Chandigarh MC to discuss poor fiscal health

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, June 27

Several agendas, including poor financial health of the MC, allowing advertisement on 55 public toilet blocks and installing a new wireless communication system in the Fire and Rescue Services Department, will be taken up in the corporation’s monthly General House meeting on June 29.

The meeting will be held via video-conferencing like the previous month in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the Opposition Congress councillors such as Devinder Singh Babla have criticsed the move and said they hardly got any chance to speak on the online platform.

The MC revenue has taken a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and all development works are going to suffer due to lack of funds.

Against a budget of Rs1,472 crore for 2020-2021, the MC estimates to have a revenue of Rs661 crore, of which Rs340 crore will be grant-in-aid from the UT Administration and Rs321 crore is the revised estimates for the MC revenue receipts.

However, in a bid to raise revenue, the MC will be renting out the Mahila Bhawan in Sector 38 to various art and culture institutions. An agenda for the same will also be discussed in the MC General House meeting.

As per the MC plan, the first floor of the bhawan will be rented out to Sahitya Kala Academy, Sangeet Kala Academy and Natya Kala Academy. In lieu of this, the Cultural Department will pay a rent of Rs2.5 lakh per month. The first floor of the bhawan has a 1523.52 sq ft hall.

The issues of revision of tender conditions for advertisement on public toilets, rent waiver for Night Food Street in Sector 14 and handing over the maintenance of neighbourhood parks/green space/open areas to resident welfare associations will also be taken up during the meeting.