GMADA hands over water supply, sewerage to MC

Tribune News Service
Mohali, December 23

Ending the era of disparity in water and sewerage user charges in different sectors of Mohali, GMADA formally handed over the operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage to the Municipal Corporation whereby all sectors in the jurisdiction of the corporation will be charged uniform user charges. The formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the XENs of both departments. This is a huge relief for residents of Sohana, Kumbra and other localities falling in Sector 66 to 69 and Sector 76 to 80, who were paying relatively much higher user charges as levied by GMADA.

Sidhu dedicates 8 tankers to public

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu flagged off a tractor and eight water tankers with a capacity of 4,000 litres each from the Municipal Bhawan, Mohali. Dedicating the water tankers, procured at a cost of Rs26 lakh, to the public, he said these would help augment the water supply in case of emergency requirement.

GMADA charges an average of Rs10 per 1,000 litres, while the MC charges around Rs1.80 for the same quantity of water. “Hence, this MoU will result in an annual saving of approximately Rs7 to 8 crore for residents of these localities,” said Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu.

Over Rs3.5 crore has been spent on internal development of various residential societies. Works worth Rs60 lakh are underway in HOUSEFED apartments, while another Rs40 lakh has been approved for additional works. Similarly, funds for additional works at Joginder Vihar and Guru Teg Complex have also been approved, he said.

The state Local Bodies Department has passed instructions to the MC after approving these development works under Section 82 (3) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976.

The minister said open-air gyms would come up in every big park in the city. A resolution had been passed by the MC to start work on setting up open-air gyms in 20 such parks in the city.

He flagged off a tractor and eight water tankers with a capacity of 4,000 litres each from the Municipal Bhawan, Mohali. Dedicating the water tankers, procured at a cost of Rs26 lakh, to the public, he said these would help augment the water supply in case of emergency requirement.

He said by the first week of January, the MC would press into service a pruning machine worth Rs33 lakh. The machine would help prune trees as tall as 65 ft.