Crucial general house meeting of MC on Feb 19
The crucial general house meeting of the Patiala municipal corporation before the formal notification of parliamentary elections is scheduled to be held on February 19.
The crucial general house meeting of the Patiala municipal corporation before the formal notification of parliamentary elections is scheduled to be held on February 19.
The civic body authorities have again failed to include discussion on developmental issues in the agenda for the meeting.
Earlier, the meeting was to be held on Monday but due to deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's visit to Patiala on Sunday, it has been put off to Wednesday.
The agenda for the general house meeting has failed to bring good news for the city residents. As following elections notification,
there is likelihood of halting of development projects.
But the agenda may bring smiles on the face of employees as the MC has decided to clear the probation period of 182 safai sewaks and regularize their services.
The MC has also decided to fill vacant posts of 15 leading firemen, 15 driver-cum-operator and 90 firemen in the Patiala fire brigade department and recruitments of 10 junior engineers through outsourcing.
The new outdoor advertisement policy will be tabled in the house for final approval from the members before adopting advertisement bylaws.
The last general house meeting held on September 25, 2013, remained a low key affair as councillors opted to carry discussions on other aspects, ignoring healthy discussions on developmental issues and fund-raising resources.
Sources in the civic bodies revealed that the delay in starting earlier projects, including construction of roads passed in past meetings has remained one of the reasons for the authorities not to include fresh projects during the meetings.
"The civic body has given its nod to start the construction of roads at a cost of `14 crore in different wards. But the reluctance of contractors to undertake MC development works and then shortage of road construction material has resulted in delay in the start of works. At many places, the construction of roads is yet to begin", sources said.
When contacted ,mayor Amarinder Bajaj said development issues had always remained priority but this time they have decided to increase manpower in different departments.
"Besides recruitment of junior engineers and fire brigade department staff, the gist of meeting will remain approval to the advertisement policy as it would help to generate revenue.
Earlier, with no advertisement policy, the civic body has been facing revenue loss for the past one year", Bajaj said.
Meanwhile, member parliament from Patiala Preneet Kaur on Sunday held meeting with eight Congress councillors at her residence to discuss the agenda of the meeting and other development issues.
Sanjeev Sharma Bittu, leader of opposition in the house, said they have decided to hold protest as the civic body had failed to include even a single development project in the agenda.
"Though we agree that due to election notification in coming days, no development project has been put in the agenda for its approval but the civic body should carry a detailed discussion on reasons behind poor garbage collection and sewerage blockade issues", Bittu said.
