13 Chandigarh villages sans development fund for 1.5 years

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 15

Over one and a half years after 13 UT villages were merged with the civic body, the latter has now sought Rs 102 crore for their development from the Administration.

Villagers, who have been facing problems such as poor condition of roads, non-functional streetlights, stinking sewerage and improper drinking water supply, now question the delayed move of the authorities. “It is strange the MC got the villages from the Administration without any development funds. They should have been merged only after the required funds were issued. After 1.5 years, they are now seeking funds. When will the funds be issued, when will the tender be floated and when will the works get completed?” said Manpreet Singh, a villager from Khuda Ali Sher.

Slamming the authorities, Congress councillor Satish Kainth said: “The two bodies are playing with villagers. All these days, the MC had been doing only minor repair work in the villages. This is a blow to the villages as the UT does not own these anymore and the MC has no funds.”

Kainth said the MC did not even have funds even for the villages that were already under it. “The MC got Rs 25 crore village development fund only for existing villages. There has been no separate fund allocated for the new ones,” he added.

Upgrade of sewerage and storm-water drainage system, road works, tiles in inner gullies, lighting dark spots and improving drinking water supply are among the issues dogging the residents.

MC Commissioner KK Yadav said they had written to the Administration seeking Rs 102 crore for the development of 13 villages and Rs 7.5 crore for the development of Mani Majra. It was approved by the MC House on May 29. MC officials said they had been regularly following up with the Administration regarding funds since the merger.

The 13 villages — Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Makhan Majra, Daria, Mauli Jagran, Kishangarh, Kaimbwala, Khuda Ali Sher, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Lahora, Sarangpur and Dhanas — were merged with the MC on November 30, 2018. While nine villages — Butrela, Badheri, Attawa, Palsora, Maloya, Dadu Majra, Burail, Kajheri and Hallo Majra — were already under the MC limits.

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