F&CC, waterlogging rock Mohali MC meet

Mohali, July 29

The Mohali Municipal Corporation House meeting turned out to be a stormy affair today with councillors sparring over the demand for termination of the authority of the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) and the waterlogging issue.

During the meeting, a letter signed by 26 councillors, including those of the AAP and Congress, was presented by the Opposition regarding the termination of authority of the F&CC, but Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu claimed the Opposition’s move was scuttled by ensuring physical counting of the councillors. Sidhu released a letter signed by 26 councillors, confirming the previous meetings as well as the F&CC meetings.

Interestingly, in a House of 50, both groups claimed to have the support of 26 councillors. Forty-seven councillors were present today, while three were absent.

Residents want change

During my tenure, works were done without prejudice, but now there is bias & residents want change. There will be change soon and it’ll be in favour of city. Kulwant Singh, Mohali MLA

Have majority in house

No one can remove me as long as members are with us. Of 47 members present on Friday, 26 were in my favour. Allegations of bias are baseless. Amarjit Singh Jiti Sidhu, Mayor

On the other hand, AAP MLA Kulwant Singh claimed the signatures of 26 councillors had been obtained, and after this resolutions could be brought in at the F&CC meeting, but passed only at the House meeting. The AAP MLA attended the meeting for the first time after being elected to the state Assembly. Through its notice to withdraw the authority of the F&CC, the Opposition wanted involvement of all councillors in the decision-making process rather than a select few committee members.

The issue of waterlogging also dominated the proceedings with councillors trading charges of favouritism and non-action. Former Senior Deputy Mayor Rishav Jain said there had been heavy damage in his ward with water entering houses of residents.

The Congress leader said: “A resolution of Rs 1.17 crore for draining water was passed but the work was stopped in the middle. During the last three F&CC meetings, not a single work in my ward has been completed. All resolutions should be passed by the House by dissolving the F&CC.”

Sitting in the front row, councillor Manjit Singh Sethi flashed a list of 31 life-threatening pits on the city roads within MC limits and said even though the authorities were aware of these, not even a single one had been repaired.

Sohana councillor Harjinder Kaur also raised the issue of damage caused by rainwater in the village. “Rainwater of Sectors 70 and 71 enters the village from the front end of Homeland Society through the road in front of the gurdwara and causes heavy damage to houses and shops at the village. Necessary arrangements should be made to drain this water,” she said.

Gurmeet Kaur, councillor of Phase-1, also complained that the works of her ward were not being carried out.

‘13% commission’ from contractors

Councillor Manjit Sethi caused a stir by alleging 13% commission was being charged from contractors in awarding development works carried out by the corporation. “There should be a Vigilance inquiry. The constituency MLA should also investigate it,” he said.

31 life-threatening pits on city roads

Councillor Manjit Singh Sethi flashed a list of 31 life-threatening pits on the city roads within MC limits and said even though the authorities were aware of these, not even a single one had been repaired.