CITCO wants the space for “about a year”.

The letter (Newsline has a copy) is addressed to Municipal Commissioner Roshan Sunkaria.

When asked, Tiwari said, “There is nothing peculiar about CITCO in this regard. For instance, James Plaza had been using the space behind its premises for storing construction material. Also, if anybody else constructs a house in the city, he temporarily uses government land for a period of time. Similarly, we have sought permission from MC to store the construction material for about a year.”

“The renovation work of Hotel Shivalikview, Sector 17, Chandigarh, is being taken up through Pyramid Builders, the contractual agency selected for the purpose. The vacant space along the boundary wall on the back side of Hotel Shivalikview is to be used as a storage space for construction material like sand, bajri, bricks, shuttering etc. by the contractor. It has been observed that the said area is under development for a parking (lot) by the Municipal Corporation. It is requested that the work of development of the parking (lot) may be undertaken keeping in view our requirement. You are requested to allow us to utilise this space for temporary stacking of the said materials for about one year,” the letter by D K Tiwari, CITCO MD, says.

On April 20, CITCO’s Executive Engineer had sent a letter to the Municipal Commissioner, terming the parking lot “not useful”.

CITCO is trying scuttle the parking lot’s construction, as a plot encroached by it comes in its way. The plot, on which a lawn exists, is rented out by CITCO for weddings and parties.

The MC has already allotted work of the parking lot at a cost of Rs 35 lakh.

‘MC is siding with encroachers’
The issue caused a commotion in the recent Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) and the House meeting, with the councillors blaming CITCO and MC officials for “scuttling development work”.

The councillors walked out of the F&CC meeting. But in the House meeting, a resolution was passed that the parking lot would come up as planned and CITCO’s encroachment would have to go.

“It is actually absurd; the way the Municipal Corporation is functioning. While the CITCO MD is clearly guarding his corporation’s interests, the Municipal Commissioner is towing his line and shielding the encroachers, who have blatantly violated all rules and regulations,” councillor Chandermukhi Sharma said.

“It is surprising that none of the UT top brass is reacting to this blatant high-handedness of CITCO. If a common man extends his gate by even one foot, the MC team reaches his doorstep in full demolition gear. But in this case, the MC is not only siding with encroachers but towing their line,” Sharma added.

ormer mayor Pradeep Chhabra said, “These bureaucrats have gone off the leash and are acting according to their whims, putting all rules and regulations aside. It is surprising the way these officers are behaving to save an encroachment and hampering development work.”

Mayor to discuss issue in meeting with UT Adviser
Mayor Anu Chatrath will take up the issue in the coordination meeting with the Administration on Tuesday. UT Adviser Pradip Mehra will chair the meeting.

“When it comes to issues pertaining to the Municipal Corporation, the decision of the House is supreme. The (parking) issue will be discussed in the coordination committee meeting tomorrow. In case no solution emerges, we will take up the issue with the Administrator,” Chatrath said.

Pradip Mehra said the issue would be decided in the meeting with the mayor.