A lot over green belt: Arun Sood relents as residents show ‘no-parking’ sign
A day after the Congress launched an onslaught on mayor Arun Sood over his proposal for a car parking on the Sector-38 green belt, the latter decided against going ahead with the move after facing a stiff resistance from residents at a meeting on Thursday. The proposed parking lot is adjacent to Vivek High School and the Congress had alleged that the move was aimed at obliging the school management.
A day after the Congress launched an onslaught on mayor Arun Sood over his proposal for a car parking on the Sector-38 green belt, the latter decided against going ahead with the move after facing a stiff resistance from residents at a meeting on Thursday. The proposed parking lot is adjacent to Vivek High School and the Congress had alleged that the move was aimed at obliging the school management.
Sood met nearly 40 members of resident welfare organisation, Sector 38 (A and B) at the community centre and majority was against the proposal.
During the meeting, several residents exchanged heated words with the mayor, forcing him to take the U-turn.
One of the residents, Rajinder Bassi, said, “I am convinced that the representation carrying 183 signatures of residents in favour of the parking lot that mayor flaunted on Wednesday is fudged.”
Sood said since the residents gave in writing that they didn’t want the parking lot on the green belt, the civic body will go as per their wish. “The controversy over the issue was creation of the media,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Rajesh Sharma said, “Holding meeting with the residents was a face-saving exercise for mayor as most of the residents were against the proposal. The proposal was aimed at obliging the school as the mayor’s children study there.”
No entry for media
Mediapersons were not allowed to cover the meeting of residents with mayor Arun Sood. “It was a personal meeting and it is not important that media should be given access to everything,” said Sood.
Representation to MC commissioner
Earlier in the day, a delegation of Sector-38 residents, led by Major DP Singh (retd) gave a representation that had 500 signatures to MC commissioner B Purusharta against the decision of the mayor.