Jhajjar MC passes upgrade resolution

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, January 12

The general house of the local municipal committee (MC) has passed a resolution to upgrade itself to a municipal council. The development was being awaited for the past some years as the MC was close to achieving the primary parameter of minimum population for a municipal council.

The MC, which has 19 wards, will not only get a considerable raise in grant released by the state government for development activities, but ensure increase in the number of administrative staff too.

“As per norms, a population of 50,000 is required to upgrade a municipal committee to a council. The population was 49,500 when a survey was conducted some years ago,” said Kavita Nandwani, MC chairperson.

She said the population had crossed the figure of 50,000 now and hence, the item for upgrade was placed in the general house, that met on Friday. The house passed it unanimously and it would be sent to the higher authorities for final nod, she said.

“We raised the issue before Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar during his recent visit to Jhajjar. He assured us on an upgrade on fulfilling the mandatory parameters,” she added.

Parveen Garg, vice-chairman of the committee, said the government released a minimum grant of Rs 4 crore every year, but it would be doubled on getting the status of municipal council.

The number of administrative employees would go up from the existing 18 to at least 25, he said. It would prove helpful in reducing the workload on the existing staff, he said.

“It will ensure a hike in honorarium of councillors. We get Rs 4,500 per month now, which will be Rs 7,500 after the upgrade. The honorarium of chairperson will go up from Rs 7,500 to Rs 13,000,” he added.