The Times of India 28.09.2009
House tax, water rate not on MC agenda
CHANDIGARH: Mayor Kamlesh and municipal councillors are sticking to their guns in opposition to the twin issues of increasing water tariff and introducing house tax in the city.
The two items have again not found mention on the agenda for the upcoming general house meeting of the municipal corporation to be held on Tuesday. This is despite UT home secretary Ram Niwas and Chandigarh municipal commissioner Roshan Sunkaria seeking that the issues at least be discussed in the MC house.
Sunkaria had sent an agenda including the two issues to the mayor for her approval. However, she did not accept that. While informing The Times of India about this, a senior MC official stated that this was an outright rejection to table the two issues in the house. “We will have to approach the Chandigarh administration and seek its intervention in getting these implemented at the earliest. The city cannot afford to lose Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission funds, which are linked to the MC taking these steps,” insisted the official.
At the recent meeting of the MC’s finance and contract committee, the mayor and other councillors had stated that they could not take a decision regarding battery-operated vehicles ferrying shoppers in Sector-17 plaza as the civic body did not have the power to deal with Motor Vehicles Act related issues. They had also refused to act on phasing out horse carts in the city for the same reason. UT administration had forwarded those two proposals.
Talking about the issues missing from the agenda, Kamlesh said, “We don’t wish to unnecessarily burden city’s residents by imposing house tax or increasing water tariff. Look at the neglected areas like slums. The people there don?t get proper supply of water at all. Let the authorities provide water and then we would think of raising the water tariff.”
Senior nominated councilllor AP Sanwaria said the mayor’s decision regarding the agenda was unfortunate. He ridiculed the mayor’s stand that MC did not need JNNURM funds as it had enough cash deposits in the bank.
“How can you compare incoming central funds with cash resources we have to get more funds for the city’s development and can’t afford to ignore JNNURM.”
Sanwaria insisted he would make efforts to get the issue discussed on Tuesday. “Let it create differences among councillors. We would put all possible pressure on the house to get the issue discussed,” said Sanwaria.
The two items have again not found mention on the agenda for the upcoming general house meeting of the municipal corporation to be held on Tuesday. This is despite UT home secretary Ram Niwas and Chandigarh municipal commissioner Roshan Sunkaria seeking that the issues at least be discussed in the MC house.
Sunkaria had sent an agenda including the two issues to the mayor for her approval. However, she did not accept that. While informing The Times of India about this, a senior MC official stated that this was an outright rejection to table the two issues in the house. “We will have to approach the Chandigarh administration and seek its intervention in getting these implemented at the earliest. The city cannot afford to lose Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission funds, which are linked to the MC taking these steps,” insisted the official.
At the recent meeting of the MC’s finance and contract committee, the mayor and other councillors had stated that they could not take a decision regarding battery-operated vehicles ferrying shoppers in Sector-17 plaza as the civic body did not have the power to deal with Motor Vehicles Act related issues. They had also refused to act on phasing out horse carts in the city for the same reason. UT administration had forwarded those two proposals.
Talking about the issues missing from the agenda, Kamlesh said, “We don’t wish to unnecessarily burden city’s residents by imposing house tax or increasing water tariff. Look at the neglected areas like slums. The people there don?t get proper supply of water at all. Let the authorities provide water and then we would think of raising the water tariff.”
Senior nominated councilllor AP Sanwaria said the mayor’s decision regarding the agenda was unfortunate. He ridiculed the mayor’s stand that MC did not need JNNURM funds as it had enough cash deposits in the bank.
“How can you compare incoming central funds with cash resources we have to get more funds for the city’s development and can’t afford to ignore JNNURM.”
Sanwaria insisted he would make efforts to get the issue discussed on Tuesday. “Let it create differences among councillors. We would put all possible pressure on the house to get the issue discussed,” said Sanwaria.
