Infrastructure created, need to improve system now: Mitra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

Outgoing MC Commissioner-cum-Chandigarh Smart City Limited CEO Anindita Mitra feels though progress has been made in creating infrastructure, there is still scope to improve the system. The 2007 Punjab-cadre IAS officer spoke to Chandigarh Tribune on the completion of her three-year tenure here.

What works were done for the city’s development in 3 years?

• On completion of a three-year deputation period of MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra, the UT Administration issued her relieving orders with effect from Thursday.
• The charges held by her, except that of the Chief Electoral Officer, have been handed over to Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh till further orders.
• The UT Administration has also granted Mitra earned leave of 22 days from August 23 to September 13 before she joins her parent cadre in Punjab.
• A 2007-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, Mitra joined as the MC Commissioner on August 23, 2021, for a three-year term. She also served as the CEO of Chandigarh Smart City Limited. TNS

First, we have put basic infrastructure in place. Second, we tried to create a system. For example, we set up waste processing plants and sewage treatment plants. We made a system under which back lanes (Sector 1-30) are clean. A small intervention of engaging an agemcy for the work did the job. Now, garbage is lifted from all our 1,800 parks. For the security of our employees, whether regular or outsourced, we started an insurance scheme - Rs 2.50 lakh each disbursed each to 60 families in cases of natural death and Rs 40 lakh in cases of road accident-related deaths. We have been able to bring Swachh Bharat ranking from 66th to 11th and were awarded for being the best urban local body in water conservation by the President of India.

Things you wanted to do, but could not implement

I wanted to do something for the welfare of vendors. For taking the city to great heights, involvement of citizens is needed, but I could not bring inclusiveness. Also, tenders for all major projects have been issued, but smart parking lots and integrated solid waste plant projects could not be completed yet.

What were the main

challenges you faced?

Finance has always been a challenge. Secondly, enhancing capacity-building has also been a major challenge.

Encroachments continue to remain unchecked. Your take?

We have been able to achieve one thing — thousands of acres of our encroached land in villages, which got merged with the MC in 2018, have been recovered and fenced. As far as curbing encroachment by street vendors and shopkeepers is concerned, it is a continuous process.

Despite various projects, Dadu Majra dump couldn’t be cleared?

Till the time fresh waste dumping is not stopped, it cannot happen. About 70 metric tonne of waste is left at the dumping ground and will be cleared by the year-end.

What more can be done to take Smart City to the next level?

Except for the animal incinerator plant, we have been able to complete all Smart City projects. I feel to truly fulfil the purpose of Integrated Command Control Centre, all departments of the UT have to utilise it.

A word for the MC or your staff

During the farewell today I told officials and staff that progress cannot be done with infrastructure alone, but we need to have a proper system to run them.