Mohali MC passes Rs 178-cr budget for fiscal 2024-25

Mohali, March 1

The Budget Meeting of the Mohali Municipal Corporation passed an updated budget of Rs 178.62 crore, with around Rs 105 crore meant for developmental works. The meeting was dominated by the problems of falling advertisement revenue, with the opposition grilling Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu for failing to generate the desired revenue.

At the meeting, the opposition councillors demanded a resolution to conduct a vigilance investigation into the repeated non-allotment of tenders and the low income generated through advertisement fees. Former Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh Sethi and Sukhdev Patwari said the tenders for various works were being repeatedly stopped for the personal benefit of a few, adding that the MC was able to generate an income of Rs 4.22 crore in the last fiscal year as opposed to the target of Rs 31 crore.

Along with the budget meeting, a monthly House Meeting was also organised. During the House Meeting, councillors talked about problems that their wards were facing. Several councillors raised the problem of poor sanitation in their areas.

Sohana Councillor Harjit Baidwan talked about the proposed vending zone at Sector 78. He said that there was no provision for parking at the place, which causes congestion for the residents and visitors in the area. He added that residents of the area oppose the establishment of a vending zone in the sector.

Councillor Kuldeep Kaur Dhanoa urged the officials to complete the construction work on the dispensary at Sector 69. He also talked about the poor sanitation condition of the sector and said that the unsupervised growth of green areas in the sector has become a den for anti-social elements.

Former Senior Deputy Mayor Rishav Jain talked about the problem of drainage of rainwater in Phase 11. He also apprised the councillors at the meeting about the developmental work in the phase, which is set to cost an estimate of Rs 2.5 crore, adding that Rs 1 crore has been released to the Public Health Department. He added that the development work would start soon.

During the Budget Meeting there was an exchange of arguments among councillors. The mayor asked a councillor to tone down lest her blood pressure shoot up. To which the councillor replied, “Main goli kha ke ayin haan.” — TNS

MC fixes rates for tip to eunuchs

The Mohali Municipal Corporation fixed Rs 2,100 and Rs 3,100 as the rates for eunuchs after the marriage ceremony or childbirth. There have been complaints by the city residents that eunuchs harass residents to pay an arbitrary amount. Therefore, the councillors repeatedly raised this issue in House meetings. Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, “The rates have been fixed, and the civic body will inform the Mohali police and the administration about the resolution. No one can force the residents to pay arbitrary amounts. However, if anyone wishes to give more, they are free to do so.”