It's Cong vs Cong at MC House meeting

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, February 4

It seemed to be a Ludhiana East Congress versus Ludhiana West Congress show at the first MC House meeting of this year today as Congress MLA Sanjay Talwar blamed Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu for ignoring the wards of his constituency. Making a verbal attack on the Mayor, Talwar even said Sandhu should recall the MLA's role in “making” him the city mayor.

On February 1, Talwar had demanded that the Mayor should provide a list of all working sewer men, safai workers, gardeners and other employees to all House members. He had also asked the Mayor through the letter to inform the House members about action taken against illegal constructions and developers of illegal colonies.

During the meeting, the Mayor said the information was not ready but it would be provided soon as they had forwarded the letter to the MC chief. Talwar sought a special meeting on Tuesday to provide this information, but he got no response from the Mayor to his demand.

“It is the responsibility of the Mayor to make sure the councillors get the required information. The files related to wards of Ludhiana East are not being cleared by the Mayor. Around 8 lakh people living in wards under Ludhiana East are suffering. Adequate generators are not being provided to ensure the functioning of sewer disposal units in the wards of our constituency,” he said.

“No action is taken against developers who have not applied for regularisation of their illegal old colonies and at the same time applied for a new illegal colony. If our councillors visit the MC offices, the officials refused to clear their files by saying that no work can be conducted in undeclared colonies,” he said.

He also asked the Mayor as to why gardeners are not being arranged for the undeveloped parks in Ludhiana East. “There is no dignity of our councillors as their issues are often ignored,” he said.

Talwar claimed that most sewers were overflowing in wards as dyeing units release their waste water into the MC sewers. “The sewer connections of some erring units were snapped but the Mayor ordered for their restoration,” he said.

He also questioned a proposal for the allotment of work to a successful advertising firm. He threatened that he would complain to the Local Bodies Minister if the issues of the Ludhiana East wards were not addressed. A councillor claimed that works were being done in the Ludhiana West constituency represented by Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.

Coming in support of the Mayor, Congress councillor from Ward No. 82, Sunny Bhalla warned Talwar against “insulting” the Mayor. "Why are you raising issues of Ludhiana East to insult the Mayor as there are issues in other wards of the city too?" Bhalla asked the MLA.

“We will not tolerate insult of the Mayor whether you file a complaint to the Local Bodies Minister or the Prime Minister. If you have any problem, then give it in writing,” Bhalla told Talwar.

Meanwhile, other Congress councillors also came in support of the Mayor. Councillor from Ward No. 67 in the Ludhiana West constituency and Ashu’s wife, Mamta Ashu, raised objections to Talwar’s demand for getting details about the outdoor advertisement tenders. She was also seen raising objections to other questions raised by Talwar.

Congress councillor from Ward No. 90 Jai Parkash tried to pacify Talwar and asked him not to discuss this all at House meeting. Even an LIP councillor asked Talwar to provide proof before levelling any allegations. Meanwhile, a few Congress councillors were seen exchanging heated arguments with each other.

What Mayor says 

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said information about sewer men, safai workers, gardeners and other information sought by MLA Sanjay Talwar would be provided at the earliest. He said there would be no pick-and-choose policy for illegal colonies. On the issue of outdoor media project tenders, he said the MC would generate about Rs 2 crore from advertisements per month. Sandhu said they were doing their best to improve the condition of wards without any discrimination.

What other MLAs say

During the meeting, MLA from Ludhiana North Rakesh Pandey asked the authorities as to why information about sewer men, sweepers and others was not ready. He demanded that the Finance and Contract Committee should be completed as its two members were yet to be nominated. He asked when the LED street lights project would be started in other wards. MLA Surinder Dawar urged House to ensure proper lifting of garbage and action against A2Z company if they failed to improve the solid waste management system.

LED street lights

Municipal Commissioner Kanwalpreet Brar assured the MLAs that installation of LED street lights would be started in the remaining wards from February 15. The LED street light project was launched from Ludhiana West and lights have been installed at around 400 points, an official said. Sources said work was stopped a month ago.