Fiscal crisis: New projects put on hold

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

In deep financial crisis, the General House of the MC deferred the agendas of new projects.

The agendas deferred include construction of a new community centre in Sector 30 at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, development of a green belt in Sector 26 for Rs 63 lakh and renovation of the tax branch in the MC building. The House has also decided to reduce the number of mini tippers to be purchased for the road wing of the civic body.

While MC Commissioner KK Yadav has made it clear that no agenda for new project will be placed before the House till the financial condition of the civic body improved, Congress and BJP councillors clashed over the crisis.

Heated arguments were witnessed when former Mayor Arun Sood of BJP blamed the Congress for draining the MC funds. Sood said the 15-year rule of the Congress was responsible for the present financial crisis in the civic body as it had failed to revise taxes. He said the Congress never took steps to increase the MC revenue.

Countering the allegation, Devinder Singh Babla, Congress councillor and Leader of the Opposition, said it was his party’s achievement that the MC fixed deposits rose to Rs 488 crore without imposing any new tax on the city residents. Babla demanded an inquiry into the expenditure incurred by the MC in the past few years, which allegedly led to unprecedented fiscal crisis. He said it was strange that BJP leaders failed to get financial assistance for the MC even as it was their government at the Centre.

Sood also expressed his concern over the stoppage of works for poor financial health of the MC.

Meanwhile, the House has decided to increase the ground rent for the day market from Rs 40 to Rs 100. Besides, it has been decided to double the rates for the Idle Truck Parking in Sector 26. The rates for monthly passes too have been doubled.

Special meeting on issue soon: Mayor 

Mayor Davesh Moudgil has announced to soon hold a special meeting of the House to find out ways to end the financial crisis in the civic body. The announcement came following an advice of the MC Commissioner who sought suggestions from the councillors to bail out the MC of the fiscal mess.

Other decisions

The MC House has allowed taxi operators to continue from the existing taxi stands till a new policy is finalised in this connection. The House also decided to consider the demand of second-hand car bazaar dealers to shift the site from Hallo Majra to Sector 17, opposite the Taj Hotel parking, or Mani Majra.