Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh: 24 Dec : The Shiromani Akali Dal Badal – BJP Government in Punjab is demolishing the democratic system in all the 163 cities of Punjab. Putting forth astonishing decision taken by the S Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister of Punjab, S Charanjit Singh Channi leader of opposition today said that Punjab government vide notification issued on 15thDecember 2015(copy of notification attached) conferred all the developmental powers of municipal corporations, municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats to the Deputy Commisioner, Additional Deputy Commisioner, SDM, EO and other members through PIDB while according to the municipal act only the elected representatives in corporations, councils and Nagar panchayats have the right to execute these development works. This is in sharp violation of the democratic set up. All the favored bureaucrats will take over the rights of elected members of the municipalities. The congress party totally opposes this decision of the Punjab government and asks the government to revert this otherwise we will approach the doors of Hon Punjab Haryana High Court. The deputy commissioner or the additional deputy commissioner has no legal right to use the power of elected Mayor in corporation or the president in municipal council or Nagar Panchayat. Channi also questioned the state government whether any consent of any single corporation or council was taken before taking this decision.
Channi also alleged that the loan taken by the government worth Rs 5000 cr from various banks through PIDB will be siphoned off in the Sangat Darshans of S Parkash Singh Badal and the money will remain with PIDB, which is under the direct control of Badals. This will be used to influence the urban voter and the rural voter by disbursing them in Sangat Darshans. The government has taken loan for the development works in various municipalities in the state.
Channi further alleged that the so called grants being given to these municipalities are actually the loans being dispersed by this government thus befooling the urban and rural voter. However for the repayment of these loans, already the infrastructure development cess of 5% is being charged on the electricity bills from all the consumers and this collection is already pledged to the banks from where the loan of 5000 crore has been raise. This is the first government after independence which has already pledged the repayment of the loan for the next five to seven years with the banks. It is pertinent to mention that there are 10 corporations and 153 municipal councils and the Nagar panchayats in Punjab which will feel the burnt of this undemocratic decision of the ruling government.
Channi also questioned the silence of the alliance partner BJP in this undemocratic step taken by the Punjab government. He said the so called saffron party seems to represents the urban areas but on this step it is totally silent and didn’t even bother to speak against this notification.
