The Indian Express             24.09.2013

MC House meet approves estimates for 19 tubewells

The General House of the Municipal Corporation approved the estimates
for installation of 19 tubewells in different parts of the city. The
tubewells are being installed in order to tide over the problem of water
shortage that is expected during the next summers. A total of 9 million
gallons daily (mgd) of water would be diverted to Panchkula and
Chandimandir from next year. This share was till now being used by
Chandigarh.

Installation of 45 tubewells were earlier approved. In the first
phase estimates for 1 were approved. These would be installed in Sectors
39, 32, 37, Industrial Area, Phase I and Manimajra. Chandigarh receives
a total of 87 mgd water of which 67 is from Kajauli Water Works and the
remaining from tubewells. Of the 67 mgd, 9 mgd is to be diverted to
Haryana. The House also approved the change in machinery at the Sector
26 water works. Some of the machinery was installed in 1966 and had not
been changed since then.

Community Centres

It was decided that for the next three months, for the
community centres in villages and colonies the yearly membership fee
would be reduced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 500 and for senior citizens from Rs
500 to Rs 250. This was done after councillors complained that the
community centres were not getting enough members.

Commissioner VP Singh contended that the charges were nominal and were required to ensure maintenance of the community centres.

The decision of the Finance and Contract Committee to
allow free booking of community centres to senior citizen associations
twice a month for holding meetings was upheld by the House. Councillor
Arun Sood demanded that charges for booking community centres be
reduced. He said that full charges should be taken for the day of
function, while these should be reduced when tents were installed a day
before and after. However, the proposal was rejected.

Sidelights

The meeting witnessed tussles between the councillors over
several issues. Councillor Sat Prakash Aggarwal raised objection to
councillor Arun Sood criticism towards UT Administrator.

The agenda for renovation of dispensary in Sector 8 was
deferred after councillor Surinder Bahga raised objections to it saying
the officials followed their own whims in preparing estimates. It was
decided that estimates would be prepared according to the rate schedule
of 2012.

Arguments were witnessed outside the House. The Mayor’s
recent visit to Manimajra sparked heated arguments. Congress councillor
Darshan Garg also had arguments with the Mayor over allowing some of his
guests to have lunch that was organised by the MC on the day of
meeting.