Former Panchkula councillors seek early elections

Citing reason that development of the township has taken a nosedive since the Municipal Council was upgraded to a corporation, former councillors demanded early elections on Wednesday. While the government is yet to decide upon a date, the councillors demanded that a concrete solution be worked out for development of the district till elections were announced.

At present, development works like sanitation and parks are being carried out by private contractors after the Administration dissolved ward committees in April. The system has not helped the township much, as many roads continue to wait for recarperting. Internal roads of many Sectors like Sector 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 10 have become worse with the onset of the monsoon.

Though the Administration has worked out an arrangement till the MC elections are held, it has not gone down well with former councillors. They claim contractors were not accountable to the residents, which explained their laxity. “As elected members, we considered ourselves responsible towards residents and hence we took greater interest in such tasks. That they (contractors) are lacking is evident from the way development has come to a standstill in Panchkula. Roads and parks are in such a bad condition,” said Ravinder Rawal, former MC president.

He said he has given a representation to the CM to appoint more staff also, for the smooth functioning of development works. The streetlight system in the township, which, too, is being handled by private contractors, is in shambles. Most Sectors including Sector 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 16 plunge into darkness after the sunset, as lights are either not installed or are non-functional. Former elected members feel the government should either hold early elections or come up with a more accountable working system. 

“The residents do not have any representative to take up their demands with the Administration. Also, development is haphazard and the Administration, too, is overburdened to look into everyday affairs like sanitation and streetlights. It is essential that a final step be taken for elections as well as development,” said former councillor BB Singhal.