCC. The committee organised its first meeting today to hear the views of the party8217;s municipal councilors.

Singla highlighted that if the proposed draft had been approved, it would lead to a spurt in poverty and corruption. Contradicting the state government8217;s claim on octroi abolition, he said that the government had failed to fulfill its poll promise. He highlighted that other than octroi, the municipal committees had no other option to mobilize financial resources.

The chairman pointed out that even the proposed draft listed octroi collection as part of the revenue for the Municipal Council.