Ex-minister trains guns at Mohali MLA over move to expand civic body limits

Former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today accused Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh of prioritising his commercial and political interests over

public welfare in the draft notification issued for the expansion of the Municipal Corporation (MC) limits.

Sidhu said by keeping his business interests in mind, Singh has deliberately delayed the implementation of the Corporation’s resolution to expand its limits. “Now, after the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, when the government was compelled to act, he has arbitrarily included several new areas in the proposed delimitation while excluding many that were part of the original resolution,” he added.

The leader furhter said

the Court had directed the government to complete

the pending delimitation process—not to prepare an entirely new proposal.

He pointed out that Sector 94 of Aerocity and parts of Mohali—which were not included in the Corporation’s earlier resolution—have now been added, whereas areas like Badmajra, Balongi and TDI, which were part of the approved resolution, have been left out.

He further said the panchayats of Badmajra and Balongi had passed resolutions expressing their consent to be included within the Municipal Corporation limits. Similarly, he said, residents’ welfare associations, particularly from the TDI area, had also requested inclusion for better civic facilities. He added that while Aero City has been included, IT City and TDI, which existed much earlier, have been unfairly excluded.

Sidhu clarified that he has no objection to the inclusion of Aero City and Sector 94 within the Municipal Corporation limits—in fact, he welcomes it—but strongly objects to the exclusion of areas that were part of the Corporation’s earlier resolution.

Rejecting MLA Kulwant Singh’s claim that Badmajra and Balongi were excluded to save residents from additional tax burdens, Sidhu questioned, “Won’t the areas that have been newly included also have to bear taxes?”

He further asked the MLA to explain why the TDI Township, home to many affluent residents, was deliberately left out.

The leader said based on the Municipal Corporation’s 2021 resolution, the state government had promptly initiated action and invited objections on the proposed delimitation through a notification. However, the process was halted due to the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct.

“Later, on the request of MLA Kulwant Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party government took no further action, forcing citizens to approach the High Court,” he added.