Infighting in MC costs P’kula Smart City tag

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

Infighting in the Municipal Corporation (MC) has taken its toll on the city as it once again failed to make it to the Smart City list. While politicians and officials have indulged in blame game once again, residents are fuming over the failure as they are the ones who are suffering due to it.

Be it poor condition of roads roads, the issue of the dumping ground in the city or the lack of cleanliness in general, the development of the city has taken a backseat in the midst of tussle in the MC. It has been more than a year now since an “effective” MC House took place. The last two meetings were held in the absence of MC officials.

This has meant that even funds meant for development have gone unused and public works have been hit. The condition is such that even the High Court had to ask that the MC be taken over by the state government as it was not doing its job properly. The state had transferred the Municipal Commissioner after the court’s rap but things have not improved even after a new commissioner was brought in.

Residents say the infighting has meant that development works have not been undertaken for years. The living conditions have deteriorated and thus it is not a surprising that Panchkula missed out on the Smart City tag. The Swachh Bharat rankings for cities this year had also been a low point.

Their take

Though the main reason behind missing out on the Smart City tag is infighting in the MC , it also seems to be a well-planned political move. Karnal, which is the Chief Minister’s constituency, is being promoted and Panchkula is being neglected on purpose. — SK Nayyar

The result is not surprising. We do not have a garbage processing plant, the condition of roads is poor, street lights have not been replaced with LEDs. Officials are not using funds  to complete the works that we tell them to. Also, a proper MC office is needed to streamline the works. — Lily Bawa, Congress councillor

Poor paper work and a lack of work culture has hurt us. Neither the MC officials nor the Mayor are working. They should stop satisfying their egos and start working. — CB Goel, BJP councillor