Mayors’ council to ensure seamless integration of tricity

It is an excellent idea to form a council of Mayors of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula to work in tandem and join hands to sort out inter-city issues. While issuing licences to vendors, the three cities can resort to a uniform policy based on the Aadhaar card system. Stray dogs and cattle menace, water supply, sewerage, solid waste management and fire outbreaks can be handled through a common platform more economically, leading to saving of manpower and money.

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Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

It should be Tricity Beautiful

Positive outcome of the trio joining hands to work together for the progress of the tricity is an initiative widely welcomed by the citizens in general. Although, both Mohali and Panchkula are planned and beautiful cities, yet Chandigarh has its brand name. Moreover, this is a common capital of two states and if development work on a similar pattern is carried out, the chances of re-naming the tricity to Tricity Beautiful are not remote. Let us hope that dirty politics will not become a hurdle even in future.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

Collective wisdom will  be put to use

The initiative of the three mayors of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula to constitute a council to work in sync is a welcome step. A few commissioners and chief engineers may be co-opted to perform better. There are many problems in the tricity like boundaries, transport, electricity and water supply which can be easily solved through collective wisdom for the benefit of one and all.

Nikita Kapur, Chandigarh

Abundance of ideas will  be ensured

The formation of a committee, the first-of-its-kind, shall be abundant in ideas and suggestions. First of all, they need to come out with common issues like decongestion of traffic, need for robust public transport system, managing stray dog menace and keeping a check on the use of polythene carry bags. The committee should meet frequently with all feasible plans and ensure their implementation. They should synchronise their work in such a way that it’s a win-win situation for all.

Kamalpreet Kaur, Mohali

Blurred boundary lines  will be more clear

The meeting of tricity mayors is a welcome step to resolve the pending issues linked with the three cities. Mohali, having adequate water supply, needs to augment the depleted water resources of Chandigarh. The stray dog menace affecting the three cities needs a lasting solution. The boundary line dividing Chandigarh and Mohali, that creates confusion in certain sectors needs to be ironed out to make it more realistic. Combined efforts should be made to combat crime.

Wg Cdr J S Bhalla (retd), Chandigarh

Problems can be resolved

The collective effort initiated by the mayors of the tricity is highly appreciable. The teething problems faced by the administration of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula towards issues concerning a collective approach can be settled amicably in future. The major problem of transport system in these cities needs to be streamlined to avoid chaos on the roads. Another major issue of agitation by different groups, which normally has been restricted to Mohali, is really a sore point and causes huge inconvenience to the residents commuting between the three cities.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

Good initiative

The mayors should be complemented for the initiative. Areas in which they can work together are detection and investigation of crime, making public transport system efficient and introducing metro in the tricity area. Besides, they can work jointly on effective garbage collection and disposal.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

A supportive set-up only

Since the proposed council will have no constitutional recognition and could be identified as supportive advisory council only, its set-up should be from the sitting municipal councilors of the tricity, having dedication and an impeccable track record in public life. They should sincerely advise these three corporations on their deficiencies in performing their duties and responsibilities. They should point out wasteful expenditure with a great sense of objectivity and suggest ways and means to generate more revenue sans much taxes to the public.

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali

Issues of common concern can be resolved

Getting the mayors of the tricity together on a common platform is an appreciable step. The conjoined cities have their own public issues and development programmes but certain public concerns in the three cities are common rather than inter-twined, needing mutual understanding and solutions. The issue of squatters and their open defecation, along the southern sectors of Chandigarh, bordering Mohali, needs immediate curbs. The menace of stray cattle, poor condition of link roads, potable water and power crisis also needs to be resolved jointly.

SS Arora, Mohali

Identify the common problems

The council of tricity corporations can prove to be a prudent step in administration. This initiative can help tackle the common problems of the people living in the three cities. For this, the first step should be to identify the common problems being faced by the residents of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. Issues like congested roads due to poor traffic regulations, unscheduled power cuts in summers, water shortage and crime have been increasing on a daily basis and need attention.

Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

Concentrate on issues of public interest

It is really a good decision taken by the mayors of the tricity to have a joint council to ensure progress on such issues which come under the jurisdiction of the MCs and are common for Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. The joint council must be formed by taking members representing each MC of the tricity, besides one or two members from the common public residing in each city. The council should concentrate on matters of common public interest and try to resolve these.

HBS Batra, Mohali

Functioning of civic  bodies will improve

It is a good initiative to form a council of tricity corporations. This will help cooperate and improve the functioning of civic bodies on common issues like sanitation, education, health, water and electricity supply, taxation, public dealings, safety of residents, law and order, traffic, maintenance of green belts and parks along with construction of flyovers, underpasses and implementation of integrated rapid transport system, including metro for which an MoU already stands signed, to ease the problem of traffic congestion.

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh

It should work as one unit

The joining of hands by the MCs of Chandigarh Panchkula and Mohali is a good sign as it would prove helpful for the tricity in resolving common issues like keeping a check on begging and smoking at public places besides assuring restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors, encroachments, streetlights and ensuring cleanliness. The council of tricity should be formed by taking an equal number of members from the present MCs of the tricity. The corporation should work as one unit irrespective of where they come from.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

Councillors should   shun ego

The constitution of a council of tricity corporation may be a decent step to bring about uniformity in civic provisions in cities that are inter-connected but its practicality is doubtful. From where would we induct diligence and unitary spirit among the councillors to work in tandem for the progress of a wider area? Ego among the politicians has already fragmented   bigger states and we know how councillors quarrel solely for self-gratification. Politicians need maturity first.

MPS Chadha, Mohali

Entry points to city should be attractive

At the entry point of each city, attractive gates must be erected. The main common problems are water, sanitation and parking. 24-hour water supply should also be there and to reduce congestion on roads, over-bridges should be constructed immediately.

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra

Good for integral growth

A recent meeting of the three mayors  of tri-city, a first of its kind initiative, is indeed a welcome news.  It  augurs  well  for  the  integral growth of  Chandigarh, Panchkula  and  Mohali, be it sectors like transport, power or  water resources  and environment. In  resolving  such  issues,  a personal  rapport  between  the  mayors  does  play  a  vital  role. and  this cordial  meeting will  clear  many  doubts.

SC Luthra, Mani Majra

No restrictions on entry of vehicles

It is good to know that the municipal councillors of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula are planning to form a council to study and work for the betterment of the residents of the tricity. There should be no restrictions on the entry of vehicles in each other’s territory. It should ensure that no auto-rickshaw plies in tricity and pollutes the atmosphere here. Stray dogs and cattle should not be allowed to roam freely on roads and public parks.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh   

Meeting of minds needs meeting of hearts

Comment | Nitin Jain

IT has happened for the first time. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Mayors of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula have joined hands to work together to ensure progress of the tri-city area through the medium of the proposed Council of Tricity Corporations.

Decidedly, the first citizens of the three satellite towns have risen above politics to seek lasting solutions to the long-standing inter-city issues. But what needs to be seen is whether the UT Administration and the governments of Punjab and Haryana too lend support to their initiative. This is vital, for, the Council will require sanctions/approvals and assistance (both financial and administrative) to deliver.

Shortage of potable water, inter-city connectivity, roads, slums, sanitation, unauthorized constructions, public transport, power shortage, stray animals and criminals taking shelter in another city after striking in one city are some of the key problems dogging the path of the tricity area administrations for long.

While several issues may not fall within the purview of the civic bodies, the problems related to basic civic amenities like water, roads, slums, sanitation are to be addressed by the  MC concerned. While the civic bodies of Mohali and Panchkula are totally dependent on the Punjab and Haryana Governments, respectively, and the Chandigarh MC being controlled by the UT Administration, any decision taken by the mayors will have to get the nod of the  controlling authorities.

This is not the only irritant. With the Mayors belonging to rival political parties–Chandigarh’s Arun Sood is from BJP; Mohali’s Kulwant Singh is an Independent; and Panchkula’s Upinder Kaur is Congress-supported–the way forward poses a huge challenge. For, any meeting of minds can lead to a positive outcome only if it is followed by meeting of hearts.

Of all these three first citizens, Sood alone belongs to the ruling party at the Centre, while Kulwant and Upinder are governed by their rival regimes. However, Sood’s days are numbered as the  MC is going to the polls by year-end.

The only person who can make the bold initiative taken by the mayors tell is Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki, who has already created a record-of-sorts by holding the dual charge of Haryana and Punjab Governor besides being the UT Administrator, for over 18 months now. Hope the Governor is listening!