Pathankot MC seeks revenue boost as state funds dry up

With the AAP-led state government reluctant to grant funds to the Congress-controlled Pathankot Municipal Corporation (MC), its top brass has started exploring alternative sources of income to keep the city running.

The MC has sent notices to residents who have defaulted on paying property tax and water supply and sewerage dues. “Top hundred defaulters have been put on notice, irrespective of the positions they hold,” said MC Commissioner Aditya Uppal.

The civic body has also increased its revenue from advertising contracts. It is going to purchase a new road sweeping machine and will install 13 high-mast lights at strategic locations.

Mayor Panna Lal Bhatia admits such lights had become a necessity. “They are being mounted at Mallikpur chowk, Dalhousie Road, Kachcheri chowk, Tank chowk, APK road, Sally Road and Dhangu road. Such lights are more energy efficient,” he added.

Residents had been critical of the MC’s functioning when it came to dealing with the menace of stray animals. Cattle roaming on the roads caused accidents. “A cattle pound has been set up at Dehriwal village where strays are housed,” said Commissioner Aditya Uppal. He added that the MC picked up 20 cattle head every day from the roads and took them to the pound.

Residents say dysfunctional streetlights remain the biggest problem of the city. However, MC officials differ. SDO Pankaj Kumar says, “We have 16,953 streetlights in the city. Right now, 98 per cent of them are in a working condition. However, there are certain areas on the city’s outskirts where streetlights are either inadequate or not available.”

MC officials said residents themselves were to be blamed for rendering the sewerage system inoperable. “People use sewers as bins. Clothes, quilts, blankets and both glass and plastic bottles are often found in sewers. There are three points at which sewage is collected from where it further goes to the Ladochak Sewage Treatment Plant (STP),” said SDO Pankaj Kumar.

Mayor Bhatia admitted that when the going got tough he had no option except to send notices to defaulters to pay their dues.