Corporations’ chiefs skip Shimla smart city meet

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 18

Even as local legislators— Suresh Bhardwaj (Shimla), Anirudh Singh (Kusumpti) and two Zila Parishad members Neelam Saraik and Dharmila Harnot— gave their suggestions for Shimla smart city mission, over 20 chairmen and vice-chairmen of various corporations and other members of Zila Parishad invoked ire of the mission campaigners as they did not bother to mark their presence at the smart city mission meeting today.

Shimla BJP legislator Suresh Bhardwaj batted for smart underground power cable system in the city and tunnels, as highlighted in The Tribune, while Anirudh Singh suggested that the city should have elevated roads and tunnels to make the city smart.

On the other hand, the two zila parishad members— Neelam Sarak and Dharmila Harnot— suggested that the city should have neat and clean public toilets, parking and cheap housing for the common man.

The Shimla smart city mission in charge-cum-joint commissioner Prashant Sirkeck conducted a citizen engagement campaign which was chaired by Mayor Sanjay Chauhan.

Those present in the meeting expressed surprise over the conspicuous absence of a long list of chairmen and vice-chairmen, including Zila Parishad members, which had laid bare their hollow claims of serving the city.

Residents have noticed how much they were bothered for making Shimla a smart city, a member commented.

Chauhan said the SMC had set up four kiosks at key locations and distributed 500 citizen engagement forms seeking people’s suggestion on basis of their priorities for the smart city. “We have invited all the chairmen and vice-chairmen for the meet as part of citizens’ engagement but only a few turned up,” he said.

Sirkeck said they were organising essay writing and poster-making competitions on the topic of smart city and the winners would be awarded Rs 5,000 cash prize. They can visit the SMC website for the same and give suggestions, he added.

40 organisations to give suggestions

Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said they had invited 40 different organisations at Hotel Holiday Home to give their suggestions for smart city mission tomorrow.