MC defers discussion on policy for car bazaar

The municipal corporation has deferred a discussion on the framing of policy for the sale and purchase of second-hand cars in biggest car bazaar of the region in Sector 7 of the city. The members of the Finance and Contract Committee will now hold another meeting on the issue on October 27.

The municipal corporation has deferred a discussion on the framing of policy for the sale and purchase of second-hand cars in biggest car bazaar of the region in Sector 7 of the city. The members of the Finance and Contract Committee will now hold another meeting on the issue on October 27.

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On the directions of Punjab and Haryana high court, the MC has drafted a new policy, which was placed before committee on Friday

Committee member Saurabh Joshi said, “The policy, which has been placed in the committee, is not complete as no copies of Punjab and Haryana High court order has been annexed as to how the corporation has to take a decision on any policy to be framed with regard to the car bazaar.”

During the meeting on Friday, it was observed that any such policy had to be notified as a scheme under the local laws and the stakeholders could also demand the allotment of permanent space in the future.

THE NEW POLICY

In the new policy, the civic body has decided to auction all 60 sites in front of all showrooms in the market. Only Chandigarh residents will be able to participate in the auction. The high court’s decision to formulate a policy came after some dealers moved court as earlier only 43 dealers were functioning from all 60 sites in the market.

The committee also approved a rough cost estimate for shifting of water supply lines from the back courtyard of houses to the front side of house in rehabilitation colony, sector 38-A at an estimated cost of `29.97 lakh. It was also decided that regarding the agenda item for operation and maintenance of 38 temporary re-locatable toilet blocks located in various slum colonies, the committee decided that applications be invited through tenders and the agenda be put up at the water supply & sewerage disposal committee for further decision.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of mayor Harphool Chander Kalyan.

Others who attended the meeting included, MC commisioner, Vivek Pratap Singh, councillors, MP Kohli, Pardeep Chhabra, Saurabh Joshi, secretary, Rajiv Gupta, additional commissioner, Sunil Bhatia, MC chief engineer, Mukesh Anand and other senior officers of the civic body.

Stall violations: Verbal spat over inaction

The meeting of finance and contract committee of the Chandigarh municipal corporation on Friday witnessed a heated exchange between chief engineer Mukesh Anand and officer on special duty AK Dadwal over non-challaning of Diwali stalls violating norms.

The five-minute verbal spat got over with the intervention of MC commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh, who snubbed both officers. He was furious: “I do not lose my cool, but, if I do, there will be big damage.

It will be better to behave in the meeting.”

It all started when Singh enquired from the OSD about the number of challans against shopkeepers who had dug up the road to affix tent poles in front of their shops in markets, damaging public property. The OSD said since there was no written direction, and shopkeepers were objecting to challaning, “we did not challan anyone”. He added, “It was the road division that had to issue the orders.” At this, Anand lost his cool and lashed out at the OSD: “You do not do your work, and then blame others!”

Surprisingly, on Wednesday the MC had issued a press release — also published in this newspaper — stating that for the digging for tents “in markets of Sectors 18, 19 and 22, Sarita Malik, additional commissioner, ordered a fine of Rs 250 per pipe (tent pole)”. Malik claimed to have conducted surprise visits in various markets and found people installing stalls in the carpeted parking area, damaging public property. One of the senior officers, part of the raiding team, told HT that “nearly 20 shopkeepers were challaned”.

Pardeep Chhabra, member of the committee, said, “It is very unfortunate that only 500 shopkeepers were given permission to put up stalls while over 3,000 stalls came up illegally. No officer ever checked them.” He also questioned why the stalls were functioning a day after Diwali.