Councillors accuse AAP MLA of stalling development works

Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu, along with Congress councillors, held a joint press conference and levelled serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party government and local MLA Kulwant Singh, accusing them of deliberately halting development works. The Mayor said that in several wards of the city, basic development works such as roads, sewerage and water supply are stalled due to political interference.

Mayor Sidhu claimed, “Calls come from the MLA’s office, directly instructing that specific works be stopped.” He said the Municipal Corporation has files ready and budgets available, yet the works are not being allowed to move forward, which goes against democratic principles.

During the press conference, Congress councillor Bunny alleged that despite new motors having arrived at the water works, they are not being installed because, allegedly, the MLA or his son wants to inaugurate them before they are made operational. “People are suffering from water shortages, but the government and administration show no concern,” he said.

Councillors Harjeet Bholu and Anuradha Anand also questioned the government’s performance, stating that despite being elected representatives, basic problems of residents in their wards remain unresolved. Councillor Anuradha Anand said she has been requesting pruning machines for the past six months, but they have not been provided, with officials citing a lack of funds even to buy oil for the machines. Councillors Baljeet Kaur Mohali and Dhaliwal alleged that works in their wards have been stopped. Baljeet Kaur said works worth Rs 26 lakh were halted, while Councillor Dhaliwal raised the issue of steel number plates being stalled in his ward since 2022, despite work orders having already been issued.

Sidhu also objected to the stoppage of works in housing societies. He alleged that works in the society where AAP councillor Sukhdev Patwari resides were approved, while works in other societies were rejected by labelling them as “private societies.” He questioned why such discrimination was being practiced.