P’kula MC poll set to be delayed

Rajinder S Nagarkoti

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Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 24

While the matter pertaining to the bifurcation of the Municipal Corporation (MC), Panchkula, is pending with the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the delimitation of wards is yet to be completed, the civic body elections are all set to be delayed.

The five-year term of the current Panchkula Municipal Corporation is going to be completed on July 2.

A senior MC official said at present there is no clarity on the issue. “Everything depends on the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Besides, the state government will also take a call on the bifurcation of the Panchkula MC only after the High Court decision. The elections are likely to be held in August or September,” he said.

Meanwhile, the work on the delimitation of wards is yet to be completed. The number of wards will be decided on the basis of the bifurcation decision.

When contacted, MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said matter was under consideration of the Haryana Government. “Besides, a petition is also pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” he said.

Recently, a committee under the chairmanship of the Ambala Divisional Commissioner had recommended maintaining the corporation status of Panchkula, but separating Kalka and Pinjore from it. The panel had also recommended a common civic body for Kalka and Pinjore.

Panchkula and Kalka BJP MLAs Gian Chand Gupta and Latika Sharma, respectively, were also in favour of separating Kalka and Pinjore from the MC and retaining the corporation status for Panchkula.

In December last year, the Panchkula MC General House, in which a majority of councillors are from the Congress and the INLD, had rejected the dissolution of the Municipal Corporation and had resolved to maintain the Panchkula MC, including Kalka and Pinjore.

Of the 19 elected councillors, who were present at the MC House meeting on December 14, 17 were against the dissolution of the MC.

Report was sought from Divisional Commissioner

On the demand of Kalka MLA Latika Sharma, the Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana, had sought a report from the Ambala Divisional Commissioner. Latika Sharma had written to the Haryana Chief Minister, submitting that under the Municipal Corporation, no development had taken place in Kalka and Pinjore. Hence, Pinjore and Kalka should be separated from the Panchkula MC.

Was set up in 2010

• The Panchkula Municipal Corporation was set up in March 2010 by merging civic bodies of Panchkula, Pinjore and Kalka. After years of opposition, the MC elections were finally held in June 2013.
• The Haryana Government’s move to remove  Kalka, Pinjore and some villages from the Panchkula MC limits was also challenged in the High Court. The plea challenging the government’s move was filed by local councillor Satinder Singh Toni.