Councillors claim administration sidelining them; assert presence

Expressing their strong displeasure at, what they claimed was, the ‘complete sidelining’ and ‘collapse of authority’ of elected councillors in the running of the city by the UT administration, Chandigarh municipal corporation House members condemned the recent appointment of three sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) over MC officers.

Expressing their strong displeasure at, what they claimed was, the ‘complete sidelining’ and ‘collapse of authority’ of elected councillors in the running of the city by the UT administration, Chandigarh municipal corporation House members condemned the recent appointment of three sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) over MC officers.

BJP councillors gave flowers to mayor for getting approval of other residents also, whose drawing plans are awaited since past several years. They said, if mayor can have construction without approval at village Attawa, they why cannot others have, during the MC house meeting at MC office sector 17, on Thursday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT photo)

Over the past few months, friction has been building up between councillors and the officers of the UT administration over issues ranging from increasing parking rates to the smart city project and water supply tariff. The House later passed a resolution that no Expression of Interest (EoI) of any project was to be passed without the consent of the House or the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the MC.

BJP councillor Arun Sood, who even read out the MC Act, in the House, claimed, “Councillors, who represent the city’s residents, are sidelined on all major issues even as the House is supreme. After the house, we have the F&CC and then the commissioner, who at present is acting at the behest of the UT administration.”

He added, “If we are neglected like this any longer, we plan to approach the administrator to ask him to shut down the MC House.”

Former mayor Pardeep Chhabra said, “The UT’s officers are not even taking area councillors into confidence before taking decisions on any project. For instance, I was not even informed that joy-rides are being allowed in Sector 17.”

SAD councillor Harjinder Kaur said, “The committees that the administration forms have no value. Maybe all councillors should resign from all such panels,” she said.

Five recent flash points between MC and UT

Smart City

Councillors as well as the mayor were bypassed from all discussions

4G internet

Neither the House nor the F&CC was informed of when the EoIs were invited and public notice was issued

Documentary on civic body achievements

Once again, administration officers moved the proposal, but the councillors and the F&CC committee not consulted. Later, the project was scrapped

House Tax

This has been a long-running source of friction between the administration and the MC and the administration has prevailed.

Parking

Councillors claim that the recent proposal to introduce smart card at all paid-parking lots in the city and the hike in parking fee was also mooted by bypassing the House.