The Indian Express                   04.04.2013

Councillors’ salaries may be hiked

The honorarium paid to the Mayor, senior deputy Mayor and deputy Mayor along with that paid to the the councillors might soon witness an increase.

The proposal seems to have found favour with the officials of the Administration and will be sent to the UT Administrator for approval.

The honorarium is expected to be on the lines of that being paid in Punjab. After the Punjab government had increased the honorarium of its councillors, the elected representatives in Chandigarh also sought a hike since it is the Punjab Municipal Act that is applicable here.

The proposal, after doing the rounds for the past few months, has moved a step closer to being approved. Deputy Mayor Satish Kainth says that the honorarium in Punjab was increased a few months back.

"For the councillors in the city the hike was awaited for some time. It would be a welcome decision when the hike is finally approved," said Kainth.

At present the Mayor is paid Rs 15,000 per month. The senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor along with the councillors receive Rs 6,000 each per month.

The senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor are given an additional allowance of Rs 1,000 per month.

The proposal was mooted that the salaries be increased as per the Punjab pattern. For attending meetings of the committees Rs 200 per meeting is paid.

An official of the Administration said that the proposal is being sent to the UT Administrator following which the final decision will be taken.