Kher demands rollback of parking fee hike

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

MP Kirron Kher has opposed the recent hike in the parking fees by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and demanded that the hike should be rolled back immediately.

While participating in the meeting of the Administrator’s Advisory Council held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, Kher said the rates were unaffordable for employees and the common man.

She said how an employee could pay Rs 60 to Rs 80 per day for full-day parking. “City residents are protesting against the steep rise in parking rates. This issue needs to be resolved immediately in larger public interest,” she said.

The MP said though the issue was in the purview of the civic body, she thought the Advisory Council was the right place to express her views on the issue. She said the MC had the power to cancel the agreement with the company in case it fails to abide by the terms and conditions of the smart paid parking.

Though Kher raised the demand for the rollback of the increased parking fees, Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal, while addressing a press conference, said parking rates could only be brought down by the Municipal Corporation as it had entered into an agreement with the firm.

Aggarwal said the administration had not received any communication from the civic body.

He said the Administration would decide on the issue once it gets the communication from the MC.

Kher also asked the police to make women aware of the app launched for their safety. She also supported the Apartment Act. The Act would help in ending the litigation within the families. However, she opposed any move to allow construction beyond three storeys.

Kirron Kher also suggested that the administrative control of 20 dispensaries under the MC should be transferred back to the UT Health Department. This will ensure more accountability, better healthcare and better implementation of health programmes.

Bansal, Jain back Metro project

Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and former MP Satya Pal Jain supported the Metro project while discussing the recommendations of the committee headed by RK Saboo. The subcommittee on the transport has recommended not to junk the Metro project report for now and said the scenario might be reviewed after experience of two to three years of other public transport options. Baldev Goyal, KK Abrol, Kulwinder Singh, Manoj Jain and Maulana Ajmal Khan were other members of the committee. While Baldev Goyal supported the project, MP Kirron Kher opposed the project again. Kher has been strongly opposing the move which was already rejected by the Home Minister’s Advisory Council earlier.

Recommendations of other committees 

Education

• Strengthening research and innovation
• Introduction of integrated course

Infrastructure

• Flyover to be constructed at busiest roundabouts
• Alternative routes for tricity may be explored

Environment

• Segregation of waste and e-waste should be started properly 
• Tertiary water should be treated adequately
• Level of noise should be prescribed while giving permission

Sports

• Master plan of spaces suitable for fitness and sports and to utilise them 
• Housing complexes and colonies should set apart spaces for play and recreation
• Compulsory PT classes, camps, lectures and videos, ban junk food in schools

Traffic management

• All radio channels should be engaged for providing real-time alert
• Car pool system to be implemented for schoolchildren 
• Helmet should be made mandatory for women, barring Sikh women wearing turbans 

Bansal opposes move to outsource govt dispensaries

Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has opposed the proposal to outsource government dispensaries. He said health and education were two most important responsibilities of the government and the Administration, instead of handing over government dispensaries to any NGO, should take concrete steps to augment and strengthen services in all dispensaries by filling vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff, besides providing other necessary facilities.