Panel recommends separating Kalka, Pinjore from P’kula MC

Rajinder Nagarkoti

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Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 19

The committee under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, Vivek Joshi, has recommended maintaining the corporation status for Panchkula, but separating Kalka and Pinjore from the Panchkula Municipal Corporation. The panel has recommended for a common civic body for Kalka and Pinjore.

The committee’s viewpoint is on the lines of Panchkula and Kalka BJP MLAs Gian Chand Gupta and Latika Sharma, who were also in favour of separating Kalka and Pinjore from the Panchkula corporation and retaining the corporation status for Panchkula.

Sources said now, the committee’s report would be submitted before the urban local bodied department of the Haryana Government, who would then put up the matter before the state Cabinet to take a final call on the issue.

Recently, the Panchkula MC General House, in which a majority of the councillors are from the Congress and the INLD, had rejected the agenda of 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 in the MC House meeting on December 14, 17 were against the dissolution of the MC.

On the demand of Kalka MLA Latika Sharma, the Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana, had sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, by December 15.

Recently, Kalka MLA Latika Sharma had written to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, 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.

During the recent visit to Panchkula, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had stated that the matter in connection with the dissolution of Panchkula Municipal Corporation will soon be discussed in the state Cabinet. 

He had stated that they will take a final decision keeping in view the ground situation and the Cabinet’s consent. Now the committee’s recommendation will be 

forwarded to the urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana, and later it will be discussed in the state Cabinet.Three lakh population for corporation

As per the municipal norms, a population of 3 lakh is required to constitute a corporation. According to the 2011 Census, the population of Panchkula urban area was 2.1 lakh. But now the population has touched around 3 lakh, excluding Kalka and Pinjore. The panel members discussed that with Panchkula and surrounding areas having a population of 3 lakh, therefore Kalka and Pinjore can be excluded from the Panchkula MC.

Panchkula MC 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 municipal corporation elections were finally held in June 2013.

Cabinet to take final call

During the recent visit to Panchkula, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had stated that the matter in connection with the dissolution of Panchkula Municipal Corporation will soon be discussed in the state Cabinet. He had stated that they will take a final decision keeping in view the ground situation and the Cabinet’s consent. Now the committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana, and later it will be discussed in the state Cabinet.