Waste management in focus as Mohali civic body passes Rs 211 cr budget
The Municipal Corporation (MC) passed a budget of Rs 211 crore for the year 2025-2026 during its budget meeting today.
The civic body is estimating a revenue of around Rs 55 crore from property tax with two more days to go for the collection. Besides, Rs 10 crore is expected to come in from Punjab Municipal Fund, Rs 1 crore from electricity octroi and Rs 4.5 crore from additional excise duty make for the revenue stream. The corporation has also estimated a Rs 27.5 crore income through advertisements.
Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu informed that around Rs 129 crore is proposed to be spent on developmental works.
A contingency fund of Rs 7.19 crore, meanwhile, has been set aside. On the expenditure front, establishment costs roughly amount to Rs 75 crore.
The budget will be sent to local government for further approval.
Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh informed the House that the waste processing units in Jagatpura and Shahi Majra are being upgraded so they are able to handle the daily workload, adding, “The legacy waste will be dealt later on. We will be able to assess it in a month’s time.”
Mayor, Mohali MLA’s
son spar over tile theft
Meanwhile, the House was rocked by a clash between Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu and Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh’s son Sarabjit Singh Samana, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor from ward number 38, over the registration of an FIR against Congress councilor’s husband over the alleged theft of interlocking tiles.
Sarabjit had called for the Mayor’s take on the theft case, in response to which Sidhu retorted by saying a suitable reply would be given at the right time.
A war of words ensured, during which the Mayor said the implication of the Congress councillor at the behest of the ruling party will be answered.
“Today, your party is ruling, when our time will come, we will pay you back,” Sidhu said, further flaring up tensions.
The Congress and AAP councillors jumped onto the bandwagon as the din prevailed in the House. Both Sidhu and Singh continued to spar even as Municipal Corporation Commissioner and other officials buried their head in paperwork.
