Councillors spar over civic works

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 18

Akali-BJP and Congress councillors spat on various issues in the general house meeting held today.

The issue of approval of a map against the norms in the Parasram Nagar area was the most itching issue in today’s meeting.

Leader of the Opposition, Jagrup Singh Gill questioned MC officials and the Mayor over it.

The issue of shutting down of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant was also raised on which Municipal Commissioner Sanyam Aggrawal clarified that the plant had been shut down and the land could be given to the BDA for development by demolishing the plant within the next two months.

When the issue of burying dead animals came up, the Commissioner said when the land of the thermal plant was vacated, they could plan to make a modern shelter house there.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said no biased attitude was adopted for the development of the city.

They had removed the encroachments from Sanjay Nagar pond and had developed the area, he added.

Gill countered the Mayor’s claim saying there was nothing like that.

On this issue, Akali-BJP councillors stormed the house and asked Gill to apologise.

When the matter got complicated, some councillors tried to control the situation.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Pankaj Arora raised the issue of not taking permission for closing the road for Fun and Food Fair, Congress councillors said the fair was held on the BDA land due to which the issue should not be raised in the MCB meeting.

They said even the money had been deposited with the BDA for closing the road.

On the issue of imposing tax on pets, councillor Harvinder Sharma and senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal said the MCB would impose taxes on the animals kept in houses, but what would be done for the animals roaming on the streets.

It was decided unanimously that the proposal should be kept pending and, a committee should be constituted and survey should be conducted in the city according to which the next plan should be made.

In the meeting, deputy mayor Gurinder Pal Kaur Mangat and councillor Anjana Rani raised the issue of water supply in the city.

He said the MCB had sent bills for nine months to people when water was not available even for two to three months.

Councilor Pradeep Goyal protested against imposing Rs 1,000 on pre-wedding movie and photography on photographers made at Rose Garden.