Ruckus ends Shimla MC House meeting abruptly

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 28

The monthly Municipal Corporation House meeting came to an abrupt end after Mayor Satya Kaundal walked out following the “rowdy” behaviour of the councillors.

“I am pained to see the unruly behaviour and the language being used in the House,” the Mayor said. “I have been in the MC for decades but such behaviour would not find any parallels in the past,” Kaundal added.

The House had barely started when Shardha Chauhan, a councillor from Shanti Vihar, alleged that the files of the works proposed by her were being “thrown into the dustbin” while the tenders for the projects suggested by a nominated councillor was being floated promptly. “The works that I had proposed in 2018 are still buried in the files. But the same works proposed by a nominated councillor this year are being carried out promptly. This is unfair and I won’t allow this,” she said.

Within minutes, the issue snowballed into a quarrel and the Congress councillors sat in the well of the House in support of Shardha Chauhan. The BJP members were, however, of the view that the nominated councillor had the same right as the elected ones to carry out developmental works. “Did the Congress councillor follow up on the works she had proposed? The nominated councillor made efforts to get the work done. He should be praised instead of being insulted,” said the BJP councillors. “Also, the Congress councillors too have been nominated in the past. Did they not work then?” asked Deputy Mayor Shalinder Chauhan.

Before the House was adjourned, it saw heated exchanges over water distribution and garbage collection. The councillors said water was being supplied on alternate days, and at many places, it was being given at 4 am.

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