No steep hike, but community centre booking to cost more

In relief to city residents, the General House of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has rejected the proposal for a steep hike in the booking rates of community centres.

Rejecting the proposal for an increase in rates up to 40 per cent, the House today approved a hike from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 over and above the existing rates, according to the category of the community centre.

A hike of Rs 3,000 in booking rates has been approved for category A community centres, Rs 2,000 for category B and Rs 1,000 category C. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation has proposed to increase the booking rates from 20 to 40 per cent depending on the category of the community centre.

Besides the poor, the facility of free booking for the marriage of girls has been extended to families of martyrs, freedom fighters and farmers of the city. Mayor Harpreet Babla welcomed the decision of extending the facility to abovementioned groups.

The MC has divided the community centres in different categories as per the facilities provided to the people. The MC has not enhanced the booking rates for the last many years.AAP Councillor Yogesh Dhingra opposed the proposed hike in the booking charges, saying that an annual 10% increase is already in place. What is the justification for an additional hike, he asked.

Private firms to run gyms

Councillors also approved the agenda to engage private companies to run gyms in various community centres. The MC prepared the policy to run state of-the-art gyms, which are lying defunct.

The consent of the councillor is required to allot the gym to the private parties. The MC also approved the policy to hand over fountains in parks to private companies for maintenance. In lieu of maintenance, the MC will allow the companies to put up their names as advertisements at areas near the fountains.

Ruckus over waste plant

Ruckus was witnessed in the House on the functioning of solid waste plant at Sector 25, Chandigarh. Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Bunty, Deputy Mayor Taruna Mehta and AAP Premlata raised the issue. Uproarious scenes were witnessed when the area councillor said he was not invited during the inspection.

Rose Club to get new look

The agenda to give operation and maintenance on public private partnership (PPP) mode for 10 years to Rose Club, Sector 16, was also approved. Some changes of the RFP suggested by area councillor Saurabh Joshi were accepted. The selected company will be allowed to renovate and repair the existing building, but without changing the basic design. The agenda for giving the maintenance of the gaushalas (cow shelters) was also approved.

However, the agenda for giving C&D waste processing plant, private hand was deferred. The proposal of Rooftop solar Power plants on MC buildings was approved.

Councillor Gurpreet Gabi brought attention to the plight of an Army veteran, who has been running from pillar to post for the past eight months seeking payment from the Municipal Corporation. He also raised the issue of sewerage and sanitation workers, who have been on strike for the six days over non-payment of wages. Gabi raised issues concerning sanitation workers operating in Sectors 31 to 63 of the city. He pointed out that these workers have not yet received their entitled rations—jaggery, oil and soap—despite the fact that the company’s tender is set to expire in a month.

Lack of quorum, but briefly

A peculiar situation arose during the meeting in afternoon when many councillors left the House after lunch. As soon as the House reassembled, Mayor Harpreet Babla noticed that the meeting could not proceed due to the lack of quorum. The BJP councillors contacted their colleagues and asked them to return. After 10 to 15 minutes the proceedings resumed when two Congress and one AAP councillor also joined the meeting.

Raising the issue of water crisis in Maniamjra, councillor Suman said the 24x7 water supply project had failed. She alleged that the entire project is marred by controversy with no benefit in sight.