Another year gone, Dadu Majra garbage dump, Metro issues remain unresolved
With their long-standing issues, which they had hoped the Central Government would address, remaining unresolved, the year 2024 brought little relief to the residents of Chandigarh.
Congress candidate Manish Tewari reclaimed the Chandigarh Lok Sahba seat for the party after a decade by defeating BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon by a narrow margin. Soon after the election, Tewari raised 14 pertinent questions in the Lok Sabha. However, the Central Government admitted to having “no plans” to address these issues.
Tewari raised questions addressing the city’s challenges, including regularisation of construction outside ‘lal dora’, need-based changes done in houses of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) and modifications carried out in flats of cooperative societies, conversion of leasehold industrial plots to freehold and the much-discussed Metro rail project.
The government’s ambiguous replies on several issues, including Panjab University Senate elections, sparked outrage among academicians who have been waiting decades for resolutions. While the MP secured deadlines for work on the garbage dump at Dadu Majra, he failed to get assurance on completion of Chandigarh Railway Station’s upgradation work. The issued raised by Tewari affect over a million residents, including occupants of 62,000 CHB flats, traders, industrialists and those living in villages. Despite repeated inclusion in election manifestos, these issues have seen little progress over the years. Tewari highlighted the neglect of the old Chandigarh Airport Terminal, which received significant renovations between 2009 and 2014 but remains unused. He argued for its reopening to provide residents with easier access and reduce their dependence on the Mohali airport.
Administrative overhaul
The year also saw administrative changes with almost all key positions in UT Administration saw new appointments. Gulab Chand Kataria replaced Banwarilal Purohit as Administrator and Nishant Kumar Yadav took over as DC from Vinay Pratap Singh. The year also saw the return of Haryana-cadre IAS officer Mandip Singh Brar to his hometown. Brar was assigned the charge of Home Secretary upon joining the UT Administration in September. Other notable changes included the joining of Punjab cadre IAS officer Amit Kumar as Municipal Commissioner.
Demise of prominent figures
Chandigarh mourned the demise of prominent figures this year, including former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan and Pradeep Chhabra, former Congress city chief, who later switched to AAP. Their contributions to the city’s political and social landscape were fondly remembered.
Pending Startup Policy, stalled mandi relocation
The Startup Policy, announced in 2022, remained in limbo, with no notification issued. Similarly, the relocation of the Sector 26 grain market to Sector 39 saw no progress, worsening the congestion and poor conditions in the area.
Farmer protest, live concerts at Sector 34 ground
Residents and shopkeepers of Sector 34 and nearby areas faced inconvenience and traffic chaos due to a protest by farmers and back-to-back concerts by Punjabi singers Karan Aujala and Diljit Dosanjh at exhibition ground in Sector 34.
Local residents heaved a sigh of relief after the farmer unions called off their six-day protest at the Sector 34 ground on September 7. Members of various unions reached the exhibition ground in the evening of September 1 to demand the formulation of a new state agriculture policy, debt waiver, etc.
On the complaints of area residents and shopkeepers, the UT Administration shifted the venue of another Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s show on December 21 from Sector 34 to rally ground in Sector 25.
PM Modi, Shah visited city
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the city on December 4 and dedicated to the nation the successful implementation of the three new laws. Home Minister Amit Shah reached the city on August 5 to launch e-Sakshya, Nyay Setu, Nyay Shruti and e-summon systems to augment the criminal justice apparatus.
