MC to spend Rs 26 cr on pavers next fiscal

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 14

Despite facing criticism and objection by the Chief Architect and city residents, the Municipal Corporation (MC) House today approved laying of paver blocks in various sectors as the cost of Rs 26 crore.

The House today approved a budget of Rs 1,260 crore for the next financial year.

While Rs 17 crores have been earmarked for laying paver blocks in sectors, the remaining amount will be spent in colonies and villages in the UT.

Eyebrows are being raised over the huge amount being spent on paver blocks at a time when the MC is facing financial crisis.

Though the MC expects grant-in-aid from the UT Administration, it does not have much money for development works to be undertaken next year.

While officials claimed that they have stopped installing pavers along V6 roads after receiving a directive from the office of the Chief Architect in October last year, the agendas placed in the House meeting painted a different picture. Paver blocks are being laid in all wards. The agenda also provides for laying these on V6 and V5 roads.

Meanwhile, SS Bhardwaj, a social activist from Sector 51-A, has written a letter to the UT Adviser, demanding that laying of paver blocks be stopped. “The MC is laying paver blocks in any open space in the city by putting traditions, culture and the greenery of the city at stake for the reasons best known to them,” he wrote.

MC doubles ward development fund

The MC has enhanced the amount of ward development fund allocated to councillors from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 80 lakh.

Meeting row: Mayor admits mistake

• The issue of former Mayor Arun Sood holding a meeting with MC officials in the absence of Mayor Rajesh Kalia on Wednesday rocked the House meeting. 
• Congress councillor and Leader of the Opposition Devinder Singh Babla raised the issue and said the BJP Mayor was giving a wrong message to officials of the civic body. 
• Satish Kainth, a councillor, also flayed the incident. 
• Admitting the mistake, Mayor Rajesh Kalia said he had left the venue of the meeting for an urgent work.

Fund allocation

• Head Amount 
• Building & Roads Rs 120 cr 
• Augmentation of city water supply system Rs 50 cr 
• Sewerage Rs 30 cr
• Storm water drainage Rs 5 cr
• Electrification Rs 25 cr 
• Infrastructure facilities in villages under MC Rs 28 cr
• Providing basic amenities to EWS Rs 17 cr
• Fire and Emergency  Rs 5.70 cr