‘Big promises made but none fulfilled’

Ravinder Yadav is the councillor of ward no. 2 which has a population of about 35,000.

Ravinder Yadav is the councillor of ward no. 2 which has a population of about 35,000.

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Though residents had high hopes that the new councillor would ensure development in the area, nothing has been done in the last 14 months.

The occupants of urban settlements in Sector 22 and five blocks of Palam Vihar had asked the area councillor to raise the issue of property tax and urge the government to withdraw the same until the respective areas are not handed over to the civic body.

While Sector 22 is maintained by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), Palam Vihar is looked after by a private developer.

The residents lodged a protest after the civic body sent a notice of property tax to the residents of both localities.

“Our councillor did not raise the issue of property tax in the MCG house meeting nor did he discuss it with the Haryana government. Now we are paying double tax. Do we elect representatives for all this?” said Sunil Yadav, a resident of Palam Vihar, adding that the councillor was undertaking
development works only in villages.

“Why should we pay property tax to the MCG? Huda maintains our sector and not the MCG. We have been raising the issue of property tax with the government for the last one year but our councillor has done nothing in this regard,” said Rahul Kumar, a resident of Sector 22.

Interview | Ravinder Yadav

‘These localities don’t come under my jurisdiction’

People are not satisfied with your work, especially those who live in the Huda sectors and Palam Vihar. Residents have complained that you did not deliver what you had promised. Is it true?

I have been trying to fulfil all promises that I made at the time of elections. I have raised the issue of handing over of these areas to the MCG for maintenance. Once that is done, I can take further action. At present, these localities don’t come under my jurisdiction.

A year has passed. What is your achievement in terms of development works in your areas?
I have undertaken several works in villages. Tubewells have been made available to people facing severe water shortage. Water pipelines have been laid and new estimates are being prepared to set up overhead water tanks.

The MCG collects property tax from Palam Vihar and HUDA sectors. But these areas are not under the jurisdiction of the civic body. Residents say you should demand exemption from the tax until these areas are handed over to the municipal corporation?

We have, of course, raised the issue in the MCG house meeting twice. We have informed the government that people have become victims of double taxation.